- Over $1 million in scholarships is given to this year's community trailblazers -

TORONTO, May 6 /CNW/ - The top 20 young community leaders from across Canada gathered at the 16^th Annual TD Scholarships for Community Leadership National Awards Ceremony last evening. Each was honoured for making a positive impact in their community with a post-secondary scholarship valued at up to $70,000 for their future studies. The winners were selected from more than 3,400 high school and CEGEP applicants by judging panels that examined their ongoing contributions within their communities.

"TD Scholarship winners are an incredible group of Canadian teenagers who have already positively influenced the world around them in so many important and socially conscious ways," said Frank McKenna, Deputy Chair, TD Bank Group. "The TD Scholarship for Community Leadership recognizes not only the best in young community leaders but demonstrates how much of a difference one person can make."

From coast to coast, this enthusiastic crop of young Canadians have tapped into their personal experiences and resources to develop solutions to tackle issues in their hometowns and abroad.  From fighting discrimination and bullying; to supporting food drives; to creating environmental and sustainability platforms; to raising money for sick children; to refurbishing and sending used computers to high-need communities; to organizing cultural groups, self-esteem seminars, mentorships, and healthy living programs - these are just some examples of how the students have helped changed lives for the better.

"We are proud to invest in this generation, as we are sure Canadians will benefit from their future leadership." notes Dr. Jane Thompson, Executive Director of the TD Scholarships for Community Leadership. "These young people have already given so much to their local communities. It's exciting to imagine what heights they'll achieve once they have completed their post-secondary education."

For 16 consecutive years, the TD Scholarship for Community Leadership program has awarded over $16 million to 320 recipients, which has given young Canadians the opportunity to pursue their academic goals and to continue to make even more of a positive impact.  Past recipients include Craig Kielburger (2002), founder of Free the Children and co-founder of the Me to We Campaign; Rhodes Scholar Alysia Garmulewicz (2004); and Joshua Liu (2006), recipient of Canada's "Top 20 under 20" and founder of SMARTS Canada; among other accomplished alumni.

TD Scholarships for Community Leadership - 2011 Recipients:

Maggie Balsdon, Bayside Secondary School, Frankford, ON

Trevor Davis, Western Canada High School, Calgary, AB

Miranda Dela Cruz, Francis Libermann Catholic High School, Scarborough, ON

Dami Dina, Markville Secondary School, Markham, ON

Anna Fricker, Memorial Composite High School, Groves Point, NS

Édith Gaudreau-Lebel, Collège François-Xavier-Garneau, Saint-Jean-Chrysostome, QC

Tiffany Harrington, Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School, Oshawa, ON

Daichi Ishikawa, Prince of Wales Mini School, Vancouver, BC

Jessica Janzen, Merritt Secondary School, Merritt, BC

Araf Khaled, Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute, Toronto, ON

Siobhan Lazenby, William Aberhart High School, Calgary, AB

Connor Levesque, Moscrop Secondary School, Vancouver, BC

Jessie Lilly, Parkland Composite High School, Edson, AB

Amber Joy Oosthuyzen, J.L. Crowe Secondary School, Trail, BC

Halley Devi Roache, Bridgewater Junior Senior High School, Bridgewater, NS

Kate Saunders, Frances Kelsey Secondary School, Cobble Hill, BC

Alex Vander Vlugt, Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute, Guelph, ON

Jacques-Arnaud Vanier, Collège Lionel-Groulx, Mirabel, QC

Nathan Whalen, Bishops College High School, St. John's, NL

Wei-En Wong, St Robert Catholic High School, Thornhill, ON

All 20 winners will have post-secondary tuition and living expenses paid and a guarantee of summer employment at TD over the next four years for a total scholarship value of up to $70,000.

For more information about this year's recipients of the TD Scholarships for Community Leadership, visit www.td.com/scholarship.

The TD Scholarships for Community Leadership is just one way that TD supports Education and Financial Literacy in Canada. In 2010, TD invested $6,700,000 to further programming across the country in this area of focus.

TD Community Giving

TD invests in communities to make a positive impact where it does business and where our customers, clients and employees live and work. In 2010, TD donated over $50 million to support community organizations in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. In Canada, we focus on Education and Financial Literacy, Creating Opportunities for Young People, and the Environment. For more information, visit www.td.com/corporateresponsibility.