“These students have exemplified what it means to be a leader in our community,” stated Rotary Club of North Bay president Natalie MacDougall. “Each student gives back to our community in a different way, but it is through these contributions we will see out community grow.” "Is it important to acknowledge their work and support them with their future endeavours", MacDougall added.

Rotary's motto is "Service Above Self", volunteering for the betterment of the community and to promote goodwill and peace around the world.

Each year the club recognizes a grade 10 or eleven student from each secondary school in North Bay that best exemplifies "Service Above Self". The selection is made by the schools who identify a deserving student who has exhibited warmth and caring towards peers or other members of the community including seniors, the disabled or the disadvantaged.

Keynote speaker, Zack Scott, became involved with Rotary in 2013 when he went to southern Japan on a Rotary Youth Exchange. Upon his return, he has spoken at conferences, volunteered as a Rotex for District 7010, and joined the Rotaract Club of Ottawa.

Throughout high school, Zack volunteered with Widdifield’s Free the Children group and was an ambassador at the North Bay Regional Health Centre. He was recognized as Widdifield’s “Student Who Makes a Difference” last year on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. In 2015, Zack was elected Student Trustee of the Near North District School Board where he developed a three-pillar plan that focused on mental health, aboriginal culture, and life literacy. Provincially, he represented Northern Ontario on the executive of the Public Board Council at the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association and was part of the team that organized the Ontario Public Students’ Wellness Summit in Ottawa.

Last June, Zack graduated from Widdifield as the Valedictorian and soon thereafter found himself at the University of Ottawa taking Conflict Studies and Human Rights. Part way through his first semester, Zack was awarded the MEXT Japanese Government Undergraduate Scholarship. In April, he will join students from around the world to study law in Japan for the next 5 years.”