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Home>Awards Programs>OPSBA Awards Program>Jack A. MacDonald Award of Merit

In Memory Of
Jack A. MacDonald
Award of Merit


to be awarded to

An Elementary or Secondary School Student Attending an Ontario Public School whose Board is a Member of OPSBA

for a sound academic record and outstanding community service and leadership

The late Jack A. MacDonald touched the lives of hundreds of trustees and teachers in school boards throughout Ontario during his more than 26 years in the field of education. As a school trustee in Brantford, an active member of the Home and School Association, and the Executive Director and Secretary Treasurer of the Ontario Public School Trustees' Association for 17 years, Jack MacDonald compiled an impressive record of accomplishments and achievements.

His care and concern for Ontario education and, specifically, for students prompted his colleagues and friends to institute this award in his memory in 1987. It is a fitting tribute to Jack MacDonald that his award honours an elementary or secondary school student attending an Ontario public school who has earned a sound academic record and has shown outstanding service and leadership in his or her community.

Terms of Award

  • All nominees must be elementary or secondary school students currently in attendance at an Ontario public school.
  • The successful candidate will be selected on the basis of a sound academic record throughout their school career, accompanied by outstanding community service and leadership.
  • Nominations must come from an independent third party, i.e. school boards, trustees, teachers and/or other individuals or community organizations interested in education.
  • A detailed academic record and account of each nominee's pertinent school service and accomplishments, and community service must accompany each nomination.
  • An honorarium of $500.00 is given to the individual selected as recipient of the Jack A. MacDonald Award of Merit. The prize will be shared equally in the event of a first place tie.
  • In addition, Certificates of Recognition are awarded to up to two runner-up nominees for the Jack A. MacDonald Award of Merit.
  • Refer to Nomination Information Checklist on the reverse for more details.

Nomination Information Checklist

To create a complete submission package outlining the candidate's accomplishments, please ensure they meet the award criteria and include the following information.

Criteria
Selected on the basis of a sound academic record throughout their career, accompanied by outstanding community service and leadership. All nominees must be elementary or secondary school students currently in attendance at an Ontario public school whose Board is a member of OPSBA.

Academic Record
A detailed official academic record must accompany the nomination form. A clear statement of academic achievements should be included.

Community Service and Leadership Summary
Include a point form summary of community service and accomplishments.

School Activities List
A summary sheet in point form with a detailed list of involvement in school activities, specifying the nominee's contribution.

Supporting Nominators List
A separate list of supporting nominators, where appropriate.
Endorsement by the school board, a letter of support from the Director of Education, or Chair of the school board is suggested, where possible. A letter of support from the head of guidance, teacher/coach, or school principal is also suggested.

Supplementary Information
Any additional material such as information relating to personal accomplishments, media clippings, project summaries, etc. may be included. Audio visual material is inadmissible.

AWARD OF MERIT - Previous 9 years:

1999 Cara Agar District School Board of Niagara
Paula Tchen Upper Canada DSB
2000 Michael Teng Hamilton-Wentworth DSB
2001 Raymond Balec Lakehead DSB
2002 Ritika Goel Toronto DSB
Bikramjit Nahal Hamilton-Wentworth DSB
2003 Sarah Reynolds Trillium Lakelands DSB
2004 Lianne Irish Hastings and Prince Edward DSB
2005 David Park Halton DSB
2006 Debeka Navaranjan Toronto DSB
2007 Erica Hall Rainbow DSB
2008 Dana Vanthof DSB Ontario North East
Chelsea Green Hastings and Prince Edward DSB

CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION - Previous 8 years:

2000 Crystal Peralta Peel DSB
Rolf Nanninga District School Board of Niagara
2001 Shokofeh Motlagh Toronto DSB
Jonathan Schinkel Hamilton-Wentworth DSB
2002 Kusala Jayasuriya Toronto DSB
Robert Kempson Limestone DSB
Huong H. N. Trinh Toronto DSB
2003 Andrew Brown Peel DSB
2004 Martin Brown Rainbow DSB
2005 Nico Elliott-Armstrong Toronto DSB
Kaley Veerman DSB Ontario North East
2006 Paul McGilvery DSB Ontario North East
Patricia Dunn DSB of Niagara
2007 Adam Wheeler Toronto DSB
Awards Nominations Submission Guidelines
Guidelines for OPSBA Awards Jurying
Achievement Award and Award of Excellence
Bernardine Yackman Memorial Award
Dinosaur Club Award
Dr. Harry Paikin
Award of Merit
Fred L. Bartlett
Memorial Award
Jack A. MacDonald
Award of Merit
Nomination Form