2026 Certificates of Appreciation
At the June 16th Board Meeting, the CDSBEO honoured a number of deserving individuals through the presentation of Certificates of Appreciation to acknowledge and celebrate their outstanding achievements and notable talents.
Alessia MacDonald
St. Joseph’s Catholic Secondary School
Alessia earned national recognition as a 2026 Novice National Champion in synchronized figure skating. Competing with her team at the 2026 Skate Canada Cup in Waterloo, she helped secure the national title against the top teams in Canada. Alessia’s dedication, talent, and commitment to training have led to an exceptional achievement that brings great pride to her school community. Congratulations, Alessia.
Charlie Priestman
St. Michael Catholic High School
Charlie earned provincial recognition as a member of the Team Ontario Rugby 7s team. As the youngest athlete on the team, he competed against top talent from across Canada, the western United States, and Australia, helping Team Ontario earn bronze. Charlie is also known for his outstanding work ethic, perfect practice attendance, and positive attitude. His dedication, sportsmanship, and athletic excellence make him a wonderful representative of his school community. Congratulations, Charlie.
Aimee Galbraith
St. Michael Catholic High School
Aimee earned provincial recognition as a member of the Nordic Ski Ontario Team. Aimee is an exceptional multi-sport athlete who trains at a high level while participating in cross-country, Nordic skiing, swimming, and track and field. She is also a positive leader who volunteers, supports younger athletes, and remains committed to her academics. Her determination, leadership, and commitment to excellence in both sport and school make her richly deserving of this recognition. Congratulations, Aimee.
Vensun Nguyen and Souhail Agouzoul
Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School
Vensun and Souhail, earned national recognition by securing a place at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Edmonton for their project, The Eco Friendly Prosthetic System. Their work also received multiple honours at the United Counties Science Fair, reflecting both creativity and innovation. Through their curiosity, teamwork, and passion for learning, these students have demonstrated impressive scientific skill and a strong commitment to using ideas to make a meaningful difference. Congratulations, Vensun and Souhail.
Montana Wyman
St. Mother Teresa Catholic School
Montana earned provincial, national, and international recognition through her remarkable success in martial arts. She qualified for Team Canada and will compete at the WKC World Championships in Spain. Montana is also a provincial and national champion in point fighting for her age and weight class. Her results reflect extraordinary discipline, perseverance, and athletic ability. At such a young age, Montana’s accomplishments are especially impressive and bring great pride to her school community. Congratulations, Montana.
Avina Balamurugan
St. Joseph’s Catholic Secondary School
Avina earned international academic recognition through her exceptional result on the Chem 13 News Exam. She achieved a score of 90.62 percent, ranking 49th out of 1,511 students worldwide. This impressive accomplishment reflects Avina’s dedication, focus, and intellectual curiosity. Her success in such a challenging academic competition highlights both her strong understanding of chemistry and her commitment to excellence in learning. This achievement is truly worthy of celebration. Congratulations, Avina.
Dyrron Gomes
St. Joseph’s Catholic Secondary School
Dyrron earned national and international academic recognition through his outstanding performance on the Chem 13 News Exam. His exceptional score of 96.88% placed him 13th out of 1,511 students worldwide, and 6th out of 1,304 participants from across Canada, reflecting a deep understanding of chemistry and remarkable analytical skill. Dyrron’s achievement is a testament to his hard work, focus, and intellectual dedication. His success in this demanding competition is an impressive accomplishment and one that is truly well deserved. Congratulations, Dyrron.
Thomas Braga
Holy Cross Catholic School
Thomas earned national recognition in karate by winning first place and a gold medal at the National Karate Championship. His success also earned him selection to Team Canada, and he will now represent the country at the World Karate Championships in Spain. Thomas is being recognized not only for his athletic excellence, but also for his perseverance, humility, sportsmanship, and discipline. His accomplishments make him an outstanding example of dedication and character for his school community. Congratulations, Thomas.
Alyssa Morena
St. Francis Xavier Catholic High School
Alyssa earned national recognition by advancing to the Canada-Wide Science Fair with her project, Tubercle Power: Whale Inspired Wind Turbine. Her work was also recognized for its contribution to greenhouse gas reduction. Alyssa is being honoured not only for her academic excellence and creativity, but also for the curiosity, humility, and kindness she brings to every opportunity. Her innovative thinking and commitment to meaningful learning make this achievement especially impressive. Congratulations, Alyssa.
