As youth head back to school, jurors offer insight on ways to keep up volunteering and build hours in time for October 31 submission deadline

TORONTO, Sept. 4, 2013 /CNW/ - Scotiabank today announced the international panel of jurors for this year's Scotiabank Bright Future Awards. Among them are Canada's Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Olympic Champion and former hockey player, and Veronica Lacey, former President & CEO of The Learning Partnership, who shared some insight on what jurors will be looking for in submissions and ways that youth can keep building their volunteer hours when they head back to school.

"Young people all around the world are making positive contributions to their communities. I'm proud to be a juror for the Scotiabank Bright Future Awards and help recognize these outstanding youth," says Campbell-Pascall. "School is the perfect time for young people to either start volunteering or keep up volunteering they've been doing throughout the year. Your classmates are a powerful network and, when you work together, you can make a real difference in your community."

The panel of jurors who will be reviewing submissions this fall for the 2014 awards include:

• Cassie Campbell-Pascall, captain of two Gold Medal winning Olympic hockey teams and Scotiabank ambassador (Canada)
• Veronica Lacey, former President & CEO of The Learning Partnership (Canada)
• Allyson Leacock, Executive Director at Caribbean Broadcast media Partnership on HIV/AIDS (Barbados)
• Jatnna Tavarez, Dominican Republic television personality and National Ambassador for UNICEF (Dominican Republic)

In the event of a tie between applicants, Sue Graham Parker, Executive Vice President of Global Human Resources at Scotiabank will cast the deciding vote.

The Scotiabank Bright Future Awards showcase young volunteers who are making a difference in their communities, inviting them to join Scotiabank in creating positive change as part of its grassroots Bright Future philanthropic program. Initially launched in 2012, the program recognizes 12 winners — six in Canada and six internationally. Youth can apply at scotiabankbrightfutureawards.com for a chance to win a tablet computer and a CDN$2,500 donation to the charity of your choice.

"I've always been a big believer in the power of volunteering to create lasting, positive change in a community. That's why I'm proud to return as a juror for the Scotiabank Bright Future Awards," says Lacey. "There are all kinds of possibilities to keep up your volunteering when you go back to school, including inviting friends or classmates to join you in a cause, participating in a charitable initiative as a class and help build school spirit, or bringing a charity to your school to help raise awareness."

Details about the Scotiabank Bright Future Awards:

• To be eligible, applicants must be between the ages of 16 to 24
• Applicants must complete a minimum 100 hours of volunteer service in three of Scotiabank's six Bright Future pillars —education, arts & culture, health, social services, sports and the environment — log their hours at scotiabankbrightfutureawards.com and submit an essay describing the impact their volunteerism has had on their community, charitable organizations and themselves
• The application deadline is October 31, 2013
• 12 winners will be announced in spring 2014

For more information on the awards, submissions and the jurors, visit scotiabankbrightfutureawards.com and follow your country's Scotiabank Facebook page and Twitter account for regular program updates.

About Scotiabank
Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, both in Canada and abroad, through our global philanthropic program, 'Bright Future'.  Recognized as a leader internationally and among Canadian corporations for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, Scotiabank has provided on average approximately $47 million annually to community causes around the world over each of the last five years. Visit us at www.scotiabank.com.

SOURCE Scotiabank