A student committed to successfully completing two years in one so as to make up for lost time

An adept of travel and humanitarian aid, outstanding organizer, tireless sportswoman – and even coach when the fancy takes her –, member of various committees and above all highly attuned to the needs of others, Andréanne Mecteau is the very portrait of a steadfastly committed top of the class student. However, this hasn’t always been the case for the Vanier high school student. A few years ago she became severely demotivated and her unacceptable behaviour caused her many a problem. But thanks to her motivation and perseverance, she got a grip on herself and is now proving all predictions wrong.

Nage-o-thon

A project committed to getting students to swim for the greater well being of sick children

Swimming and getting others to swim for a good cause is what Audrey Lortie and Julie Boucher, two Secondary 5 students at De Rochebelle high school, decided to do as part of their personal end-of-school project for the international studies program. The project took the shape of a huge swim-a-thon held on December 20 that brought together a hundred or so swimmers and succeeded in raising an amazing $1,765 for Opération Enfant Soleil.

Marc-André Perron

A teacher committed to focusing on young people’s artistic talents to help them flourish

Born into a family of teachers, Marc-André Perron knew as early as elementary school that he’d keep the family tradition alive. Today, the 26-year-old teacher at Saint-Pierre and Des Sentiers high school in Québec City is already recognized for his dynamism, commitment and determination to push young people to continually strive to surpass themselves. He supervises the two theatre troupes at his school, is the founder of Les Pijorats theatre company and the co-organizer of an international cooperation project in Guatemala, and his goal is to help students understand that through effort and hard work, they can achieve anything.

Josika Leblond

A student committed to organizing fund-raising activities

When Josika Leblond gets an idea into her head, nothing will sway her off the path to attaining her objective. Whether it’s re-establishing her school’s recycling centre, creating an international solidarity training course from scratch, actively participating in the Rendez-vous des générations event held in her area or competing in singing contests, the Secondary 5 student at Arc-en-Ciel high school in Trois-Pistoles does everything it takes to achieve her aim. “In order to grow, you have to have projects, be on the move and meet people. And this is how I intend to take my rightful place,” she says with conviction and spirit.

Benoît Sénéchal

A student committed to overcoming dyslexia in order to fulfil his goal of becoming a computer scient

Up until very recently, Benoît Sénéchal, a Secondary 4 student at Collège Saint-Alphonse in Saint-Tite-des-Caps, had no idea what academic success meant. Benoît suffers from dyslexia, dysorthographia and an attention deficit disorder, and also has to contend with being far away from his family, missing out on a lot of activities, spending his summers studying and devoting many hours to trying to catch up. Though he would have had all the best reasons for giving up, Benoît persevered and said to himself that he would one day make his dream of becoming a computer scientist a reality. And he’s on his way to doing just that!

Développement vie et société

A project committed to fighting school dropout thanks to an introductory course in theatre, voluntee

With the goal of offering special needs students a new formula that would favour their sense of personal achievement while renewing their interest in school, professionals at Jean-de-Brébeuf high school created, from A to Z, the Développement vie et société project. And it must be said that their initiative hit the bull’s-eye because, ever since it was set up, the project has prompted these students to embark on the path of social commitment. Volunteering at the soup kitchen, the school newspaper, a theatrical play, a show on the CKRL community radio station, short job training courses, a fresco and other projects are now all part of the everyday lives of these young people.

Johanne Ouellet

A professional committed to helping young people discover who they truly are thanks to weekend retre

Léola Muntu-Caron

A student committed to helping young people take their rightful place in the community

“Giving of one’s time is a passion!” With her energetic voice, passionate views and remarkable candidness, Léola Muntu-Caron, a Secondary 5 student at Collège de Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière, talks with bursting enthusiasm about her projects, her involvement and the committees she’s on. The student government, the OAmbassadors program, a humanitarian aid project in the Dominican Republic, a tutor for students experiencing academic difficulties, a member of the Kamouraska region’s youth round table and an accomplished sportswoman, Léola is not afraid of taking on challenges and sees her commitment as an endless source of motivation.

Télévision Saint-Aubin

Students committed to putting an end to absenteeism and boosting student motivation

Thanks to the creation of the Télévision Saint-Aubin (TVSA) project, the Centre éducatif Saint-Aubin in Baie-Saint-Paul has succeeded in kindling a sense of belonging among students, eradiating absenteeism and boosting the students’ self-esteem. Coordinated for the most part by a class of special needs students between the ages of 12 and 14, the project is a way of showcasing student accomplishments, be it in sports, the arts, the sciences or any other discipline. Using a giant screen set up in the school entrance hall, TVSA broadcasts all the latest news in the morning before class, at recess and during lunch hour.

Katy Jalbert-Mercier

A student committed to overcoming a visual disability in order to succeed at school and fulfil her d

Since birth, Katy Jalbert-Mercier, a student at Louis-Jacques-Casault high school in Montmagny, has had to learn to live with a major visual impairment that has led to just as significant learning disabilities. Without ever getting discouraged, she kept her head held high, remained optimistic and forged ahead in order to overcome the hurdles and attain her personal goals for success. Katy is now 16 years of age and is finally enrolled in the Secondary 1 level of a vocational training program in semi-specialized trades (FMSS), is a member of the Opération Enfant Soleil committee at her school and was even elected class president.