Seven finalists are up for Mixed Company Theatre's Rising Star Award, including one York and two North York residents.
The first annual Stars Awards Gala celebrating Mixed Company Theatre's 25th anniversary will be held Wednesday, Nov. 25.The Rising Star Award will be given to a young person who has created positive solutions in response to neighbourhood issues by educating, engaging and empowering their peers and community.Madonna Catholic Secondary School student Sabrina Idukpaye is no stranger to volunteering her time for the betterment of her community.The 16-year-old has been involved with CIBC's Run for the Cure and, in partnership with Toronto Police Service and Canadian Opera Company, created an opera reflecting on the problems faced by today's youth. A member of the Catholic Student Leadership Impact Team, Idukpaye acts as the voice of her fellow students and is also training with Peacebuilder International (Canada) to become a peacekeeper."Ever since I was six, my passion has been to become a lawyer," said the North York resident. "Since then I've been finding ways to empower me to become one and a better citizen. I think it's good to have the Rising Star Award because it gives us more of a reason to continue to do the good work we are doing. When someone notices what you are doing it can allow you to accomplish greater things. My generation is going to see that people are nominated for this award and think, "Maybe I can do this.'"Tristen West has managed to balance post-secondary education with the vast number of organizations he's involved himself with. The 21-year-old North York resident has been part of Grassroots Youth Collaborative, I.C. Visions: Remix Project and is co-founder of Death Before Dishonour Productions, a youth-based organization promoting entrepreneurship, all while maintaining a 3.8 grade point average at Centennial College. A hip hop artist, West was the youngest Canadian urban artist to perform in the Canadian Music Week Festival at age 16."This award showcases recognition to youth and makes us feel like our work is appreciated," said West, who plans to study marketing at York University next year. "Whoever takes the award will be most deserving of it and the best of luck to the finalists."A graduate of Breaking the Cycle, a youth gang exit and ambassador leadership program, York resident Harold Phillips is now a youth ambassador in his community.