Scholars and Explorers - Trafalgar School for Girls

Kierstin Lundell-Smith 2007Attended Trafalgar: 2002-2007Education: BA (Philosophy major, Asian Studies minor), Princeton University (expected)Field: LawKierstin Lundell-Smith enterslaw school at McGill in thefall of 2012, armed withconsiderable experience in debating,a critical skill for a lawyer. A topdebater, she was a member of theCanadian Debate team in 2006-2007. The team won the EuropeanSchools Debating Championship inStuttgart in 2006 and advanced tothe semi-final round of the WorldSchools Debating Championship in2007. Kiersten says that her years atTrafalgar taught her new skills andto take risks. She says that she wouldnever have applied to Princeton ifit had not been for the supportiveatmosphere at Trafalgar, and sheprobably would not have thoughtabout studying law without thedebating she did in high school.Kierstin went on to the pre-universityprogram at Lower Canada Collegeand won prizes in Economics,Wo m e n to Wa t c h“member of the CanadianDebate team”English Literature, Psychology andPhilosophy, as well as the Dr. PaulBennett Award of Excellence forgraduating with the highest average.She considers her senior thesis hercrowning achievement. For heracademic achievement, her abilitiesas a debater and her openness to risktaking,Kierstin has been chosen asone of our 125 Women of Trafalgar.Kimberley (Kim) Fortin 2008Attended Trafalgar: 2003-2008Education: DEC (Honors Social Sciences), International Studies Certificate: John Abbott College; BA, McGill University (expected)Field: International Studies/Community ServiceKim is pursuing a BA inInternational DevelopmentStudies and African Studies atMcGill University. Her involvementwith international developmentbegan in 2003 with the Cedar ParkYouth in Action Group of Free theChildren, a group she’s still activecompound with 32 other participantsbetween the ages of 13 and theirlate twenties. They helped buildtwo classrooms, cleared land for acommunity garden and experiencedlocal culture to learn ways toimplement sustainable developmentprojects. Kim joined Operationmouth campaign that raised moneyto complete the mechanization ofa borehole to provide clean waterfor the community of Larabanga,Ghana. The group is currently raisingfunds to construct a new classroom.Kim has been recognized for hercontributions and dedication to“She’s a three-time Duke of Edinburgh Award winner – bronze, silver and gold – and receivedan Honourable Mention for the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award in 2010”with. While at Traf, Kim took partin a two-week humanitarian trip tothe Dominican Republic. The grouphelped build the walls of a classroom,made desks, painted and drewmurals, and cleared land to makespace for a playground. In 2010,Kim spent three weeks in Kenya ona similar mission, living in a groupCrossroads Africa on a seven-weekhumanitarian trip in 2011. She taughta grade one class at a local school,helped build a one-acre communitygarden and lived in a Ghanaianfamily compound. On her returnfrom Ghana, she started the Water IsLife/Passion for Change Campaign,an online (Facebook) and word-of-improving lives elsewhere. She’s athree-time Duke of Edinburgh Awardwinner – bronze, silver and gold –and received an Honourable Mentionfor the Terry Fox Humanitarian Awardin 2010. For her dedication to givingto others and to community service,Kim has been chosen as one of our125 Women of Trafalgar.Victoria (Tori) Schouela 2009Attended Trafalgar: 2004-2009Education: DEC Dawson College; BSc (Rehabilitation Science), McGill University (expected)Field: Physical Therapy/Community ServiceBefore she even graduated fromhigh school, Tori Schouela hadbuilt an entire school herself.She co-organized and ran a fundraiserin 2008 that collected enough moneyto build a school through Free theChildren. That was her proudestmoment among many. Now studyingphysical therapy at McGill University,Tori continues to work for the lessprivileged. In 2010, she co-organizeda photography exhibit and benefitconcert, Fight the Bite, for a projectdesigned to raise awareness of thesocial climate in Uganda and topromote health care at a children’shome in Gulu, Uganda. It raised$4,000. Tori has also volunteered atthe Livingstone Lion RehabilitationReserve in Zambia and helped builda secondary school in Kenya withFree the Children, the group for“Before she even graduated fromhigh school, Tori Schouela hadbuilt an entire school herself.”which she helped raise $8,500. AtTraf, she was an award-winningstudent and athlete: Juvenile TouchFootball MVP (2008, 2009); SeniorMost Sportsmanlike Award (2007);Janette C. Doupe Medal (2009)for bringing honour to the schoolfor an outstanding achievement;Lieutenant-Governor Award; and theDuke of Edinburgh Bronze Medal.Not surprisingly, Tori twice receivedthe Community Service Certificate ofRecognition. At Dawson College shewas named Track and Field Club MVP(2010, 2011). She has also been avolunteer with St. John’s Ambulancesince 2009. For her interest in thewelfare of others less fortunate andher willingness to do somethingabout it, Tori has been chosen one ofour 125 Women of Trafalgar.46 | 125 Women of Trafalgar