2004 New Pioneers Awards

Shirley Zeng (Youth)

In the summer of 1997, Shirley Zeng arrived in Canada with her mother. Not having any knowledge of either English or French, eleven year old Shirley faced the daunting task of learning both languages simultaneously and within a couple of years excelled in high school French earning As without ever being tutored. She now speaks Mandarin, English, Cantonese, Spanish and French and is a Spanish tutor in her school and the President of the Hispanic Club.

Zengs life in Canada has been one of financial hardship but she has not let this factor come in the way of her activities. Undeterred she has contributed to her school Toronto Star News Articlecommunity, the ethnic community and the general community at large. She excels at school, tutors ESL students in English and Mathematics, mentors students through the Buddy Program and the Reading Buddy Program, participates in the Marching and Symphonic bands, and as a designer for a fashion show. Zengs community involvement is varied and impressive: she has volunteered at the Woodgreen Community Centre as the editor of the Volunteers newsletter and in the Centres community daycare, at the Tot Spot Daycare Centre and at the Toronto Dollar Booth of the St. Lawrence Market.

In 2003, Zeng became the School Champion of Fermat Waterloo Mathematics Contest and in 2002 received the Junior Mathematics League Certificate of Achievement. In 2001, she won the grade nine Achievement Award and in 1999, the popular Chinese newspaper, World Journal, presented her with the Outstanding Achievement Certificate. In her first year in Canada, she was honoured as the Student of the Year by her elementary school Pauline Public School.

Shirley Zeng is seventeen years old.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• NPA
• 2004
• Shirley