Centre
Posted June 15, 2012

Grandview congratulates Sean Towgood: 2012 OACRS Scholarship Award Winner

Grandview's own Sean Towgood is the recipient of a $1,000 Scholarship Award from the Ontario Association of Children's Rehabilitation Services (OACRS).

Grandview Children's Centre is a proud member of OACRS, representing the interests of all 21 children's treatment centres across the province of Ontario.

Sean was presented with the scholarship, along with a gift, by OACRS Chief Executive Officer Linda Kenny during the 27th Annual General Meeting of Grandview Children's Centre in Oshawa on June 14, 2012.

The OACRS Scholarship Award Program recognizes students who have been served by Ontario's Children's Treatment Centres and who are pursuing a post secondary education or career goal.

Sean has been a client of Grandview since 2004 when his family moved from Scarborough to Durham Region. He was supported in his application for the 2012 OACRS Scholarship Award by two members of his Grandview therapy team: Corrie Dixon, Physiotherapist, and Alice Wong, Occupational Therapist.

Corrie and Alice's letter of support highlights Sean as a "truly inspirational young man" who remained focused on his education and personal goals despite suffering from debilitating pain due to his spinal curvature, a complication of his Spastic Cerebral Palsy - Quadriplegia Level IV, and subsequent spinal fusion surgery. While in recovery from surgery, Sean spent months unable to sit without pain, yet he requested a bed at school so he could continue with his studies.

Sean's diligence extends beyond his personal academic achievement. He has organized huge collections of pop can tabs to support Pop Tabs for Wheelchairs at local sports tournaments. In 2011, despite overwhelming back pain, Sean made the effort to attend one of the tournaments as a show of appreciation to those who donated pop tabs. 

Sean also served as a member and strong leader of Grandview's Youth Advisory Council, making recommendations to the Board of Trustees of Grandview Children's Centre and Grandview's Adolescent Therapy Team regarding centre-wide programming and social/recreational activities. He is committed to advocating for youth and young adults with disabilities.

Sean was proudly joined at Grandview's Annual General Meeting by his Educational Assistant, Ann Cheesman, from Henry Street High School in Whitby, and his mother, Joanne Latimer.

He is also the sole winner of the $1,000 2012 K.D. Munroe Scholarship Award from the Durham District School Board, and plans to attend university for radio and television broadcasting, with the goal of becoming a sports broadcaster.

Grandview congratulates Sean on his 2012 OACRS Scholarship Award, and wishes him success in his post-academic studies and career goals.

Click here to see more pictures from the award presentation to Sean.

Grandview Children's Centre ... inspiring possibilities for children and youth with special needs.