The Human Rights Ambassador Award is a recognition of outstanding secondary school students who have made exceptional contributions to advancing the principles of human rights, equality, diversity, inclusion and/or anti-discrimination in their schools.
The 2026 Human Rights Ambassador Award recipients are:
| Student | School | Town/City |
|---|---|---|
| Madeline Bailey | Emily Carr Secondary School | Vaughan |
| Stephanie Ikharia | Markville Secondary School | Markham |
| Jeansolle Kim | Aurora High School | Aurora |
| Anna Service | Newmarket High School | Newmarket |
Pictured from left to right: Anna Service, Stephanie Ikharia, Jeansolle Kim, and Madeline Bailey.
Madeline Bailey
CEC West - Emily Carr Secondary School
Madeline Bailey consistently demonstrates the values of dignity, justice, and respect through her leadership, advocacy, and commitment to inclusion within our school community. Madeline transferred to Emily Carr SS in Grade 11 and soon after became an active member of the Best Buddies Club, a program that fosters meaningful friendships between students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. She developed a deep appreciation for the importance of belonging and mutual respect. Madeline attends weekly sessions, recognizing the importance of routine and predictability for community class students, and approaches each interaction with care, patience, and empathy. She has worked closely with students in the ASD and Multiple Exceptionalities classes, playing board games, completing puzzles, reading stories, and supporting alternative literacy and numeracy goals. Through these consistent interactions, Madeline helps create an inclusive environment where students feel seen, valued, and respected. Madeline has helped plan inclusive events, thoughtfully considering accessibility and sensory needs, and is known to stand up to bullying and advocate for students with special needs. As Student Council Community Class Liaison, she works to ensure school-wide events are accessible and inclusive. Her actions reflect a deep understanding that inclusion is essential to equity.
Stephanie Ikharia
CEC East - Markville Secondary School
Stephanie Ikharia is an exceptional student leader whose academic journey is defined by a fierce commitment to human rights advocacy, strategic collaboration, and community empowerment. She demonstrated remarkable initiative by proposing and successfully establishing our school’s Black Student Alliance (BSA). Identifying a need for representation, she created a vital, identity-affirming space and now leads the group as President. Her vision was the driving force behind its creation, and she continues to foster a collaborative environment that empowers peers to advocate for equity. Stephanie recently presented to the Superintendent, speaking truth to power and advocating for the rights of current and incoming students. Her leadership has guided Black History Month initiatives that promote identity-affirming experiences at Markville. She also mentors younger students through the Transition Activity Council and participates in competitive organizations like DECA, consistently lifting others up. Beyond school, Stephanie serves as Marketing Lead of the Mayor’s Black Youth Liaison Council in Markham, spearheading outreach strategies that amplify youth voices in civic decision-making. Her dedication was formally recognized by the Mayor of Markham. Stephanie is a transformative leader who actively engages civic structures to promote human rights within and beyond her school community.
Jeansolle Kim
CEC Central - Aurora High School
Jeansolle Kim exemplifies a deep commitment to promoting human dignity, empowering others, and creating meaningful human rights change within both school and community settings. Jeansolle is the founder of Flight of Vitality, initially a registered nonprofit organization established outside of school that is now a school club as well. Its goal is reducing youth recidivism and restoring hope for incarcerated youth. Motivated by a deeply personal family experience, Jeansolle transformed hardship into purposeful action. Through partnerships with youth justice facilities in York and Simcoe regions, Flight of Vitality has delivered over 1,500 paper airplanes carrying messages of encouragement and resilience to incarcerated youth. Jeansolle also partnered with an English teacher to facilitate a writing initiative in which Grade 12 students wrote essays to incarcerated youth, helping bridge understanding, reduce stigma, and encourage empathy and justice-centered thinking. Within the school community, Jeansolle organized a Fall Fest initiative focused on mental well-being and belonging. Beyond school, Jeansolle serves as a Youth Ambassador for 360°Kids, advocating for youth experiencing housing insecurity. Through advocacy, service, and mentorship, Jeansolle ensures young people feel seen, valued, and capable, and is highly deserving of this award.
Anna Service
CEC North - Newmarket High School
Anna Service has taken on a clear and consistent leadership role within the Indigenous Awareness Council (IAC) and has made a meaningful impact on student engagement, school culture, and awareness of Indigenous rights and reconciliation. Through conversation, encouragement, and leading by example, she has motivated students who were interested in being allies to become actively involved through increased participation in the IAC and by enrolling in Indigenous Studies courses. This has directly contributed to increased engagement in learning and the creation of additional course sections, reflecting a tangible impact on school programming. Equally important is the space Anna has helped create for Indigenous students within the school community. Through her leadership, Indigenous students have felt encouraged to join the IAC and to see themselves as having an important role and voice within the school. She ensures the IAC is a welcoming, respectful space that centres Indigenous voices and experiences. Anna also demonstrated exceptional initiative in developing and running the Orange Shirt Day exhibit, encouraging reflection, learning, and meaningful dialogue. Throughout her journey in Indigenous education, she has shown significant personal growth, empathy, compassion, and accountability, consistently modeling dignity, respect, and justice.