New school award encourages tomorrow’s leaders

evokate, a locally based communications company with international reach, announces inaugural Love of Learning Award

June 2019

The evokate Love of Learning Award recognizes the importance of open-minded, curious exploration for lifelong learning and personal growth. The award recognizes a student in Grade 6 who shows intense interest in learning, both inside and outside of the classroom. It is not a marks-based award. Rather, it rewards a student who shows motivation, curiosity and initiative for their own learning in and beyond the classroom.

“Our economy is changing and the jobs that mature generations trained for are changing. Today’s children will require an entirely different skillset to compete in the future. The challenges they face include a global economy where companies more and more are taking advantage of talent from around the world. Virtual working and strategically located satellite offices are only two examples of the competitive nature of our future,” says evokate President, Shannon Baker.

Ms. Baker continues, “Technology is drastically changing everything we do. So many jobs are being replaced by automated robots. Think of the touch screens for ordering food, or the self check-outs at grocery stores and banks. If a task is routine, repetitive and predictable, it will most likely be replaced by a machine.” She believes that developing a healthy habit for ongoing learning will enable students to adjust to change as well as be leaders for change.

Ms. Baker thinks that jobs involving human creativity and complex analysis will drive our future. Technology is changing our lives at an unprecedented rate and this provides so much opportunity for young people to learn, discover, grow and contribute to our future. “It’s so important that young people discover their passion!”

The award is designed to encourage independent learning. Various criteria for the award are set out. Teachers are instructed to select a student who best exemplifies curiosity, independent learning, respect for their learning environment, initiative, enthusiasm, confidence, critical thinking and more.

This year’s inaugural award is going to a grade 6 student at St. Timothy School in Kitchener, Ontario. Ms. Baker has a personal connection to the school. The winning student will have their name displayed on the school’s award wall and will receive a take-home plaque. Additionally, the winning student will receive a $100.00 gift card for Indigo to support their independent love of learning. The winner will be announced later in June.

A. Mandekic is the 2019 Inaugural Winner of evokate's Love of Learning Award!

July 2019

FREEDOM TO THRIVE