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C4 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday June 19, 2002 Caring volunteer wants to be a doctor (Continued from page C1) "I love sports, they're a lot of fun," she said. "I love the compe tition and working together with your teammates for a common goal." Sports have also served as a mental release from the stress of academics. Banks has taken nine OAC credits, and maintains a top six average of 95 per cent. Her course selection also reflects her broad range of interests and tal ents - Banks has taken OAC biology, chemistry, physics, his tory, law, English, French, finite and calculus - an impressive combination encompassing both the sciences and the arts. But Banks said the sciences are her strongest suit and that medical school might be in her future. This fall she'll be heading to the University of Toronto's Trinity College to major in Life Sciences. But she said she'll also take a minor in one of the human ities. "I'd still like to study politics or international relations or law, I don't know which one yet," she said, adding that becoming a doc tor involves more than the med ical aspect. "You have to be able to under stand the patients, and that's where the humanities side comes in," she said. Beyond school and sports, Banks has also directed her ener gy to her church and community. Since she was in Grade 5, Banks has been member of the youth choir at St. Andrew's Church. "I love singing," she said, adding that she especially loves performing with the choir at var ious functions, including the opening of Ian Anderson House. She has also performed in two school musicals, the Sound of Music, and more recently, Fiddler on the Roof. But her musical ability extends beyond vocal talentBanks also plays the piano and the flute. And it's these interests that transpired into an idea that has been delighting geriatric patients in the hospital ward where she volunteers. Two years ago, Banks said she decided she wanted to "do some thing to make their (the patients') lives happy," noting that many can no longer speak or communi cate. She spoke with a friend who also plays the piano and the two gave the patients a mini concert, with Banks providing the vocals. `They just loved it," Banks said. "A lot of them can't even speak but they were smiling. The nurses were like, `Can you do this every week?"' So they did. Once a week, Banks and her friend continued entertaining the patients and at Christmas they returned to give a special concert. "It makes them so happy," she said. As for volunteer efforts at school, Banks is part of OT's Wellness Council, which involves educating others about important issues. For example, Banks said that after the World Trade Center attacks, the council launched an anti-racism campaign. She also said she played a prominent role in an anti-drinking and driving initiative. "Everyone signed their name on a ribbon, and we linked all the ribbons together and put them in the atrium (main entrance) of the school," she said. "It said, `Don't Break the Chain, Don't Drink and Drive.'" Banks was also involved in other Wellness Council cam paigns, including that which sup ported Doctors Without Borders, the White Ribbon Campaign to Stop Violence Against Women, the Canadian Cancer Society, and an Oakville food bank, to name a few. As for the Millennium Excellence Award, as a provin cial winner, Banks will receive $4,000 a year for four years, pro vided she maintains a high aca demic standing. The money will go directly to U of T. Banks said she was notified that she won the award during the third period of game seven of the Leafs and Islanders Stanley Cup Series. "I told the man, `Winning this is almost as exciting as the game," she Said, adding that the honour was rewarding not only for the financial support, but because it meant that her hard work had paid off. "The recognition is just so amazing," she said. "It's just real ly, really nice." ATHENA celebrates 6 years SPONSOR PROFILE Celebrating the potential of all women as valued members and leaders of the community, and recognizing those who support them, ATHENA Oakville enters it's sixth year. Without sponsor ship, this would not be possible. ATHENA Oakville recognizes that a huge part of ATHENA'S success is duo to the generosity of sponsors. This ad is an ongoing series paying tribute to our sponsors and in their own words they toll us why they fool involvomont with ATHENA is important. Ivv/i#w \J \Z w Accepted at prestigious school (Continued from page C1) "I'd never done any of that before, so I had to learn how to edit and everything," Wright said. Her video went on to place fourth overall in Canada. Actually a grade 12 student who fast-tracked, Wright said that in the fall she will be heading to the University of Western Ontario and has been accepted into the Richard Ivey School of Business. The prestigious pro gram costs more than a typical undergraduate degree - $16,000 a year. The Millennium Scho larship will go entirely towards her schooling and will be paid directly to the university. "It (the award) helps out a lot with the huge tuition cost." The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation began giving out its Excellence Awards three years ago. Students apply in January and endure a lengthy selection process. On the initial application, Wright said there were approximately 10 ques tions, each requiring a 300 word response. She also said there were approximately 7,000 appli cants from across Canada vying for the awards, which were grant ed at the local, provincial and national levels. In the final selection process, Wright was contacted for an interview and a short time later received the good news. "I was just so happy," she said of the national recognition, given to only 99 other students across Canada, with 800 awards given at the other two levels. As for her future career, Wright, who now works parttime at a community centre, said she plans to pursue a career in business or investment banking. "It's such a wide field to get into, so I'm not sure which area yet," she said. As for life goals, Wright said, "I know it's a cliche, but I just want to make a difference and to be remembered." Cogeco is proud to be a sponsor o f the ATH EN A Awards Program. As a sponsor, we have the pleasure o f being able to meet and introduce the nominees for the ATH EN A Award to the community through television. It is truly inspiring to be in the company o f such caring individuals. Each has a story to tell, often o f courage and dedication. Each in their own way, has contributed greatly to the community, and each has impacted the lives of womenthrough their mentoring and support. We feel honoured to have this opportunity to illustrate "leadership from the heart." For information on ATHENA call Diana Saulez 905-844-5290 Edith Gwynne-Keaney THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Mary Cardamone $ 4. R c p ro * n u.,« ROYAL L e PAG I White Rpse bring the beauty home SALE R U N S JU N E 22 to JU L Y 12, 2 0 0 2 Hurry In! Only While Quantities Last! NURSERY CLEARANCE! J u n e 2 2 nd J u n e 2 8 th J u n e 2 9 th J u l y 5 th J u l y 6 th J u l y 1 2 th ALL ALL ALL OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR PLANTS PLANTS PLANTS (Excluding Annuals) (Excluding Annuals) B URN HAM THORPE RO A D WES T f § CD i! £ =5 3C (Excluding Annuals) BLO O R S T. W ES T D o n 't m is s o u r N > T IT A N R O A D ISLINGTON AVE * CLEARANCE! iv w i/ v. i/vfi/fe ra se , c a PATIO n s > £ D U N D A S S T. W. Q .E .W . E X P . 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