Scholarship Type: Special Olympics Scholarships

Sara has been involved with Special Olympics for over eleven years participating in figure skating, swimming and basketball. Over the past four years, Sara has competed at the Provincial and National levels and more recently, at the World Winter Games in South Korea where she won 2 Gold medals for Canada.

She won a gold and a silver medal at the Provincials in Thunder Bay and won 2 more gold medals for Ontario at the Nationals in St. Alberts, Alberta.

Sara has had many accomplishments over the years winning Female Athlete of the Year in Grade 8 and Most Improved Skater for the Hamilton Special Olympics Skating Club in the same year.  She has also won many medals, ribbons and trophies from various sports she has played with the Special Olympics and the sports she participated in at school.

Skating has brought Sara tremendous joy. Sara puts her heart and soul into her training and works very hard at it on and off the ice. She is a role model for many who know her. Sara is always working to improve on her athletic abilities. She really embodies the true spirit of skating whether it’s helping a fellow teammate, encouraging others to do their best or simply just working at being the best athlete she can be.

Tim has been participating in Special Olympics programs for over 14 years. He is registered in figure skating, powerlifting and athletics, but he also plays golf and skis with his family and competes in triathlons.

Tim is constantly striving to improve in all his athletic endeavors and he has been very successful at doing so. He has shaved strokes of his golf game, occasionally skis the black runs, is constantly lifting heavier weights and has been featured on TSN as an outstanding triathlete.

Where Tim’s greatest sporting successes have come though is on the skating rink. As an accomplished figure skater, Tim advanced to a higher level in figure skating between world championships, medaling at both levels! Tim improved his skating ability dramatically over the past year. The leap to a new level in figure skating was a tremendous accomplishment.

Rules at the international level are different than at the national level. This meant that Tim had to learn new elements and it necessitated a lot of changes to his solo routine. Throughout the process, Tim remained patient and worked hard to improve his speed and technique. As a result, he was a faster and stronger skater at the World Games. If there was one aspect of training that Tim struggled with the most, it was the elements, specifically Mohawks and three-turns. However, his hard work paid off and by the time the World Games came around, he was able to execute them with flow and consistency. The result: 2 medals at the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games.

Tim’s dedication to his training is admirable. He knows what he has to work on and he puts the time in to make sure he is always improving, whether he’s with his coach or training on his own. The results speak for themselves. He is more powerful, jumps higher and skates faster than ever before and he puts every ounce of energy he has into the artistic component of his routines.

Tim also embodies the meaning of sportsmanship. He is a leader in his club and younger skaters look up to him because of his accomplishments and his friendly demeanor. Tim is very supportive of his teammates and always keeps what’s most important in perspective: doing your best, whether that results in a medal or not.

Elisha Donaghey-Johnston is very proud and honoured to be awarded Female Athlete of the Year for 2012 from Special Olympics Ontario. Elisha joined Special Olympics in 1998 and has been a registered athlete for the 14 years since.

She was first introduced to swimming, a sport that incorporated her love of the water with a strong natural swimming ability. This came at a significant time in her life; it provided positive reinforcement in an area she excelled in, and social interaction with others with an intellectual disability. Many people with disabilities experience social isolation amongst their peers, and swimming provided a positive environment for Elisha.

Right from the start, Elisha demonstrated hard work and a determination to succeed. Her first question out of the pool is always, “what was my time?” and she is constantly pushing herself to improve. It has been a very personal journey for her; she continuously raises the bar to be better, while always being the loudest cheerleader for her teammates.

A true team player, her teammates success is as important to her as her own. Since her beginnings in the pool, Elisha has also been a participant in rhythmic gymnastics, track and field, basketball, softball, golf, 10-pin bowling, and soccer.

Elisha was honoured to represent Canada last year at the World Games in Athens, Greece, where she added five medals for Team Canada: two gold and three silver. Elisha was also chosen to carry the torch and represent North America in the Opening Ceremonies at the games.

Elisha continues to place new personal goals and demands on herself as she strives for excellence both athletically and personally. Her confidence, healthy lifestyle, and all-around athletic ability have significantly improved since participating in Special Olympics. She is a strong role model and highly respected within her community. Sport is Elisha’s life, and she plans to continue her journey with a desire to “Win at Life.”

It is no surprise that Jason Gordy is Ontario’s Special Olympic Male Athlete of the year for 2012. He is exemplary of the success, humility, and sportsmanship that is expected from Special Olympics and its athletes.

He has been involved in Special Olympics for over 20 years, competing in swimming, five and ten-pin bowling, floor hockey, baseball, and golf. He has competed at all levels—local, regional, provincial, and national. His goal is to take part in world competition, and is optimistic about reaching his goal with the coaching and training that he and the other athletes receive.

The Norfolk County resident was awarded a trophy by Special Olympics Ontario at a banquet in Markham this year, and was honoured again during the Parade of Champions at the Norfolk County Fair. He lives by himself in a condominium and works in a café run by the Norfolk Association for Community Living. He hopes to continue participating and competing in a wide variety of sports.

Jason also acts as the official ambassador for the local Special Olympics group. This year, Gordy won two gold and two silver medals for five-pin bowling at the provincial level. He has also participated in Ontario and Canadian competitions multiple times in multiple events.

Carlea Wilkie-Ellis has been participating in Special Olympic Sports for ten years. She is involved in over nine sports and has excelled in figure skating, swimming and curling.

Carlea has numerous gold medals at regional and provincial levels in both figure skating and swimming. She has been to the Canada Winter Games twice, winning bronze and gold medals in figure skating, and in National’s figure skating, also winning bronze and gold medals.

Carlea has represented her country in figure skating at world’s in South Korea, winning a silver medal. Most recently, she was named to the provincial team that will be going to North Bay in January. Although Carlea qualified for both figure skating and curling, she will be going for skating. She was also a member of her school swim team and has won gold and silver medals at OFSAA, as well as being named top swimmer for her school two years in a row. She has been awarded the President’s Trophy and Lifetime Achievement Award from the Orillia Figure Skating Club.

Carlea is the 2014 Special Olympics Female Athlete of the Year.

Stephen is an enthusiastic and inspirational athlete. He loves and is dedicated to sport. If Stephen is not at the gym or on the ice he can be seen running or riding his bike. He is always training and works hard to maintain his fitness level so he can
remain competitive.

Stephen has competed at the Provincial, National and World levels in speed skating. For athletics he has competed at the Provincial and National Levels many times. Stephen represented Canada at the World level in speed skating in 2009 in Boise, Idaho and most recently in PyeongChang, South Korea 2013. Stephen had much success at both those games returning home to Canada with 5 Gold medals and 1 Silver medal.

Stephen had the privilege of carrying the Torch for the Vancouver World Winter Games in 2010. In 2013, Special Olympics Ontario along with RCMP Terry Russell helped make a dream come true for Stephen and arranged to fly Stephen to Calgary for the 25th Anniversary of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games at the Calgary Dome. There he skated on the ice with Catrina Le May Doan, a Canadian Gold Medalist as well. It was an experience he will never forget!!

Stephen has been honoured twice throughout his career with the Special Olympics Ontario Male Athlete of the Year Award in 2009 and 2014. This year he is the recipient for the Male Athlete of the Year Award for Special Olympics Canada.

Stephen represents Special Olympics at many of their functions. He often speaks at these functions to raise awareness on the positive impact Special Olympics can have on an individual’s life. It has certainly affected his life in a very positive way. Stephen’s sportsmanship and resiliency make him an excellent role model and mentor for younger athletes. He strives for success in all of his endeavours, yet remains humble and thankful for all opportunities.