Kevin Gélinas, a grade 10 student at École secondaire du Sacré-Coeur in Sudbury was recently selected to take part in the prestigious Youth Ambassadors Program with Canada. Being selected is quite an accomplishment as only 18 youth participants between 15 and 18 years of age from all parts of Canada were retained for this three-week exchange program. Kevin’s exchange will begin in Ottawa on July 21 and will include stops in the cities of Plattsburgh, New York and Washington. The three-week experience will conclude in Ottawa on August 10.
The Youth Ambassadors Program with Canada brings together high school students and adult mentors from Canada to promote mutual understanding, increase leadership skills, and prepare youth to make a difference in their communities. Program themes include: civic education, community service, youth leadership development and entrepreneurship. Participants in the Youth Ambassadors Program with Canada are expected to implement a community service project after completing the exchange in the USA.
This Sacré-Coeur student was selected for this program in light of his energy, leadership skills and passion to contribute to his French Catholic school and community. Kevin displayed great leadership skill as a member of the community services committee and a promoter of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Highly involved in the Change the World challenge that promotes voluntarism, Kevin is also involved in many school committees promoting Catholic and Francophone pride, leadership and student engagement.
“We take great pride in seeing Kevin’s leadership skills recognized by this prestigious program that benefits from the support of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, United States Department of State, the United States Embassy in Ottawa and Fulbright Canada. Without a doubt, Kevin will gain valuable skills and knowledge that will allow him to have a huge impact on our school and in the community in the years to come,” stated Mr. Paul Henry, Principal at École secondaire du Sacré-Coeur.