Evelynne Pepin
St. Francis Xavier Catholic High School
Evelynne earned international recognition by competing at the World Jiu Jitsu Championship in Bangkok. She is also being recognized for her strong work ethic and commitment in her trades co-op placement, where she demonstrated maturity, dedication, and a willingness to learn. Evelynne’s success reflects not only athletic courage, but also the character and determination she brings to every challenge. She is an excellent example of student achievement both inside and outside the classroom. Congratulations, Evelynne.
Madeline VanBruinessen
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School
Madeline earned international recognition in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu by becoming a NAGA World Champion in both the Gi and No Gi divisions. She has also been selected to compete at the World Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championships in Abu Dhabi, representing Canada. Madeline’s success reflects discipline, resilience, and extraordinary dedication to her sport. Her accomplishments on the world stage are remarkable and bring great pride to her school community, making this recognition especially meaningful. Congratulations, Madeline.
Carter Simpson
St. John Catholic High School
Carter earned provincial recognition by winning a bronze medal in bricklaying and masonry at the 2026 Skills Ontario Provincial Competition. Competing against students from across Ontario, Carter demonstrated strong technical skill, focus, and professionalism. His achievement reflects the dedication he has shown in developing his talents and pursuing a future in the skilled trades. Carter’s success is an impressive accomplishment and a clear example of hard work turning into excellence. Congratulations, Carter.
Colton Heise
St. John Catholic High School
Colton earned provincial recognition through an outstanding freestyle skiing season, with multiple podium finishes in Ontario competitions, including the provincial championships. He also made club history as the first Freestyle Calabogie slopestyle athlete to reach the podium and then repeated that success several times. Colton’s determination, grit, and commitment to excellence have earned him a remarkable season and this well-deserved recognition. His accomplishments are a source of pride for his school community. Congratulations, Colton.
Illy Timtsenko
St. John Catholic High School
Illy earned provincial recognition by qualifying for the Ontario Age Group Swimming Championships, placing him among the top young swimmers in the province. He competed in three events at the championship level, demonstrating both outstanding talent and disciplined preparation. Illy’s success reflects perseverance, focus, and mental toughness. His accomplishment is an excellent example of what can be achieved through consistent training and commitment. Congratulations, Illy.
Lyla Mason
St. John Catholic High School
Lyla earned national recognition as a Top Ten Finalist in the National Hackergal Hackathon. Her Scratch project, Invisible Disabilities, was celebrated for its creativity, empathy, and technical skill. Through interactive storytelling and animation, Lyla created a project that helps build understanding and inclusion. Her achievement highlights not only impressive coding ability, but also her commitment to using technology in meaningful ways. Lyla’s work is innovative, thoughtful, and truly deserving of recognition. Congratulations, Lyla.
Priya Thompson
St. John Catholic High School
Priya and her teammates earned national recognition through an exceptional volleyball season with the Lanark United U15 Synergy team. After winning medals in Ontario competition, they advanced to the National Volleyball Championships in Calgary, where they captured a silver medal in their division. Their success reflects teamwork, endurance, and competitive spirit. Congratulations, Priya.
Oliver Russell
St. John Catholic High School
Oliver earned international recognition as a Judges’ Favourite Winner at the Coolest Projects Global Technology Showcase. As a member of his school’s Code Club, he presented a facial recognition app designed to support people with low vision. His project was recognized for both technical sophistication and accessibility. Oliver’s creativity, innovation, and purpose-driven thinking allowed him to apply technology to a real-world challenge in a thoughtful and meaningful way. Congratulations, Oliver.
Ayden Banfield
St. John Catholic High School
Ayden earned national recognition through an exceptional volleyball season with the Lanark United U17 Elevate team. After winning silver at the Ontario Provincial Championships, the team advanced to the National Championships in Calgary. Ayden is also recognized for extending her leadership through coaching, helping younger athletes grow and succeed. Congratulations, Ayden.
Blair Jarvis
St. John Catholic High School
Blair earned national recognition through an outstanding club volleyball season with the Lanark United U17 Novas. After strong results at the provincial level, they advanced to the National Championships in Calgary, where they earned a silver medal in their division. This achievement reflects preparation, consistency, and competitive excellence. Congratulations, Blair.
We congratulate our Certificate of Appreciation recipients for their outstanding accomplishments.