Kathleen Jackman Memorial Awards for deserving Greater Toronto Area college/university students
August 23, 2021
Finishing high school and completing pre-college Business Administration & Management Studies in Jamaica, Khalell Williams expected to enroll in college when he migrated to the Greater Toronto Area three years ago to join his father.
That didn’t happen.
Instead, he was forced to return to high school.
Williams won the Honour Student Award at Brampton Centennial Secondary School in 2019 before entering the Human Resource Management Advanced Diploma program at Sheridan College.
“It has been a rough three years with the pandemic and having to go back to high school, but nothing is going to stop me from attaining academic excellence,” the Sheridan Student Union member said.
With aspirations of becoming a Human Resource Manager, Williams – who attended Fair Prospect and Port Antonio High Schools in Portland, Jamaica – was recognized for academic excellence at the Sister Kathleen Jackman Memorial Awards on July 25.
“I know I have to start at the bottom and work my way up to attain my goal,” he said. “I am willing to do that and an award like this will surely inspire me to keep going.”
Administered by Our Lady of Good Counsel Caribbean Catholic Church, the awards recognize excellence in the arts, athletics, academics, leadership and volunteer community service.
Jared Joseph, LeShaun Bernett and Sierra Richards were also honoured for outstanding academic achievement.
Jared Joseph (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
Joseph recently completed Audio Engineering studies at Metalworks Institute in Mississauga.
“The career goal is to work in the movie industry and be a sound engineer for a large company,” noted the St. Edmund Campion Catholic School graduate.
A fourth-year University of Ottawa student, Bernett is studying Health Sciences with a minor in Psychology.
LeShaun Bernett (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
He plans to become a Veterinarian.
“Ever since I was a child, I always wanted to be in the medical field,” said Bernett who completed high school at St. Stephens Catholic Secondary. “I wasn’t sure it was going to be with people or animals. I have a love for animals more than people at times and I think I could see myself working in that area.”
Pursuing Human Behaviour Studies at McMaster University, Richards – who enters her third-year next month – intends to be a Clinical Psychologist.
Sierra Richards (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
“This award will assist on my higher education journey,” said the St. Augustine Catholic High School graduate. “It is also motivation to work harder, knowing I have the support of my community.”
Leadership awards were presented to Leyondra Lobert and Petra Alfred.
Going into her second year next month in York University’s Sociology & Education program, Lobert plans to start a school.
Leyondra Lobert (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
“I love taking a leadership role and being creative,” she said.
The Mayfield Secondary School Regional Arts program graduate played Annie in ‘Hideous Hideous’ in last year’s Radio Play Festival.
Alfred, whose parents migrated from Trinidad & Tobago, is studying Industrial Engineering with a minor in Bioengineering at the University of Toronto.
Petra Alfred (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
“The plan is to combine both of the degrees to hopefully help optimize the health care system in Canada,” the former Rotaract Public Imaging Chair said.
What sparked her interest in the field?
“I just had a knack for Math and Science, but I also liked the concept of design,” said Alfred who graduates next year. “In Grade Nine, my Arts teacher suggested I combine both and design health care equipment.”
She’s a member of the U of T Hyperloop team and the National Society of Black Engineers.
Lobert’s twin brother, Isaiah, and Saskia Wills were recognized for athletic excellence.
Isaiah Lobert (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
A standout basketball player at Cardinal Ambrozic Catholic Secondary School in Brampton, the honour roll graduate is pursuing Automated Engineering Studies at McMaster University.
Wills, a former youth soccer referee, is pursuing a Bachelor of Kinesiology at the University of Toronto (U of T).
She aspires to be a Physiotherapist.
Saskia Wills (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
The second year student, who finished high school at Ursula Franklin Academy, was in the second Leadership by Design cohort in 2017-18. The program provides at least seven years of development support, starting in Grade 10.
Durham College Game Art student Matthew Leong Sing was the recipient of the Arts Award.
Matthew Leong Sing (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
“I love playing video games,” said the final-year student who completed high school at Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School in Oshawa. “I hope to pursue something in that area.”
Keith Bristol, a member of the Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church for most of his life, and third-year U of T Business Management student Tyra Chung were the recipients of the Volunteer Community Service Award.
A second-year Humber College student, 24-year-old Bristol is pursuing Film & Media Production Studies.
Keith Bristol (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
“When my parents migrated from Grenada, this church was one of the first places they were introduced to so they could feel at home among people who are of Caribbean heritage,” the Richview Collegiate Institute graduate said. “A lot of what I learnt about Grenadian culture and about my own background came from here. It was such a valuable experience.”
Sister Margaret Mary Griffith, who retired in 2020 after 66 years as a Dominican nun, made the presentation to Bristol.
Chung, who completed high school at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary, aspires to be a Project Management specialist.
Tyra Chung (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
The scholarships and awards were presented in the name of Kathleen Jackman, a member of the Order of Dominican sisters, who came to Canada in 1979 to serve as a Lay Sister at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church.
Diagnosed with cancer in 1982, she died three years later, just eight days after returning to Trinidad & Tobago.
Since 1876, the Dominican sisters have been operating the St. Dominic’s Children Home in Belmont, the birthplace of several notable Trinidadians, including Greater Toronto Area-based calypsonian David Rudder and late Black Nationalist Claudia Jones who co-founded the Notting Hill Carnival in England.
Since the start of the awards program in 2000, a total of 147 students have received scholarships worth $196,000. Bursaries totalling $34,500 have also been presented to 69 young people in the last two decades.
