Local student earns National Book Award, starts scholarship
MOUNT FOREST – Graduating Grade 12 Wellington Heights Secondary School student Joey Townsend has won the University of Toronto’s National Book Award.
The award is presented to students who demonstrate superior academic performance, original and creative thought, and exceptional achievement in a broad context.
Award winners excel in academic pursuits, demonstrate enthusiasm for intellectual exploration and have a strong involvement in the lives of their schools and communities.
Townsend will be studying social sciences at the University of Toronto Mississauga campus next year.
Additionally, Townsend created his own new scholarship for a Wellington Heights graduating student: The Wellington North Legacy Scholarship.
Throughout this school year, Townsend raised money for this new scholarship through applications to available grants, fundraising efforts, lobbying local businesses and a GoFund Me page.
Altogether, Townsend’s efforts have resulted in over $8,000 raised to date.
He plans for the scholarship to be awarded annually in the amount of $1,000 to a student who is passionate with an aptitude in a particular domain, who has overcome a significant burden to become academically successful, and who wants to pursue post-secondary education with the goal of contributing positively to society.
The recipient should also demonstrate financial need, and that if the recipient was unable to pursue post-secondary education due to financial barriers, it would be a loss to society.
Townsend plans to continue to fundraise for this scholarship each year, and anyone wanting to donate can do so at gofundme.com/f/jcs-legacy-scholarship.
