Climate matters most to student of the month

The Rotary Club of Penticton Sunrise is delighted to recognise Meredith Allen, an exceptionally gifted, well-rounded and deeply caring Grade 12 student at Penticton Secondary School, as Rotary Student of the Month for February.

In honoring Allen, club members roundly applauded her outstanding achievements in scholastics, music, highland dancing and, above all, inspiring leadership role in pressing for local climate action.

Born and raised in Penticton, Allen is the youngest of three children in a close-knit family in which being physically active and outside exploring nature are integral to pursuing a healthy, wellbalanced lifestyle. Thoughtful, engaging and empathetic, Allen has been well-coached at home in core life skills conducive to self-fulfillment and exemplary social responsibility.

Allen is a brilliant student who is endowed with a piercing intellect fuelled by an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Enrolled in the demanding French immersion program, she has attained stellar average grades of 98% in Grade 10, 99% in grade 11 and 98% in the first semester of grade 12.

Her program has comprised an array of mind-expanding subjects ranging from life sciences and physics delving into the natural world and AP English reading ancient fables to life skill courses in textile studies and woodworking.

“With 150 students each year, I have taught some amazing students, including Rhodes scholars, Canadian national scholars and Ivy League school graduates. Yet, Meredith is my top student in my 28-year career,” said English teacher Wayne Kuechle.

“She earned 100% in English Lit Studies 12 and 99% in AP English Literature, the latter equivalent to an ‘A’ mark at university. Full of fun and loved by her peers, she is not only the brightest but also the nicest student I have ever taught.”

French teacher Annika Everton concurred.

“Meredith is the top French Immersion student in her grade. Armed with an unmatched work ethic and a true love for learning, she always exceeds the expectations of others. Kind to all, she freely helps her classmates with homework and preparation for tests. Positive and mature, she leads by example without expecting any praise.”

Allen’s unrelenting quest for excellence extends to the performing arts. Her love for music is baked into her DNA as her mother, Heather, a soprano in the Seraphim Early Music Ensemble, has formal training in music performance, theory and composition.

Allen learned to play the double bass at age 11 when she was too young to carry it, and now participates in the Penticton Academy Orchestra and the Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra.

A versatile musician, Allen also plays piano and violin and composes her own music. Last fall she studied composition under UBC professor Jennifer Butler in the OSYO mentorship program. Her work, “Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo,” was performed by the OSYO at their concert last fall.

“Meredith is an intuitive and sensitive natural musician and composer. Her arrangements reflect her thoughtful creative process, drawing upon her travel experiences with family. Meredith is a teacher’s dream—hard working, driven and passionate,” said music teacher Olivia Walsh.

Allen’s passion for climate action was kindled at age eight when she heard a talk by the renowned environmental activist Tzeporah

Berman at the Meadowlark Nature Festival.

In Grade 10, she helped form the Sustainability Club as a forum to highlight climate change and discuss possible solutions.

“Unquestionably, our world must radically rethink our humanfocused, resource-based view of nature, and implement the adaptations needed to live in harmony with nature,” Allen said.

Outside school, Allen has attended sustainability tradeshows, youth rallies, and volunteered with First Things First Okanagan, a local climate group working to find solutions for a better future.

“As teacher sponsor of our Sustainability Club, I have seen Meredith’s leadership skills transform the club into a tour de force for climate action,” said Jolene Broccolo.

“They have informed our school about plastic waste; taught ways to recycle and upcycle products; fundraised for environmental causes; and held workshops on making soap and other sustainable products.”

Allen places a premium on “being a good citizen, from extending kindness and empathy to others all the way to having utmost respect for our land and environment.”

Last year in Grade 11, her display of these values, coupled with “integrity, commitment, strength of character and courage to do what is right,” garnered her Pen High’s prestigious Jonathan

Snyder Citizenship Award.

For relaxation, Allen enjoys reading English classics — “Pride and Prejudice” being a favorite— and hiking, canoe camping and exploring the wilderness with family.

She also enjoys sewing and making her own clothes, allowing her to not only follow a family tradition — two great-grandmothers were expert seamstresses — but also to use her creativity to customize odd fabrics and thus address environmental concerns over fabric wastage rather than support fast fashion.

Upon graduation, Allen plans to study economics with a minor in environmental sciences at either UBC or UVic, leading to a career as an environmental policy analyst.

This outstanding young person clearly possesses in abundance the underlying traits needed to pursue a rewarding and productive career while enriching and inspiring the lives of those she meets along the way.

— Student of the Month is a Rotary Club of Penticton Sunrise project. The award aims to recognize outstanding students for unique achievement in scholastics, extracurricular activities, community involvement, leadership, and service to others. The club is pleased to recognize Penticton Secondary School and Princess Margaret Secondary School as project partners and Cascades Casino Penticton for generous financial aid.