High school students have to log 40 hours of community volunteer work to get their diploma.
But a graduate of Kincardine District Secondary School has gone way beyond that.
Julia Robertson is one of three winners of the Hospital Auxiliaries Association of Ontario Student Award for 2009.
Robertson logged 250 hours of volunteer work with the South Bruce Grey Health Centre in Kincardine — and another 400 hours in the community.
Hospital Board Chair Dan Gieruszak says Robertson has become a role model for other students and the entire community.
Robertson is now studying Honours Biochemistry at Dalhousie University in Halifax.
Gieruszak notes every community in southwestern Ontario is losing people under age 25.
But he hints that successful, dedicated volunteers like Robertson could easily have job opportunities with local health care agencies if they want to move home.
Robertson’s award will be officially presented during a special breakfast at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto today.