A local university student who has already spent years volunteering in her community has been awarded one of the city’s most prestigious scholarships – and she’s just 17. Abigail Hamilton, a freshman sociology major, recently received the John R. Rhodes Scholarship through Algoma University, which recognizes a high school graduate who embodies integrity, leadership and a commitment to community service. Valued at $3,000, the scholarship is renewable for up to three additional years, provided an 80 percent average is maintained. Hamilton recently moved to the Sault from Kemptville, a small town outside of Ottawa, to begin her post-secondary education. Although he had never been this far north before, it is a decision he has not regretted. “I really like it here, everyone is very kind to each other,” he says. “I liked the idea of ​​a smaller class size so you can actually talk to your professor. One of my friends was coming too, so I knew I’d have someone here that I knew.” That friend is Francheska Onasanya, Hamilton’s high school classmate and now an Algoma U student who plays soccer on the varsity team. Before moving north, the two formed an inclusiveness club at their high school called Our Voices, which caught the attention of the awards selection committee. “Our high school was hit very hard by homophobia, racism and sexism,” says Hamilton. “We watched it for three years before we became seniors. We did everything we could to make our school more inclusive.” The club achieved many firsts at their school, including Orange T-Shirt Day and Mental Health Awareness Day. They successfully put up pride flags throughout the school and hosted a series of events that sent donations to various causes, including the Food Banks of Canada. “It was fun to know that what we did made a difference,” she says. “There were 7th and 8th graders who said they wanted to join the club when they got to middle school and it warmed our hearts. It was so nice to see other people interested in what we were doing.” Forming a club focused on inclusion among a segment of the cohort came with some hesitation for Hamilton, but she felt it was something they had to do. “You realize you’re there for something bigger,” he says. “Every time it was difficult or we weren’t sure if we wanted to organize a meeting, we reminded ourselves that this is not for us. This is for the people who show up. We have to be there for them.” In addition to running the club, Hamilton has a long history of volunteerism that extends beyond the walls of her former high school. The sociology major has served as a member of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Group in Kemptville and has volunteered countless hours for numerous childhood cancer charities and initiatives. Hamilton says her drive to stand up for people’s rights and help those in need can be attributed to an upbringing that was full of compassion and perseverance. “It’s because of my parents,” she says. “I was always taught to put others before myself and reach out to people whenever they need a hand. My dad works in construction and is incredibly hardworking, and my mom worked in health care, so she was always helping people.” “They are two of the most charismatic people I know,” he adds. “They taught me what it means to be a good person.” On Thursday, Hamilton had the opportunity to meet Diane Marshall, a longtime educator who was also recognized for her tremendous community contributions. At the award ceremony, which included a dinner and several keynote addresses, they joined previous John R. Rhodes Scholarship winners. The young student says she had no idea how big a deal her achievement was. “I didn’t realize how prestigious the scholarship was at first,” he says. “I found out who John Rhodes was through some research and realized he was bigger than I thought.” Hamilton now has her sights set on becoming a human rights officer after a high school sociology class piqued her interest in the field. She says the Sault will give her the best opportunity to get there thanks to the university’s unique sociological perspective. “I want to help people and I want to fix things for other people,” he says. “I don’t hear enough people talking about some of the global issues, especially Indigenous issues, which is a big reason why I came to Algoma. They put the Indigenous perspective on such a high pedestal, and I’ve never seen that before. You can really tell it’s not just for show – they really care.”