Local student nominated for provincial award

Although only 17, Ishaan Gulati has earned both his glider and private pilot’s licenses, has garnered provincial awards for public speaking and debating, is the president of his high school’s student council, is an honour’s student and finds time to volunteer and run fundraisers.

It was for these reasons and many more that he has received a nomination for an Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year award through the Ontario Community Newspaper Association.

Ishaan said his parents have been the biggest influence in his life.

“My parents came to Canada from India and they worked hard to make a better life for me and my sister. They push me to do my best,” said Ishaan.

Ishaan has been accepted into the aerospace engineering program at Carleton University in Ottawa but is waiting to hear from University of Waterloo before he makes a decision. The list of final recipients for the 2014 Ontario Junior Citizens of the Year Awards will be announced Jan. 23.