Parkland College student Jennifer Richards will represent Yorkton at the 2011 Miss Teen Canada International Pageant in Toronto this July.
Richards says she is taking the experience one step at a time and trying to enjoy the journey. She realizes the honour of representing Yorkton and being one of nine to represent Saskatchewan at the annual pageant will put her in a role model position and says she relishes the thought of being a strong role model to young women and "breaking down traditional expectations." After all, not too many pageant contestants are Heavy Duty Mechanics.
Richards recently completed the Tri-Trades Applied Certificate from Parkland College, and turned that experience into a job opportunity with Truck Proz as a Truck and Transport Mechanic. She has always had an interest in welding and mechanics. Jennifer continues to encourage young women into trade programs and suggests they should "just try it."
She says she has enjoyed her experience at Parkland College and gives a lot of credit to Garth Patzwald who went above and beyond sharing his extensive experience with the class and the great environment. Richards was also awarded the Centennial Merit Scholarship Program Award for Tri-Trades in March 2011.
Her next steps include a number of community presentations raising awareness and funds for Feed the Children; and international charity reducing the impact of poverty on children. Richards will require the support of the College, community and province in July in receiving votes for the title of Miss Teen Canada. You can support her by following her on Facebook - "Jennifer Richards for Miss Teen Canada - World 2011"; Twitter "JennyClaire York" and through her daily blog in July at http://missteencanadaworld.com/.
