Image: Rotary Club of Chilliwack / The Rotary Club of Chilliwack has announced its 2022-23 Leaders of Tomorrow from G.W. Graham. They include (top left) Mackenzie Lascelle, Tatyana Martz, Lily Renaud, Zach Wang, Rida Khan (bottom left), Gavin Kheleh and Sophia Kim. 
Rotary Leaders of Tomorrow announced

Rotary Club of Chilliwack announces 2022-23 Leaders of Tomorrow from G.W. Graham

Jul 5, 2023 | 8:25 AM

CHILLIWACK — The Rotary Club of Chilliwack has announced its 2022-23 Leaders of Tomorrow from G.W. Graham Secondary in Chilliwack.

They consist of Mackenzie Lascelle, Tatyana Martz, Lily Renaud, Zach Wang, Rida Khan, Gavin Kheleh and Sophia Kim.

Rotary Club of Chilliwack provided the following information about each exemplary student that excelled in the classroom or in other extracurricular activities.

Mackenzie Lascelle is described as a hard-working student who demonstrates excellent self-motivation and ability in all his courses.

Image: Rotary Club of Chilliwack / Mackenzie Lascelle.

He is talented, generous, and well-rounded, and his accomplishments have earned him honours and numerous course Awards of Excellence. He has been heavily involved in track and field as a participant at G.W. Graham and helps coach at a middle school for younger students.

He also volunteered at the school’s recent Take Action Day by leading elementary aged students through a math related activity and has been an effective Math 9 peer tutor.

Tatyana Martz has exhibited exceptional leadership qualities in all aspects of her life.

Image: Rotary Club of Chilliwack / Tatyana Martz.

Martz’s dedication to excellence can be seen in her work as a student, as an employee, and especially as a person. She spent her entire grade 11 year of education in Ukraine helping families survive and escape the war-torn regions.

She always makes herself available to help Ukraine refugee students and staff feel welcome into our school community. Her plans after graduation include attending Capernwray Bible School in England for one year and eventually moving back to Ukraine to live with her family.

According to Rotary, Lily Renaud has consistently exhibited unwavering dedication and steadfast commitment to her academic pursuits.

Image: Rotary Club of Chilliwack / Lily Renaud.

She has demonstrated a philanthropic attitude because she volunteers her time to many different organizations and has a genuine desire to make positive changes in her community.

Renaud is deeply proud of her Indigenous heritage and seeks to not only learn, but to teach others, and is described as kind and inclusive to everyone by positively influencing those around her.

Zach Wang has earned the Leaders of Tomorrow honour by always striving to improve as a musician and his work ethic makes him a role model for his peers. He plays several instruments.

Image: Rotary Club of Chilliwack / Zach Wang.

He takes it upon himself to ensure the musicians around him know their part and understand what’s going on.

Wang is willing to learn new instruments to help grow the ensemble. Zach currently plays tenor sax, clarinet, trumpet, euphonium and string Bass. He holds himself and his peers to a high standard.

Rida Khan has been a dedicated student and an active participant in student life at G.W. Graham. She has been described as one of those rare, selfless students who can operate at an advanced academic level while juggling sports, leadership, service, and work.

Image: Rotary Club of Chilliwack / Rida Khan

Throughout high school, she has maintained straight-A marks and earned the top academic award for her grade in 2019, 2020, and 2022.

Rida was the president of G.W. Graham Kiwanis Key Club and has provided outstanding leadership for this very active club. Rida has also been a member of the Indigenous Leadership Club and Newspaper Club. She initiated a new school club, Ducks for Change, in her grade 10 year. Rida has been a leader on her school basketball team, having served as point guard, and has spent countless hours scorekeeping and assisting with coaching.

Her level of inclusiveness and empathy for her fellow human beings is mature beyond her years. She never stops giving 150 per cent to all her pursuits. She’s been described as “one in a million.”

Gavin Kheleh has been a member of the G.W. Graham basketball program for the past six years and was a starting guard on the senior varsity team this past season. Kheleh graduated from the program this spring as one of its most passionate players in program history.

Image: Rotary Club of Chilliwack / Gavin Kheleh.

Kheleh has been an inspiration to other players through his excellent conduct on the floor, characterized as a leader who motivates his fellow teammates and was one of our the program’s best player coaches because of his love for the game.

Every player and coach involved with the basketball program trusted and believed in Kheleh because he was the person on the team that every player felt comfortable approaching with any challenges and or obstacles they may have had during the season.

Off the basketball floor, Kheleh has been a leader within the school and the community by volunteering and helping with multiple different programs. He has worked in the community with his church and has been a basketball coach working with TC basketball and the youth in the community.

Sophia Kim earned the Leaders of Tomorrow honour because of her resiliency, an essential quality for learning that has equipped her in language class.

Image: Rotary Club of Chilliwack / Sophia Kim.

According to information provided by Rotary, Kim has a growth mindset, and this is demonstrated in her active involvement in the school community. She has been a valuable member of the G.W. Graham Key Club, often not taking any recognition for the things that she contributes to on a regular basis.

Through her involvement, she has shown that she is a valuable member of the Key Club and a positive role model for the other members, and deserves recognition for being an exemplary leader in her school community.

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