Deloitte Inspiration Awards, Peter Mansbridge Youth Leadership Award and Peter Mansbridge Journalism Award Presented at The Order of the Business Hall of Fame Companion Induction Ceremony

TORONTO - Six outstanding high school students from across Canada were recognized at the Order of the Business Hall of Fame 2009 Companion Induction Ceremonies and Gala Dinner in Toronto last night. Four students were awarded a $2,500 Deloitte Inspiration Award scholarship, one recipient received the $10,000 Peter Mansbridge Youth Leadership Award, and another received the $10,000 Peter Mansbridge Journalism Award.

The night's award winners were:

Deloitte Inspiration Award
- Trent Cherak of Calgary, Alberta
- Chelsea Broderick of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
- Camille-Charlotte Gilbert-Lapointe of Longueil, Quebec
- Tori Zavitz of Ilderton, Ontario

Peter Mansbridge Journalism Award
- Tori Zavitz of Ilderton, Ontario (double winner)

Peter Mansbridge Youth Leadership Award
- Natasha Somani of Calgary, Alberta

All students were in attendance at the Order of the Business Hall of Fame gala to receive their awards.

The Deloitte Inspiration Awards recognize outstanding presentations and essays submitted by high school students across Canada involved in Junior Achievement of Canada (JA). This year, the students were asked to submit an essay exploring the skills and attitudes students need to develop to be successful in the workplace.

Presented by CBC Chief Correspondent Peter Mansbridge, the Peter Mansbridge Youth Leadership Award recognizes a Junior Achievement student whose personal accomplishments in school and the community have made a demonstrable impact locally.

The Peter Mansbridge Journalism Award is a post-secondary scholarship presented to a Junior Achievement student with a passion for broadcasting and journalism, and who exemplifies a commitment to positive change and promotes a vision of prosperity for our nation and the world.

The students expressed gratitude for the scholarships and support, as well as their enthusiasm for the Junior Achievement program. "In addition to the fundamentals of creating, running, and liquidating a business, my experience with Junior Achievement has taught me life lessons I will never forget," says Natasha Somani. "Those lessons include how to remain dedicated despite obstacles, teamwork, and the importance of ethics while making a profit."

Adds Tori Zavitz, "Junior Achievement has allowed me to meet and interact with new people, given me the opportunity to lead and be led, and most importantly, provided me with the confidence, drive, and inspiration to be successful in business and in my everyday ventures."

In addition to the scholarship, winners received an all-expenses-paid trip to Toronto and ticket to last night's gala dinner where they introduced the new Canadian Business Hall of Fame Inductees.