A former Lindsay Thurber High School student from Red Deer was among 8 students in the province recognized with the 2016 Queen's Golden Jubilee Citizenship medal at Government House yesterday.

The medal honours volunteerism and leadership within their communities and schools.

Poshika Dhingra is committed to making her community a better place, which began in junior high, when Dhingra decided to follow in the footsteps of social activities that she admired.

“In grade 8 I was put in charge of the Seniors Luncheon at our middle school. In the beginning I was like, ‘Ok Seniors Luncheon, that’s such a small thing, I don’t even know if I want to do such a small thing, I want to be a part of a bigger change’. And then, when we actually did the Seniors Luncheon, I realized that even such a small thing like just talking to them and spending time with them made them so happy and made them feel so grateful, that I realized that the big change is just a whole bunch of small changes put together.”

Now as a Student at the University of Alberta, she is involved in Science FUNdamentals, which promotes science to elementary school kids, and also volunteers at VIDA, which is a university organization which helps to provide better health care for citizens in impoverished countries.

Dhingra was also honored in December of last year with the Stars of Alberta Volunteer award, recognizing her efforts to the well-being of her community and fellow community members.

While at Lindsay Thurber she helped guide leadership students in planning events that allowed the school to give back to the community, like a school wide clothing drive she was involved with to provide winter clothing for Syrian refugees, and fundraisers for the United Way and Cystic Fibrosis.