By Dr Peter Gangemi - Mayor of The Hills Shire Council
Congratulations to inspirational young Hills residents Angelica Ojinnaka and Sonya Clarke on their fantastic prizes last night at the NSW 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards.
Angelica Ojinnaka won the First National Real Estate Leadership Award, while Sonya Clarke was one of four finalists across the state for the NSW Ministry of Health Public Health Pandemic Response Award.
Angelica Ojinnaka is 23 years old, a Beaumont Hills resident and a Board Director for One Eight Inc. as well as a youth leader within the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
She is a founding member of the African Australian Youth Suicide Prevention Committee, where she coordinated mental health campaign. Angelica is a youth activist for Plan International Australia and has co-authored a report on the experiences of girls and young women globally.
Sonya Clarke is 13 years old, also from Beaumont Hills and used art to promote positive well-being in response to Covid. Sonya participated in the 2021 Immunisation Coalition Party Art Competition, winning 1st prize for her mixed art that encouraged the use of healthy preventative measures to stop the spread of airborne diseases.
Her entry to the Sydney Local Health District Photograph Competition also encouraged people to focus on their mental health.
We are so proud of Angelica and Sonya and congratulate them on their tremendous achievements. We are looking forward to seeing what Angelica and Sonya achieve in the years ahead.
