The winner of the Victor Abreu Award for 2007 is Laura Coutts, an undergraduate student at Brock University. In addition to excelling in her studies, Laura has been very active in a variety of charitable organizations:

“When I applied for this award, I tried to think what makes me as an individual, so different and unique. I realized that it is the various communities that I am involved in. My family and spiritual community have shaped my life the most, giving me morals, guidance and opportunities to get involved in the arts, academics and athletics. All my opportunities have allowed me to give back to my community by fundraising for charities such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, helping with “Engineering without Borders” and supporting charities such as the Heart and Stroke Foundation through the Mother/Daughter walk for Life.”

Laura has also devoted her time to assist with numerous G.O.A events in both Toronto and Hamilton over the last several years, and she readily admits that her community has had a tremendous impact on her life,

“Another community that has had a great influence on my life is my multi-cultural community. From a young age, I have been fortunate to grow up with a loving family that extends far out into the Goan community through both the Hamilton Goan Association and the Toronto G.O.A. I have held the position of Youth Coordinator in the H.G.A. and have also participated in various events held both in Hamilton and Toronto. I have been able to experience rich Goan traditions, fostered many friendships, and have taken part in several Goan events such as Children’s Christmas Trees, Track and Field races, Village Socials and Picnics, Boat Cruises, St.Francis Xavier feasts, Career Days and Viva Goa. As well, after traveling to different places around India, including Goa, I value that distinct quality that makes Goans so different from the rest of India. It makes me proud to call myself Goan.”

Juggling a part-time job, Laura also managed to claim her spot on the Dean’s Honour List at Brock University for three years.  She is very thankful for being recognized for this award, and shares these motivating words with other young Goans,

“I’d like to conclude by encouraging all the youth and young adults of the community to not only get involved in your different communities, but also apply for the various G.O.A. awards offered, to demonstrate to our community the talent and strong ambitions that Goans do possess.”

Natalie Fernandes is the winner of the 2007 Oscar Fonseca Award.  She attends the University of Ottawa where she is pursuing an Honors Bachelor of Social Sciences in International Studies and Modern Languages.  Natalie’s honest account of her personal growth and development in her application demonstrated a level of maturity and humility not often seen.  She acknowledged the all-to-real pressures many young people face as they move from youth to adults,

“The Oscar Fonseca merit award is centered not only on high academic achievement, but also, and perhaps more importantly, on the importance of extra-curricular involvement and volunteerism.  These are two values that many youths today seem to neglect, myself included.  There is often so much pressure from professors and family on achieving and maintaining high grades, that youth find it hard to join and participate in clubs and on teams, for they are so preoccupied focusing on other things.  Not only is it difficult to find time to do these things, there is the issue of the daunting, unfamiliar atmosphere of high school.”

Natalie shares her own challenging journey of self-awareness,

“I was, in the beginning of my secondary education, petrified to try anything new.  As much as we hate to admit it, high school is exactly how it is portrayed in TV shows and teen movies.  In the beginning, it is a scary place to be, especially when you’re entering at the bottom of the social ladder.  But high school, once you adjust to its nuances, can be fun and rewarding, if you’re prepared to make the most of your experience.  After my first year of high school; a year of sitting in the back, and doing only the bare essentials in terms of work, I decided to participate in extra-curriculars, and join volunteer opportunities.  Over the next three years of high school, I tried to join every club my school had to offer, and I also got involved with my town’s volunteer program.  Even with all these extra-curricular activities, I managed to obtain better marks than I had been previously, simply because I was more focused and involved in school life, and in community life. I finally was beginning to enjoy being a teenager, no longer shy and gawky, but confident and assured.” 

Natalie’s commitment to being an active force in bettering the community is very evident in numerous and diverse areas.  Specifically, some of the organizations and programs Natalie has dedicated her time to over the years includes OSAID (Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving), Amnesty International, the Whitby Optimist Club and The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.  She also won the 2007 Craig Kielburger Humanitarian Award for peace-keeping and humanitarian efforts.

We wish both our scholarship winners continued success in all their future endeavours.

Natalie Fernandes

Laura Coutts