CONGRATULATIONS WILLIAM MORRIS – RECIPIENT OF THE 2012 SEVEC AMBASSADOR AWARD!
Mr. William Morris, Educational Assistant at Rideau District High School, received the 2012 SEVEC Ambassador Award. From left to right, Mr. Gordon Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds-Grenville, Mr. William Morris and Mayor of the Township of Rideau-Lakes, Mr. Ron Holman.
On Friday, March 8th 2013 SEVEC presented the 2012 SEVEC Ambassador Award to educational assistant William Morris of Rideau District High School in Elgin, ON.
Mr. Morris is a passionate educator with an abiding desire to expand his students’ knowledge about their country, its culture and its history; he has been a true ambassador for SEVEC’s Youth Exchanges Canada program. In May 2012, Mr. Morris and twenty students travelled by train to Canning, Nova Scotia, learning about the history of the towns and cities they came across along the way. “Our exchange allowed us to experience unforgettable lessons in Canadian history and geography. As a result, we now have a better sense of what it means to be Canadian,” said Diana Bronsema, a grade 11 student at Rideau District High School who participated in last year’s exchange.
William Morris has worked with special needs students at Rideau District High School for over 20 years. He has organized seven SEVEC exchanges since 2005; he is a champion for youth, and a true ambassador for SEVEC.
ABOUT THE SEVEC AMBASSADOR AWARD
The SEVEC Ambassador Award is granted each year to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to youth through SEVEC’s Youth Exchanges Canada program. Launching in 2011, the award is inspired by the hundreds of teachers, group organizers, chaperones and parents who make are instrumental in facilitating SEVEC youth exchanges each year. Do you know an outstanding teacher, group organizer, chaperone or parent who helped out with a SEVEC youth exchange within the last five years? Nominate them today!
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
The SEVEC Ambassador Award is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to youth through SEVEC’s Youth Exchanges Canada program. Eligible candidates must be teachers, group organizers, chaperones or parents who have:
- Taken part in the SEVEC Youth Exchanges Canada program at least once within the last five years;
- Been instrumental in facilitating an exchange that achieved some or all of the objectives of SEVEC’s Youth Exchanges Canada program listed below:
- contributed to improved knowledge and understanding of Canada among Canadian youth, enabling them to learn first-hand about the history, geography, economy, institutions, cultures, communities, languages and other facets of their country;
- helped young Canadians connect to one another and create linkages, across the country and between groups, thereby helping to strengthen the fabric of Canadian society;
- developed Canadian identity and attachment to Canada among youth by enhancing appreciation of both the diversity and the shared aspects of the Canadian experience;
- Increased SEVEC’s impact and outreach. Some examples include:
- profiling an exchange in the media;
- sharing exchange experience(s) with others through public or SEVEC-owned social media accounts, including Facebook, Youtube and Flickr;
- recommending the Youth Exchanges Canada program to potential group organizers;
- acting as a spokesperson for SEVEC at conferences or other public engagements;
- mentoring a first-time group organizer; and/or
- advocating for SEVEC by writing a letter to their MP.