Jeff Stewart Memorial Award

Congratulations to our Winners in 2020

Sophia Vaillant

Nominated for her open-minded curiosity and audacious willingness to reinvent the wheel, Sophia Vaillant embodies the Jeff Stewart principals. She is constantly questioning the status quo. Instead of accepting things "the way they are," Sophia brings her perspective about why they shouldn't be "that way" and always has a creative suggestion for how it could be better. Sophia came to the ENTER program as a timid grade six learner. Over four years she evolved into a force to be reckoned with. There are very few adults who meet Sophia that aren't inspired by her ideas and her spirited engagement in everything she does.

Liam Rendell

Liam Rendell is determined and hard-working. Always willing to jump in and use his creativity to help with projects, Liam is a go-getter who is always thinking about ways that technology can help people. Liam loves people and is always finding new ways to be involved with his community. He has a flair for public speaking and is comfortable in front of any sized crowd. Liam is ambitious and goes above and beyond in his many varied interests. When he is not creating with technology he can be found creating through his passion for dance and musical theatre.

In Memory of Jeff

This Award will be given to students who have Navigate/NIDES as their school of record and who demonstrate and/or possess the following qualities:

innovation
unique spark
creativity
ability to think independently/outside the box
pioneering spirit
trailblazer

These Awards will be given to recognize students who demonstrate the qualities of innovation, creativity, forward thinking, and pioneering spirit, of which Jeff Stewart embodied in creating our unique Navigate/NIDES community and all if its various programs. We wish to recognize and encourage students who display that unique spark, who are really ‘going for it’, who are trailblazers in something they are passionate about, be it through entrepreneurial or philanthropic projects which benefit their communities or some other outlet. These students display those very highest qualities of our school spirit and are making the world a better place.

Jeff Stewart spent approximately 15 years in School District 71 and was principal of NIDES from January 2011 to June 2018. Jeff had an obvious passion for education and a belief in allowing students to find and follow their Sparks. He came to NIDES with a vision to create a place where students and educators could collaborate and build community. Jeff was passionate about educational innovation and creating unique learning opportunities for students. This forward thinking leadership and his visionary ideas demonstrate what is possible when school communities dare to challenge the traditional conventions in public education and brought NIDES international recognition with the creation of programs such as FAe, ENTER and PACE. Jeff always kept students at the forefront and encouraged them to pursue their dreams and think outside of the box. Jeff never hesitated to join in with students whether it was picking up a guitar and playing along side them or stopping to chat to them in the hallways. His passion and personality is missed very much and his vision of innovation, community and collaboration carries on throughout all of our NIDES communities around the province.

Nominations for the 2021 and 2022 years were postponed due to a pesky little virus we not-so affectionately refer to as "The Virus that shall not be named". Sorry about that. It was just too much for a volunteer board.

Nominations for 2023 open January 2023. Join our mailing list so you don't miss your opportunity to nominate a ROCK STAR learner in your community.

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