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26 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday June 27, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Loyola student wins Toronto Star writing award By Hiba Kesebi SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Tori Nixon has always had a passion for writing and knew she would enjoy a career in it. At times, though, she would doubt her skills as a writer. A few weeks ago, Nixon received an award from the Toronto Star that boosted her confidence. The Grade 11 St. Ignatius of Loyola student won the Brad Henderson Award -- the top prize at the Toronto Star High School Newspaper Awards -- for showing journalism potential and strength of character. Although Loyola doesn't have a school newspaper, Nixon was still able to get the high school's achievements recognized, not just amongst the school's student body, but rather the Oakville community as a whole. "The guidance counsellor at Loyola knew that I was interested in journalism and writing, so he came and told me if I would like to write some of the things that happen at school for the local paper, and so I started submitting articles about the school to The Oakville Beaver," explained Nixon. Aside from writing three articles for The Oakville Beaver's Kids Speak Out weekly school column, Nixon has been part of the yearbook team since Grade 9. This year, she was put in the position of editor. Nixon's experiences enabled her to pick up the award out of more than 700 entries. "I read an advertisement about the award along the bottom of the Toronto Star. I told our guidance counsellor and applied." The award included a cheque for $1,000, a plaque, and a tour of the Star's printing plant in Vaughan. Nixon also had the opportunity to meet with Toronto Star publisher Jagoda Pike. "The tour at Vaughan was interesting, but it wasn't memorable. I think the most memorable moment for me was meeting the publisher. It gave me a push for journalism." The Brad Henderson Award is in memory of Brad Henderson, a Toronto Star employee who started working at the newspaper's mailroom and worked his way up to the executive offices. He passed away in January. Nixon is the first person to win the award. "It's nice," she said. "I could tell just from talking Tori Nixon with her award. to people there (at the Toronto Star) that he meant a lot to them," said Nixon. She hopes to attend Ryerson University or Sheridan College for journalism. Public board hires new superintendent The Halton District School Board has hired a new superintendent. At its board meeting last week trustees confirmed the appointment of Mark Zonneveld as a superintendent of education for north Halton schools, effective Sept. 1. Earlier this year Zonneveld had been appointed an interim superintendent for the period March 17-Aug. 31, 2008. The new hiring fills the senior team administrative gap caused by the impending retirement of superintendent Suzanne Moffatt, who has been on leave for most of the 200708 school year. Her retirement is effective this October. Zonneveld has been with the Halton public board since 1989. He taught primary and junior grades at Pineland Public School in Burlington before moving to George Kennedy P.S. in Georgetown as a special education resource teacher. He was appointed a vice-principal in 1997 with his first placement at Sam Sherratt P.S. in Milton, followed by McKenzie-Smith Bennett P.S. in Acton in 1999. He was appointed principal of Harrison P.S. in Georgetown in 2001 followed by Rolling Meadows P.S. in 2005, before accepting the position of interim superintendent earlier this year. The Halton board will have 13 senior administrative staff supervisory officers this fall led by an education director, an associate director of education, a human resources director, a chief information officer and nine superintendents with various responsibilities such as school programming, business/treasurer, facilities services and special education. European Engineering Combined With Traditional Workmanship "Building on the Brightest Ideas Around Glass" 905.849.0266