About the Markham District Energy Sustainability Bursary
A Canadian leader in providing sustainable energy, Markham District Energy established its Sustainability Bursary in 2010 to promote and reward youth leadership in the area of environmental sustainability.
Graduating Markham high school students who have distinguished themselves through academic excellence and participation in extracurricular, volunteer and community service activities relating to environmental sustainability are invited to apply for one of up to seven $2,000 bursaries granted annually.
2020 Recipients
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Arjun Bhatia
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Carina Chan
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Dexter Siu
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Dhrumil Patel
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Lilian Zhai
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Arjun Bhatia
Markham District High School
Throughout his four years at Markham District HS, Arjun participated in the school’s environment club, EcoMarkham, serving as Communications Coordinator, Secretary-Treasurer and Co-President. As a member of EcoMarkham, he helped lead and sustain multiple environmental initiatives including the school’s ink cartridge recycling program, the completion of its decade-long Living Wall project and the establishment of a pollinator garden. He also organized environmental awareness campaigns, such as the school’s Earth Strike campaign in September 2019, which educated over 500 Markham District HS students. Arjun recently became involved with the Markham Environmental Youth Council aiming to continue his environmental work on a Markham-wide scale. He is currently studying engineering at McMaster University and plans to join the McMaster Energy Association, which is the first student-led initiative on green energy in Canada.
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Carina Chan
Bur Oak Secondary School
Carina participated in multiple environmental clubs and events throughout her time at Bur Oak SS. She’s served as a member of the school’s Zero Footprint club promoting environmental awareness within the school, as well as a student leader of Mission Zero, a club aiming to reduce the school’s waste, and competed in Envirothon, an annual environmentally themed academic competition for secondary students, since Grade 9. She’s also involved in environmental activities within the Markham community including TD Tree Days where she planted trees at Milne Park, Bio-Blitz where she assisted in taking inventory of birds, plants and bats, and Earth Day Celebrations where she educated the public on volcanic lightning. Carina is currently studying environmental engineering at the University of Waterloo.
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Dexter Siu
Thornlea Secondary School
Dexter discovered his passion for the environment in Grade 10 while studying the environmental effects of chemicals used throughout communities during winter conditions. He then joined Thornlea’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) team, which focuses on projects supporting the protection of the environment. In his final year on the STEM team at Thornlea SS, Dexter worked on creating an algae farm to turn algae into biofuel. As a member of the STEM team, he also traveled to local elementary schools to educate students there about environmental sustainability and encourage them to strive towards creating solutions to environmental problems regardless of their age. Dexter is currently studying engineering at the University of Waterloo.
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Dhrumil Patel
Father Michael McGivney Catholic Academy
Dhrumil served as a member of Father Michael McGivney’s eco club for two years during which he assisted with various initiatives, such as Bag2School, cellphone recycling and lunchtime information sessions, as well as maintaining the school’s small greenhouse. Within the Markham community, he has participated in 10,000 Trees for the Rouge for the past three years, as well as volunteered time planting a community garden and taking part in community clean-ups. Dhrumil is currently studying engineering at the University of Toronto and plans to join the university’s Environmental Students’ Union.
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Lilian Zhai
Pierre Elliott Trudeau High School
Throughout her time at Pierre Elliott Trudeau HS, Lilian participated in several clubs focusing on environmental and sustainability initiatives. She joined the Octagon Club and implemented several ideas for reusing waste material including weaving plastic milk bags into mattresses for use by people in developing countries and creating an art installation promoting recycling and sustainability from toilet paper rolls. Lilian also joined the iSci Math and Science Peer Tutoring Club in Grade 11 where she undertook the position of Executive for two years. The Tutoring Club educates students on topics including pollution, ecosystem cycles and energy resources. She is currently studying Life Sciences at the University of Toronto.