Students recognized for their exceptional achievements
By David Yin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
Markham-Unionville MPP Billy Pang awarded certificates to 139 area residents at the Shining Stars Festival on June 22 in the Angus Glen Community Centre.
Approximately 185 people attended the event, including award recipients, family members, and extracurricular leaders.
Most of the recipients were children and teens. However, some recipients were post-secondary students, attending and graduating from schools such as Queen’s University, Toronto Metropolitan University, Humber College, and McMaster University.
Pang and his team awarded nominees based on exceptional academic or extracurricular achievement. This included accomplishments in the arts, sports, music, leadership, or other activities.
Some recipients were members of local organizations, such as Caution Tape Robotics Club, French Solutions Inc., Aspiration & Discoveries Therapy and Education Centre, W.E Global, and York Region Educational Services.
The festival began at 3:30 p.m. Pang gave an opening speech, and the crowd posed for a photo, waving Canada flags alongside the MPP.
The recipients then received their awards one by one. They walked up to Pang, shook his hand, and posed for photos before getting their awards.
At the end of the festival, Pang gave a closing speech and serenaded the crowd. The event ended around 4:30 p.m.
Pang’s team gave out parting gifts to every attendee. Children received snacks, whereas the adults received a shopping cart coin keychain.
Pang’s team also displayed a photo booth and a Caution Tape Robotics Club machine at the back of the venue. Team members gave a live demonstration of the machine between the awards.
Pang said he created the event to promote positivity and connections with local residents.
“People often approach me by phone or email,” he said. “This event lets us reach out to the community and celebrate together.”
Coach Daniel Yu from Caution Tape Robotics Club said he was honoured for his students to attend.
“The robotics competition itself is such a small world,” he said. “Only a few people who’s in it know about it. But bringing them out to the community and having the community know about this is very, very important.”
Visit billypangmpp.ca to learn more about Pang and his upcoming events.
Photos: MPP Billy Pang poses with award recipients, their family members, and staff from French Solutions Inc. and in the second photo with award recipients from Caution Tape Robotics Club. (David Yin photos)