STEPHANIE SCHMIDT
nominated by CJ Mainil and
Melanie Sorensen
Stephanie is employed with Sun Country Health Region as a Primary Care Paramedic and is currently enrolled in Holland College with the goal of completing an Advanced Care Paramedic Program.
In her job she demonstrates superior knowledge and skill. She places her patients first and displays empathy and compassion.
Stephanie’s previous employment involved being a Truck Driver for the Service Battalion for the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve and Supervising a Dairy Queen in Regina. In addition to these accomplishments, she also has a hobby business “Cupcakes by Steph”.
When not working, Stephanie’s ambitious nature branches out into other activities. Her nominators noted that Stephanie does not seem to run out of energy and is constantly brainstorming new ideas for events and fundraising opportunities. These ideas are shared among many groups/committees she is involved- be it:
• The Weyburn and District Hospital Foundation where she just recently was quite instrumental in organizing the fundraising portion for the Mardi Gras evening
• EMS Department
• Boston Pizza — where she asked if she could assist in fundraising activities
• Salvation Army — Food Bank
• Special Olympics.
• Heart and Stroke Foundation
In the past, she has volunteered with the Weyburn Youth Centre, Diabetes Association, coached volleyball, a Regina Women’s Shelter, Santa Maria nursing home, Wascana Rehab, reading to children in elementary schools. It also should be noted that Stephanie has often been the one to approach and offer her assistance to these groups.
Stephanie certainly has been busy since her graduation from high school and it is apparent grass does not grow under her feet!
Her nominators and supporters noted that Stephanie is committed, bright, kind, reliable, consistently gives of her time and energy to help those in need-whether it be volunteering or at work. Her talents such as baking and selling her cupcakes are only one way she steps up to any challenge! Her uplifting, positive attitude and humble nature touches the lives of many, making her a well-deserved nominee for the Investors Group Young Woman of Distinction Award.
PALOMA PROSZAK
nominated by Deanna Cole
Paloma Proszak is the oldest daughter of Paul and Renata Proszak of Weyburn. From a young age Paloma has shown a remarkable work ethic. She excelled in both academics and sports during her education, balancing these with volunteering and her work.
From a young age, she has always enjoyed competition and strove to excel at whatever she was doing.
In high school she lived her passion of competitive sport by competitively figure skating for 13 years, and playing AAA hockey with the Weyburn Gold Wings for three years.
Paloma kept up with her studies and earned enough scholarships which enabled her to continue to play competitive hockey while taking her education at NAIT. Again, she balanced passion and practicality and received her Diploma of Biological Science Technology in Environmental Science in 2013.
Paloma’s work with Matrix Solutions as an Environmental Technologist requires a person with a high level of integrity and maturity. Paloma helps oil companies find solutions that are acceptable both to environmental regulations and the landowner. This work often requires specific testing or assessment that Paloma is qualified to perform. She also helps organize sub-contractors to do the land or water manipulation and then communicates with the landowner and various government agencies.
She wanted to give back to the community by being a role model to other young hockey players. She appreciated the role models she had as a player who helped develop her “whole person” and wants to “pay it forward” to other young players. She strives to have a positive impact on young female players who need strong female mentors both in their hockey and personal lives. Paloma has been an assistant coach to the Weyburn Gold Wings since 2013. One of her coaching highlights was when the Gold Wings won the National Esso Cup in 2013. Paloma also is an assistant coach for Female Team Saskatchewan for U16 and U18 Women’s hockey. These volunteer coaching commitments take up many hours each week.
Paloma’s passion to be her best and dedication to both her work and to her coaching and mentorship of many young women hockey players exemplifies a Young Woman of Distinction.
