Jack A. MacDonald Award of Merit

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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

  • Aiesha Hindle, Indigenous Student Trustee, DSB Ontario North East

  • 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

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  • Award of Merit Recipients

    David Park, Halton DSB

    Certificate of Recognition Winners

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

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  • 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

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  • 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