About the Award

The Jack A. MacDonald Award of Merit is awarded to an elementary or secondary school student attending an Ontario public school within an OPSBA Member Board 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.
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.

Community Service and Leadership Summary (Maximum One Page)

Include a point form summary of community service and accomplishments.

School Activities List (Maximum One Page)

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

Letters of Support (Maximum Three)

Three letters of support.  This should include a letter of support from the Director of Education, or Chair of the school board, where possible. A letter of support from the head of guidance, teacher/coach, or school principal is also suggested.

If desired, a separate list of supporting nominators, where appropriate, may be included (maximum one page).

Supplementary Information (Maximum Three Pages)

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

Recipients

Award of Merit Recipients

Ailia Syeda, Limestone DSB

Certificate of Recognition Winners

Grace de Varennes, Limestone DSB

Ella Rickard

Award of Merit Recipients

Braydon Anthony Bandurka, Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB

Certificate of Recognition Winners

Calvin Bell, Bluewater DSB
Gavin Hickey, Ottawa-Carleton DSB

Award of Merit Recipients

Alexandra Elmslie, Upper Grand DSB

Certificate of Recognition Winners

Jessica Kellow, Upper Grand DSB
Tabarak Al-Delaimi, Ottawa Carleton DSB

Award of Merit Recipients

Suraj Bansal, York Region DSB

Certificate of Recognition Winners

Aaliyah Jaleel, Durham DSB
Maya Lekhi, York Region DSB

Award of Merit Recipients

Hannah Burrows, Ottawa-Carleton DSB

Certificate of Recognition Winners

​Sean McCloskey, Renfrew County DSB
Stephanie Hrynkiw, Hamilton-Wentworth DSB

Award of Merit Recipients

Dasha Metropolitansky, Halton DSB

Certificate of Recognition Winners

Sophia Kallitsis,Upper Grand DSB
Madeleine Leach Jarrett, Rainbow DSB
Ali Bokhari, Toronto DSB
Pablo Gonzalez, Toronto DSB
Samantha Stevenson, DSB Ontario North East

Award of Merit Recipients

Riley Beam, Near North DSB

Certificate of Recognition Winners

Rachel Stripp, Halton DSB

Award of Merit Recipients

Zachary Misener Avon Maitland DSB

Award of Merit Recipients

Charmaine Holland, DSB of Niagara
Tristen Stinkowji, DSB Ontario North East

Award of Merit Recipients

Chase Woon, Trillium Lakelands DSB

Certificate of Recognition Winners

Brian Grant, ​Lambton Kent DSB

Award of Merit Recipients

Christopher Grouchy, ​Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB

Certificate of Recognition Winners

Julie Chan, ​Toronto DSB
Chelsea Chen, ​Toronto DSB
Jacques St. Pierre, ​Toronto DSB

Award of Merit Recipients

Vicky Vanthof, DSB Ontario North East

Award of Merit Recipients

Sung Wook Um, DSB of Niagara

Certificate of Recognition Winners

Kyle Lubienieki, Greater Essex County DSB
Madison Schaffner, DSB Ontario North East
William Warnica, Peel DSB

Award of Merit Recipients

Amy Cook, ​DSB Ontario North East

Certificate of Recognition Winners

Justin Bairos Neves, Peel DSB
Alyssa McKinley, Greater Essex County DSB

Award of Merit Recipients

Dana Vanthof, DSB Ontario North East
Chelsea Green, Hastings and Prince Edward DSB

Award of Merit Recipients

Erica Hall, ​Rainbow DSB

Certificate of Recognition Winners

Adam Wheeler, Toronto DSB

Award of Merit Recipients

Debeka Navaranjan, Toronto DSB

Certificate of Recognition Winners

Paul McGilvery, DSB Ontario North East
Patricia Dunn, DSB of Niagara

Award of Merit Recipients

David Park, Halton DSB

Certificate of Recognition Winners

Nico Elliott-Armstrong, Toronto DSB
Kaley Veerman, DSB Ontario North East

Award of Merit Recipients

Lianne Irish, Hastings and Prince Edward DSB

Certificate of Recognition Winners

Martin Brown, Rainbow DSB

Award of Merit Recipients

Sarah Reynolds, Trillium Lakelands DSB

Certificate of Recognition Winners

Andrew Brown, Peel DSB

Award of Merit Recipients

Ritka Goel, Toronto DSB
Bikramjit Nahal, Hamilton-Wentworth DSB

Certificate of Recognition Winners

Kusala Jayasuriya, Toronto DSB
Robert Kempson, Limestone DSB
Huong H.N. Trinh, Toronto DSB

Award of Merit Recipients

Raymond Balec, ​Lakehead DSB

Certificate of Recognition Winners

Shokofeh Motlagh, Toronto DSB
Jonathan Schinkel, Hamilton-Wentworth DSB

Award of Merit Recipients

Michael Teng, Hamilton-Wentworth DSB

Certificate of Recognition Winners

Crystal Peralta, Peel DSB
Rolf Nanninga, DSB of Niagara

Award of Merit Recipients

Cara Agar, District School Board of Niagara
Paula Tchen, Upper Canada DSB