Kavinath Kanesalingnam is an outstanding leader at Roberta Bondar Public School.

He took the initiative to raise money for World Vision, the relief organization working with children, families and communities to fight poverty and injustice. He also took the lead in getting his class involved with the second annual Harris Steel Right To Play Skate. The event is organized in partnership with Canadian NHL teams.

Money raised through participation, pledges and sponsorship helps bring sports to disadvantaged children. Campaign proceeds go to support local children through participating NHL team foundations and Right To Play's Sport For Development and Peace programming in the most disadvantaged areas of the world.

The Grade 8 student is a respectful and passionate student in all classes, according to his teacher.

He is involved in school teams, clubs, student parliament, class band, class trips, babysitting for school functions as well as serving as a school announcer and volunteer in the office.

Kavinath is also part of Counting on You, an after school program that gives extra academic help to students in Grades 7 and 8. He volunteers with the program, organizing the snack, the materials and attendance.

Kav has been involved with the Peel District School Board's Future Leadership Program for three years. He attends workshops, meetings and fundraising initiatives as part of the program that has selected students working to find ways of providing school supplies and raising money to help build schools in Africa.

Workshops also teach students about Canada's involvement in helping combat the African AIDS epidemic.

Teacher Diane McDonald describes him as a caring reading buddy, a person who will jump at the chance to help you fix a computer, TV or DVD problem and a person who goes above and beyond to help those around him.