Some students are heading into the summer break with bigger smiles than most after earning some scholarship and award funds.

Topping the list locally is Pointe Claire resident Devon Willis. The St. Thomas High School alumni and recent John Abbott College Liberal Arts graduate picked up various awards this spring recognizing her efforts as a student leader. The 18-year-old was one of 20 young people nationally to receive a TD Canada Trust scholarship, valued at up to $60,000 each, for having made "a meaningful and lasting difference in their communities." She also picked a $5,000 Toyota Earth Day Scholarship for her environmental activism. While initially offered a national-level Millennium scholarship, she had to rescind that award due to the TD Canada Trust one and instead accept a smaller regional-level Millennium scholarship. As well, she was honoured with two prestigious awards during the JAC graduation ceremony last Thursday.

Willis, who will attend McGill University in the fall, said scholarships are worth more than just their monetary value.

"It's not just the money they provide (for continuing your education), they acknowledge the efforts of these students and they bring them together," she said. "They might be doing something different than you, but they're also having an impact. If everyone would reach out to help their community, the world would be a better place."

As for what motivates Willis to become involved, from founding the human rights JACtivists group to setting up an Amnesty International chapter back in high school, she said it all comes down to is passion.

"I really like to get involved in issues I care about," she said Monday, just days before heading to Calgary to start her summer job with TD Canada Trust that is part of her scholarship. "I then started to realize what I was doing matched up well (for scholarship criteria)."

As for her future career path, which may also include a law degree, she hopes one day to enter politics or work for a government or non-governmental agency or possibly an environmental group.

Meanwhile, seven other West Islanders received Millennium scholarships. Gianna Métellus of Dollard des Ormeaux (Collège Bois-de-Boulogne), and St. Thomas students Marco D'Arienzo and Michael Bellows won at the provincial level.

D'Arienzo, 17, who was recognized for leading a school assembly on the issue of genocide and raising funds for the Montreal Children's Hospital, said he hopes to combine science and commerce in his future studies. "I was awed when I got the phone call (about the scholarship)," he said. "I never expected it. It's motivation to keep working hard. It proves that in real life good things happen."

Pierrefonds resident Jesica Ayoub (Collège Ste. Marcelline), Beaconsfield's Maude Chalin (Dawson College), Kirkland's Bradley Johns (Beaconsfield High School) and Dollard's Jessica Leitner (Lindsay Place High School) won at the local level.

Leitner, 16, who was her school's yearbook editor and organized a Christmas basket drive, suggests fellow students "get involved," keep up good grades and show leadership if they hope to earn scholarships.

There are three levels of Millennium scholarships, Local awards ($4,000), Provincial awards ($16,000) National awards ($20,000).