Trisha Punit is a role model for our youths. She has excelled from a very young age, achieving recognition for both academic excellence and exemplary community service. For several years, Trisha has volunteered her services to assist the annual activities of the Guyana Independence Festival in Toronto, as well as many other events within her local school community of Pickering, Ontario.

In addition to going to school and being an active member of numerous clubs, Trisha also finds time to play the piano, learn sign language and tutor her peers - all while ensuring academic success. She graduated from high school as an A+ student, was an Ontario Scholar for her outstanding academic achievement in secondary school, and was the recipient of the 2005 International Order of Daughters of the Empire (I.O.D.E) Award for her outstanding contribution to the community.

Having just completed her second year, Trisha is in the top 10% of students in the Bachelor of Commerce Specialization in the Accounting program at the University of Ottawa. With such great grades, she holds the honour of being on the Dean's List and a member of the Golden Key Community, an organization for students with outstanding grades. A teaching assistant at the university, Trisha works hard to succeed in school but also finds the time to volunteer for special events and holds executive positions on both the Marketing Association and Accounting Club at the university. In addition, she inspires others by being a mentor for first year university students. In this role, Trisha assists students in adapting to university life by helping them to learn course material, empowering them to get involved in the community, and assisting them in developing transferable skills such as time management and communication.

Trisha is an ideal example of a well-balanced youth who not only preaches what should be done at university, but also uses herself as an example to show that it is possible to achieve outstanding grades while also having a personal life and giving back to the community.