Meet the Students
Francesca S.
"Any opportunity to inspire people is a great opportunity."
By Claire Racette
Harmonizing a passion for both environmental sciences and filmmaking may seem like an impossible task, however for 16-year-old Francesca ‘Frankie’ Schembri it’s her passion. Frankie first came to Elmwood in Grade 7 and seamlessly transitioned from Middle to Senior School, where she really began discovering her well-rounded self by being involved in different activities, such as: the jazz and honour band, junior school big sister, student ambassador, and co-editor of the yearbook. She is also academically strong and has won numerous awards, including Overall Academic Achievement in both Grades 9 and 10.
Frankie has had a connection with the environment ever since she was young, as she would spend a lot of time hiking and mountain climbing with her family. When she came to Elmwood, something that helped her meet new people was joining the Environment Council. There, she was able to work with others that wanted to make the same positive change that she did. Ever since Grade 9, Frankie has been the leader of the club and has helped others make a difference in the world.
This year Frankie organized an Eco-Summit, which brought together teens from 14 different schools across the Ottawa area to discuss environmental issues. While organizing the summit, she mastered planning, budgeting, Excel charts, and interviews. She even started her own creative label, Awkward Turtle Productions, when she produced a unique, motivational and creative animated movie to showcase the Eco-Summit. She received such positive feedback that she continues to produce jaw-dropping, incredible videos for different events such as Black History Month and Earth Month; which she is currently busy planning.
In the future, Francesca plans on attending MIT, which she describes as “this place where you can do anything you want… and you have the resources to do it.” By studying both Environmental Science and Film, Frankie’s goal is to help make the environment more understandable to people by focusing on the communications aspect. In her spare time, Frankie enjoys running, photography, and volunteering; which keep her focused and motivated.
Frankie ensures the success of all her projects through her hard work and internal motivation. She is a huge inspiration and is very respected by her community, and has the ability to combine science and art in a way that is sure to change the world.
Elmwood Student Profiles
Learn more about Elmwood's students.
