Trevor Linden Community Spirit Scholarship awarded to four BC students

Vancouver, BC - The Canucks for Kids Fund (CFKF), in partnership with Trevor Linden, is proud to give the Trevor Linden Community Spirit Scholarship to four outstanding secondary school graduates from across British Columbia. The scholarship, consisting of $2,500 dollars, is awarded to students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership through a commitment to affecting positive change in their communities through various initiatives. Since the scholarship was first introduced in 2008, the Trevor Linden Community Spirit Scholarship has awarded $80,000 to 32 graduating students throughout British Columbia.

"Every year we receive applications from students across BC, and every year I am so impressed by the incredible work these youth are doing in their communities," said Linden. "I am honoured that we are able to provide financial support to this year's scholarship winners as they pursue their post-secondary studies and the endless possibilities that lie ahead of them."
2017 Trevor Linden Community Spirit Scholarship Recipients:
Luke Harris is a graduating student from Saint Thomas Aquinas High School in North Vancouver. Luke is known for turning challenges he faces into opportunities for success. Facing his own adversities that began in grade three, Luke received the support he needed to guide him to academic success. Realizing the support he received is not accessible to everyone, Luke began to give back to those in similar positions as he was in. In 2016, Luke founded the Run 4 the Health of It initiative which works in conjunction with BC principals and BC Athletics calling for inclusion of high school para athletes on high school sports teams. Luke's work with his organization has been featured on various news outlets such as BCTV Sports and the North Shore News. In the fall, Luke will be starting in the UBC Engineering program, where he will pursue his degree with the purpose of one day inventing devices which will make life easier for those with special needs.
Myles Mattila is a graduating student from Prince George Secondary School. Myles has dedicated his time to organizations that work to reduce stigmas surrounding mental health. He started doing so after he experienced how difficult it is for teammates and friends to speak up about their own stories. Acknowledging that mental health initiatives are underfunded, he also aims to increase funding for those initiatives surrounding mental health. Myles developed Mindright.info with aims to create an open environment that encourages discussion of mental health issues. Myles is also a public speaker for Northern Balancing our Minds, Prince George Youth Action Team, MindRight.info, Talk Today, Mindcheck.ca and many more and also has recently joined the network team of Foundry BC. In the fall, Myles will be attending Okanagan College University of British Columbia Okanagan where he will pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration, majoring in Law and playing hockey for the Kelowna Chiefs of the KIJHL.
Elly Choi is a graduating student from R.E. Mountain Secondary School in Langley. Witnessing the effects that the poverty cycle has on the youth within her community, Elly instigated a movement that campaigns for a youth only homeless shelter in Langley (the first and only one in Langley). Elly has raised more than $20,000 through fundraisers to give impoverished youth the practical and immediate support they need. Elly received the Global Teen Leader award by the Three Dot Dash Association. She is also now in a mentorship program with mentors such as Chelsea Peters (Chief of Staff at UNICEF), Pamela Bell (Founding partner of Kate Spade) and Maurizio Vecchione (Senior Advisor to Bill Gates) and in an effort to expand the impact of her initiatives. She was also recently chosen as a delegate for the 2017 United Nations Youth Assembly in New York City. In the fall, Elly will be pursuing her Bachelors of Science, majoring in Biology. Elly clearly understands the importance of being a catalyst for change, as well as sharing her same passion for education and activism with other youth.
Sonya Kung is a graduating student from École Alpha Secondary in Burnaby. Throughout her high school years, Sonya learned that making a positive impact in her community begins with having the courage to take initiate and make use of every opportunity in front of you. Sonya is the co-chair of the social justice club Offence, which raises awareness of humanitarian issues such as poverty. She also implemented the district-wide Do it Green Conference which connects environmental experts with over 300 students through a variety of interactive experiences that explore environmental sustainability. Sonya understand the effects of leadership and its' ability to make a positive impact on people's lives. Furthering her passion for athletics, in the fall Sonya will be pursuing her Bachelors of Sciences, majoring in Biomedical Physiology.
The Trevor Linden Community Spirit Scholarship is one of the numerous Canucks for Kids Fund's educational initiatives that resources are dedicated to. Other education programs that the Canucks for Kids Fund supports include the Canucks Family Education Centre, Fin's Friends, Power PLAY, Future Goals - Hockey Scholar and Seventh Generation Club. The Canucks for Kids Fund also generously supports its signature beneficiaries including the Canucks Autism Network, Canuck Place Children's Hospice and BC Children's Hospital Foundation. Since its establishment over 32 years ago, the Canucks for Kids Fund has granted more than $56 million to these and numerous other charities. For more information, please visit
www.canucks.com/cfkf
.