Maskwa's Athlete Jillian Steele Receives Prestigious Award

Last night one of Maskwa Aquatic Club’s long-time members, Jillian Steele received a prestigious award by the Zonta Club of Halifax. Every year the Zonta Club of Halifax awards a student in grade 12 a scholarship to recognize women’s leadership in public policy, government, schools and community volunteer organizations. I had the distinct pleasure of attending this event and was thrilled to see Jillian Steele receive this $1,000 award at the local level.  Jillian’s application has been forwarded to the district level where she’ll have the chance to receive a further $1,000 and if successful at the district level she will be considered for the international award of $3,000.

Jillian, a Sacred Heart School of Halifax grade 12 student has a long list of volunteer work in her resume. I would like to highlight a few. She is a dancer and singer and performs with Maritime Dance Performance Group, as a community volunteer she works in the warehouse of her local food bank each week, a cantor at her church and sings mass weekly. In 2009 she was recognized by HRM with a Citizenship Award. As an international development worker, Jillian traveled to rural Kenya with Free the Children where she helped build a school for young children. Jillian described this trip as a “life-changing experience.” She now describes her ultimate goal as becoming a doctor and ``opening a medical clinic in a rural community in Kenya where there is limited access to health care.” In her school Jillian was the Secretary of the Student Council in Grade 11, and this year she is both the Grade 12 Representative on the Student Council and the Head of the Prom Committee. As an athlete, Jillian is a member of the school’s soccer team and a competitive kayaker at Maskwa Aquatic Club. Last year in the National Paddling Competition in Ontario, Jillian received a medal for the K4 (kayaking) event. She attended the 2008 and the 2009 International Children’s Games in San Francisco, and in Athens, Greece. The goal of these games is to promote peace and friendship through sports to the world’s youth.

To quote from one of the judges, “She is a future leader and a young woman who will truly make a difference.”  Congratulations Jillian, we at Maskwa are very proud of you!