“Leaders Of Tomorrow” Include Afraj Gill, Ravneet Dhaliwal, Japreet Lehal, Sukhi Sangha And Ravi Muti
By R. Paul Dhillon
SURREY – Indo-Canadian students, including the co-creator of a thriving math outreach program and a hospital fundraiser as well as several top SFU students, dominated Surrey’s top 25 Under 25 awards.
The awards, which were handed out on Tuesday evening, recognize youths who are potential “leaders of tomorrow” in areas such as civic development, social issues and business trailblazing.
Mathematics student Ravneet Dhaliwal, 20, is hard at work transforming youths into math-minded students. She is a co-founder of Surrey’s popular Math4Me program, which teaches youths from K-12 how to approach math – and life – with confidence.
“Math4me is a mentorship program that helps students academically and also provides a platform to discover and explore their true passion,” says Dhaliwal. The program has positively impacted the lives of more than 1,500 students – and in 2011, students excelled by receiving more than $100,000 in scholarships. They also contribute thousands of volunteer hours.
“The very fact that I have somehow touched the lives of hundreds of students in itself motivates me to follow my passion and put in my very best,” she adds.
Meanwhile Japreet Lehal, 18, recipient of a Governor General’s academic medal and nearly $50,000 in scholarships, was a driving force behind the creation of Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation’s Youth for SMH club. Students raised $1,000 for the hospital’s pediatric oncology clinic and continue to fundraise.
Among other award recipients with SFU ties:
Sukhi Sangha, 23, provides tutoring for K-12 students as well as instruction on conversational English through the Sangha Learning Centre. Sukhi is also an executive member on SFU’s Pre-Med Society and Aids Awareness Network;
Afraj Gill, 20, who began business studies at SFU and is now a Chancellor’s scholar at Queen’s University, founded GammaSocial Inc and ASHA (Advocates for Social Heritage Awareness);
Alumnus Ravi Muti, 25, who graduated with a BA in criminology and sociology and, with his MBA from the New York Institute of Technology, is now focused on multiple business ventures.
Others recognized include Michael Cheng, 22, who drew hundreds to SFU Surrey’s campus and hundreds more via streaming video last November to take part in TEDxSFU and business student Joyce Loksum Mak, 19, president of the SFU International Business Association and member of the Guildford Rotary Club, who has organized multiple fundraisers for the food bank and clothing drives.
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