RBC CITIZEN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS:

Frederick Dryden,

Liberty for Youth, a founder nonprofit of organization that “assists and redirects disadvantaged, marginalized and misguided youth to a life of hope, purpose and success.”

Ryan McGreal, for his advocacy for the proposed light rail transit system for Hamilton.

Sue Vattay, volunteer co-ordinator of the Pan Am Games. FINALISTS FOR THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR YOUTH VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR:

Rahma Abdi, of Sir John A. Macdonald high school, who overcame a background growing up in a refugee camp in Ethiopia to become one of the key leaders in

the school’s English as a second language club. She has also been active in the Empowerment Squared Homework Circle Academic Mentoring and Tutoring Program.

Ashley Borzellino, of Cathedral high school, has been involved with numerous teams and clubs within the school, including the cheerleading team, the girls touch football team, the yearbook committee and outside of school with the Air Cadets.

Kiret Grewal, a Grade 8 student at Hillfield Strathallan College, was chair of the school’s annual HSC World Issues Conference, spending most of the 2015 academic term organizing meetings and event logistics, collaborating with school

administration, co-ordinating the activities of committee members and overseeing events on the day of the conference.

Tiffany Mills was nominated for her time as a volunteer at CityKidz, work she started at the age of 12 and continued on a regular basis for many years.

Taniya Sheikh, also of Cathedral, has only been in Canada for six months but was described in her nomination as “an exemplary student” and a “true humanitarian and scholar,” assisting students working with the Homework Help club at the Hamilton Public Library, the Cathedral Breakfast Club, Halloween for Hunger and the Haiti Fundraising Committee.