[soliloquy id=”13544″]Pat Daws, Fraser Valley Power Pioneer’s Community Services Award coordinator, is pleased to announce that this year’s winner is Adhiraj Gupta (known as RAJ) of Dasmesh Punjabi School in Abbotsford.  RAJ was selected out of 22 applicants this year, all exhibiting outstanding education achievements with RAJ coming out on top with his commitment to community service.  RAJ is a youth mental health ambassador with the Foundry in Abbotsford and created an online platform for students to study and collaborate in a safe online environment.  RAJ was also involved with creating care packages for the unsheltered population affected by the recent floods last November in Abbotsford and through “Youth Teaching Adults” assisted adult learners with digital literacy skills (Microsoft and Google).  As a Flight Sergeant in Air Cadets RAJ took part in Remembrance Day and Canada Day ceremonies and instructs the younger generation of cadets in aviation, meteorology and what it means to be a good Canadian citizen.

RAJ was presented with a BC Hydro Community Service certificate, the Power Pioneers book Voices from Two Rivers, and a $500 scholarship from BC Hydro Power Pioneers.

Pat would like to thank Dave & Sue Devitt, and Mel & Barb Peters for their valuable assistance in choosing this year’s winner from the 22 selected finalists in the Fraser Valley school districts.  Once again, choosing a winner was difficult as the submitted applicants were all excellent in their qualifications.