NEW GERMANY - Fifteen-year-old Tucker Mertens is one of 10 Nova Scotia students to earn the second annual Premier's Power of Positive Change Award.

 "Not only is Tucker a leader within our school community with the different groups he's involved in - such as social justice, music, drama and sports - but he also is a leader outside in the community, where he's involved in 4-H, helping with fundraisers at our community hall and through his outstanding effort to raise funds for Amnesty International through his bike trip across Canada," said New Germany Rural High School teacher Kathryn Creaser.

 "On top of that, he's excellent in academics as well."

 The Grade 9 student said he was inspired to do even more to help people in need when he went on last summer's cross-country bike trip with his father, Bob, in particular by the plight of First Nations people living in poverty or homelessness on the prairies.

 "Where we are in Nova Scotia, we don't see this type of stuff going on in the world, we're so sheltered É once you get away and see what it's like in other places, and how bad the situations are for some people, it really touches you. There are things we can do as individuals or as groups to help, but it needs to start here in our community."

 However, the Pinehurst resident does more than fundraise, recently helping organize a diversity day at his school and sometimes participating in Amnesty International letter writing campaigns, often to support the cause of prisoners of conscience.

 For example, last year he spearheaded a local campaign called Write for Rights.

 "I went around to each of the English classes with the case of the Lubicon Cree in Alberta."

 The Lubicon have had billions of dollars of oil and gas removed from their traditional lands, yet live in poverty, according to Amnesty International.

 "I went to the classes and told them about that and everyone wrote letters to the premier of Alberta. On that day, just in our school we got 82 letters for that cause."

 The Premier's Power of Positive Change Awards recognizes public school students who demonstrate leadership organizing a school or community activity or show exemplary behaviour promoting positive attitudes.

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 "It is incredible that so many young people have the heart and desire to help people in their schools, communities, and other parts of the world," said Premier Dexter in a June 3 press release.

 "All of this year's nominees have very impressive stories, and I encourage all students to keep up the good work, making life better for families across the province and people all over the globe."

 The recipients for the 2010 awards were selected from about 80 nominations. The recipients received a certificate of recognition and a $2,000 bursary toward post-secondary education or training.

 "These awards are an opportunity to recognize students for being true leaders in their schools," said Education Minister Marilyn More.

 "This year's winners have shown that they care about the people around them, their school and the broader community."

 The Premier's Power of Positive Change Award was launched in 2009 in recognition of two Nova Scotia high school students, Travis Price and David Sheppard, who caught the public's attention with a pink T-shirt crusade in support of a bullied student.

posted on 06/15/10