Monday, September 26, 2011
For Immediate Release
CAAWS RECOGNIZES FIVE YOUNG WOMEN WITH PASSION FOR SPORT AND COMMUNITY
Ottawa, ON . . . The Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) is pleased to announce the five recipients of the 2011 Stacey Levitt Women and Sport Scholarship. These young women, from various regions of Canada, all share a passion for sport, serve as role models in their communities, and believe in empowering others to lead a healthy and active lifestyle.
The Stacey Levitt Women and Sport Scholarship was established in honour and memory of the life of Stacey Levitt, a superior athlete and top student who was struck and killed by a car while jogging on August 30th, 1995. Stacey participated in sport for the sheer joy of the experience, its camaraderie, its teamwork and its competition. This is the 15th year that the $2,500 scholarship has been awarded by her family to a young woman, a girls’ team or sport organization that exemplify Stacey’s ideals and qualities. Each recipient will receive $500 and a copy of the book I Am a Rose, which is a compilation of poetry written by Stacey Levitt.
2011 Recipients
Angel Anderson, Edmonton, Alta. – Boxing
Sheena Dubyk, Prince Albert, Sask. – Wrestling / Hockey
Alannah MacLean, Sudbury, Ont. – Cross-Country Skiing
Jordan Sequillion, Kingston, Ont. – Archery
Jenna Spencer, Mount Currie, B.C. – Luge / Dragon boat / Canoe / Kayak
Stacey’s parents, Ned and Cheryl Levitt, selected this year’s recipients from a candidate pool of more than 500 applications. “August 30th marked the 16th anniversary of our precious Stacey’s passing. She would be very proud, as we are, of all the talented young women from across Canada who are setting and reaching their goals,” said Cheryl Levitt. “Stacey said it best in her poem To Everyone.”
Set a goal
and reach it!
Hold your head high!
Don’t settle for second,
be first!
Aim for the top,
use your power!
Let yourself go
up, up,
to the zenith of your being!
Believe in yourself!
You can do whatever you want
if you really set your heart to it!
(Stacey Levitt, 1989 at the age of 12 years)
Congratulations to the 2011 Stacey Levitt Women and Sport Scholarship Recipients!
To read the recipients’ full bios, visit: http://www.caaws.ca/e/grants/levitt/2011.cfm
Jordan Sequillion, Kingston, Ont. – Archery
Sixteen year old Jordan Sequillion is an honour student at Kingston Collegiate and Vocation Institute High School (KCVI), a member of the KCVI athletics association, a natural athlete, and a promising archer competing at both the national and international levels.
Jordan was recently the youngest female recurve archer to compete for Team Ontario at the Canada Winter Games; she won a silver medal. Other achievements include winning a gold medal and team silver at the Canadian Indoor Championships, capturing a silver medal at the US National Indoor Field Championships, anchoring the gold medal for the Canadian Senior Team, and setting a new national record in the North and South America indoor event.
Jordan’s passion for archery led her to become a NCCP Beginner Level Coach, enabling her to share her love of the sport and encourage others to try it. In addition to training several young families, Jordan is actively leading the creation of her high school’s first archery club to encourage further participation in the sport. Jordan also shares her experiences and offers guidance to young archers through a personal website and blog dedicated to archery.
Jordan trains six days a week in pursuit of her Olympic dreams. Upon completion of high school, she plans to pursue a degree in kinesiology and physiotherapy, as well as become a national level archery coach to train the next generation of Canadian archers. Jordan’s strong work ethic, passion and love for the sport continues to motivate her today. She hopes that she can continue to inspire and encourage young athletes to achieve their dreams through their participation in sport.
About CAAWS
The Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to creating an equitable sport and physical activity system in which girls and women are actively engaged as participants and leaders. CAAWS provides a number of services, programs and resources to a variety of clients, including sport and physical activity organizations, teachers, coaches, health professionals and recreation leaders. Since 1981 CAAWS has worked in close co-operation with government and non-government organizations on activities and initiatives that advocate for positive change for girls and women in sport and physical activity communities. Visit www.caaws.ca for more information.
Contact:
Stéphanie Parker
613-562-5667 ext. 6044
slegault@caaws.ca