Congratulations to Thivya Jeyapalan, a grade 12 student at Father Michael McGivney Catholic Academy in Markham, Ont., who was named a Rise Global Winner.
Rise, a partner of the Rhodes Trust, gives promising young people aged 15-17 the opportunity to work together to make the world a better place. The organization provides winners with needs-based scholarships and living stipends, mentorships, possible funding for projects that tackle the world’s most pressing problems and opportunities to network and participate in virtual learning.
Thivya is an IB student at Father Michael McGivney who is excited about creating positive change in the world. She is also a musician and mental health advocate who is dedicated to fostering inclusivity. She founded “YouSpoken” to help families cultivate open dialogue, break down intergenerational trauma, and ultimately destigmatize mental health.
“I’m particularly thankful for the IB community and the motivated peers and teachers who have consistently inspired me to embrace challenges,” Thivya said. “The IB program’s focus on real-world applications—especially within the humanities and languages—has shaped my perspective and helped me develop leadership skills beyond academics.”
For her Rise project, Thivya created a virtual platform to enhance music accessibility for the visually impaired and leverage music therapy to uplift impoverished communities.
When asked what advice she would offer other students, Thivya said, “Invest time in discovering what truly motivates you and intentionally develop skills around that passion. None of what I’ve accomplished would have been possible without the support of exceptional mentors who generously volunteered their time to guide me.”
The York Catholic District School Board is proud of its many students, like Thivya, who use their unique God-given talents to improve the world. It will be exciting to see what Thivya will do after completing the Rise Global Winners program!