Community-minded Alex receives citizenship award
Schools
The Blackfriars Priory School community is celebrating the achievements of Alex Chu, a member of the Class of 2020, who was named a dual recipient of the City of Prospect’s 2021 Active Citizenship Award last month.
School counsellor Dianne Bucciarelli nominated Alex for the award due to the resilience he showed in overcoming “exceptional challenges” through-out his high schooling, and being a “valued mentor for younger students”.
“Alex thrived when he was asked to support new Year 7 students who were nervous about transitioning to secondary school,” Dianne said.
“He was kind, supportive and encouraging to them – and always had a smile on his face.”
Luca Emerson was one of the students who worked closely with Alex in 2020 during the passing of Luca’s father. He said Alex helped him navigate the process with greater hope and positivity, while staying focused and motivated for his Year 6 studies.
“Dianne introduced us because we had similar stories,” Luca said. “He was caring and hardworking, and he made me feel much better. Alex really turned me around.”
Alex didn’t limit his compassion to within the school grounds. In mid-2020, the school received a call from a member of the public who had witnessed an act of kindness by Alex and another Blackfriars student.
The boys were spotted assisting an elderly woman in Rundle Mall. The woman had become disoriented so the students safely assisted the lady to a taxi and were seen checking their wallets to see if they had enough money to pay for her taxi fare home.
Owen Stanborough, Blackfriars head of House said the incident demonstrated the kind of effort Alex puts into everything he does.
“Alex has shown real resilience and he has been brave in his perseverance,” Owen said. “He has a great positive attitude and always tries his best. He is a great role model for younger students and representative of Blackfriars.”
In addition to his Year 12 studies, Alex found time to pursue his love of photography, a passion for horticulture and was heavily involved in the school’s table tennis program. He was awarded the 2020 Daniel Cox Memorial Award for resilience, determination and positivity.
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