THE 2019 Service Above Self Surrey Youth (SASSY) Awards were presented on May 9 to honour the achievements of local youth. More than 230 people gathered at Surrey Arts Centre to celebrate the seven recipients receiving this year’s prestigious awards.

The recipients were Chanya Chawla, Youth Leadership; Arry Pandher, International Service; Gian Franco Soquena, Community Service; Karambir Dhaunsi, Overcoming Adversity; Eman Dhanoya, Environmental Leadership; Jasneet Nijjar, Sports Leadership and Meriwether Morris, Arts and Culture Leadership.

In addition to receiving a trophy at the ceremony, award recipients received a $1,000 bursary and $500 to donate to a Canadian registered charity of their choice.

“Youth are a valuable part of our community and future, and we are very proud of this year’s SASSY award recipients for their contributions, ideas and leadership within the community,” said Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum. “Thank you to this year’s sponsors, performers, volunteers and youth leaders who made this year’s event another great success.”

Presented by Semiahmoo Rotary Club along with the City of Surrey and KPU, the 9^th annual SASSY Awards featured performances by FIONN, Skyla Cote, Erik Helgason, Julie Lin and the Tamanawis Secondary Drum Line. Musical director Ben Dunnill and his band, Big Paw, rounded out the evening’s entertainment.

Proceeds from the SASSY Awards support Rotary youth programs like Interact and Rotaract, where local youth lead projects locally and globally to help make the world a better place.

The SASSY Awards is a Rotary scholarship awards program for youth, aged 15 to 21, who are living, working or studying in Surrey or White Rock, which seeks to recognize, acknowledge and celebrate youth achievement.

For more information visit www.sassyawardssurrey.ca