Campbell River Daybreak Rotary recently announced 21 Education and Training Awards, going to graduates, from the three area high schools, for demonstrating outstanding leadership and Service above Self. President George Nyman announced the morning club had granted the awards totalling $11,800 to worthy high-school graduates in Campbell River, to assist with tuition costs of post-secondary education. The Awards are presented annually for outstanding leadership, commitment to school and community, and in keeping with the Rotary value of “Service Above Self.” This year’s award winners were all leaders who are going on to post-secondary studies in fields as varied as Law, Education, Engineering, Human Resources, Medicine, Sports Management, Veterinary Medicine, Physiotherapy, Politics, and International Relations. They all have dreams of serving others in various capacities, and contributing to their community and the global community. The winner of the Barry Henshall Memorial Scholarship Award ($1,000) was Tara Warkentin, a graduate of Carihi Secondary School, who is going on to study at Quest University, with the dream of working internationally on environmental issues. Her letter of reference sums it up – “Tara is, in many ways, a throwback to a time when kids were encouraged to have a thirst for learning and serving in the full spectrum of life, a time when young people were writers and scientists and volunteers and leaders all at once. “Tara is this sort of Renaissance person, and she is going to affect the world in meaningful and longlasting ways. There is a lot of talk in this country about developing dynamic, visionary, action and solution oriented leaders of the future. Tara will be this type of leader.” This award is in memory of well-known Rotarian, Barry Henshaw, who embraced life and all persons, and recognizes outstanding leadership in school and community. He would be proud of Tara, who as her reference letter pointed out, “With Tara, it’s not really service above self, rather service as self.`` Winner of the Gerry Gillis Interact Award ($1,000) is Jesse Kennedy-Burgoyne, also a graduate of Carihi Secondary School, who plans to study Education at Vancouver Island University and who has a soft spot for special education students. This award recognizes a member of the Interact Club who has provided exemplary volunteer service and impressive leadership. Rotary Awards ($600 each) have been awarded to Justin Chiasson, Nathan Downey, Brooke Harris, Gurleen Mann, Kara Ruff, Ailsa Sirois, Meara Spiers, Rebecca Stevens, Bailey Stewart, and Harrison Turley. These students have initiated programs, organized events, and contributed many hours of volunteer service in our community, and in their schools. Rotary Awards ($400 each) have been awarded to Almudena Antiman, Baxten Barnes, Nandini Bulusu, Greta Hamilton, Emma Minato, Joanna Morrison, Savannah Palmer, Nary Park, and Matthew Skalik. These students have also in many ways contributed their time, creativity, and commitment to making our community a wonderful place to live.