Cmorejova says her commitment to education brought her to Ottawa with a group of 40 Bishop Allen Academy students. The group delivered some 1,000 letters from Catholic elementary and high school students in Toronto calling for adequate elementary educational facilities for the Ontario native community of Attawapiskat. They dropped off the letters at the office of Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl on Parliament Hill.

She said she was able to relate to the importance of having a suitable learning environment because her own school dealt with moldy portables earlier in the year.

“You can’t be motivated to be the best you can be if you’re not in a facility where you can study normally,” she said.

The Attawapiskat Education Authority has claimed high toxicity levels in one of its schools as a result of a 30-year-old diesel spill underneath J.R. Nagokee School in northern Ontario. The school launched an Ottawa National Day of Action, calling on the federal government to build a new school.

But it hasn’t all been about studying for Cmorejova. Her advice to fellow students? Have a balanced life.  She has been a tutor for Bishop Allen students and played violin at school Masses.

Cmorejova, who juggled school and a part-time job at a fast food restaurant, also volunteered in a 24-hour relay to raise funds and awareness for Easter Seals Ontario. 

This September, Cmorejova will be attending McMaster University with an entrance scholarship. She plans to study health sciences and pursue a career in medical research, with a focus on neuroscience.

Academic success runs in the family. Cmorejova’s brother, Peter, earned the highest average in the Toronto Catholic District School Board last year with a 99.33 per cent.

Although they worked independently in high school, Jana says her brother helped her when she had problems with homework and gave her pointers.

Peter, who just completed his first year of health science at McMaster University, says Jana’s success is due to her diligence in studying for long hours. He said there was a healthy competition between the two in comparing grades but they always supported each other.

Bishop Allen Academy principal Adrian Mora said he’s not surprised that the top student for the second year in a row is from the school of about 1,500 students. The high school, he said, attracts some high achieving students because of its congregated advanced placement program.

“It creates an environment that’s very conducive to healthy competitiveness and the pursuit of academic excellence,” he said.

Students with the second and third highest averages at the Toronto Catholic board — Ania Ochocinski (99.83 per cent) and Olga Paprotska (99.33 per cent) —  also came from Bishop Allen Academy.