Rachel Stewart was a Grade 12 student at Vista Virtual School in 2021-22.

She is a leader in her community and has demonstrated great responsibility in leading her Youth Group by planning activities, attending meetings and keeping the group organized. She was also responsible for providing support at home, caring for her three younger siblings and helping her mother who was ill earlier in the year. She supports others, connecting with Youth Group members and sitting on various church committees. You can often find her volunteering at the local hospital, showing kindness and compassion for those needing assistance in their day-to-day activities or reaching out to those who need a friend, providing treats, gifts or conversation, making sure they felt loved and seen.

Rachel also strives to complete her goals, finishing a goal-setting program through her church and achieving a Gold Level in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Program which involved three years of working towards goals she set at the beginning of the program and weekly self-improvement. She managed all of her activities and volunteering while excelling in her schoolwork.

She has created a welcoming and caring environment for her Youth Council meetings, ensuring all thoughts and opinions of others are heard. Listening to others‘ experiences and wisdom has provided her with the opportunities to learn from others and apply their lessons in her own life.

The School Board is delighted to present Rachel with the Citizenship Award in recognition of her support and kindness for others, sense of responsibility and overall contributions to her community and her school. Congratulations!