STU Alumni Christy Clarke (BA'08), Vanessa Paesani (BEd’10) and Matt Sheriko (BA’11) Part of 21inc. Emerging Leaders Group

 

Published: Thursday, Aug 2, 2012

Three St. Thomas University alumni -- Christy Clarke BA’08, Vanessa Paesani, BEd’10 and Matt Sheriko, BA’11 -- are part of 21inc’s network of emerging leaders.

“We are thrilled to have these outstanding individuals join our growing Atlantic Canadian network of emerging talent,” says Alain Parent, President of 21inc. “We were impressed with the calibre of applicants and are grateful to the community for their support in nominating individuals.”

21Leaders is a 10-month advanced entrepreneurial leadership experience. The program selects 21 emerging leaders between the ages of 20 and 35 and emerses them in a development experience that includes leadership projects, mentorship and peer-coaching opportunities, as well as accelerator weekend sessions.

“We were overwhelmed with interest,” says Sara Ehrhardt, Executive Director of 21inc. “We had the most nominations we have ever seen in New Brunswick, and the level of interest across Nova Scotia really exceeded expectations.”

Christy Clarke - Founder and Executive Director, Earth Spirit Horse Rescue/Gratitude Works

Clarke is the Founder and Executive Director of Earth Spirit Horse Rescue and Gratitude Works Personal & Professional Development. These organizations offer diverse programs that save horses from abuse and neglect and conducts suicide prevention and youth empowerment camps, women’s programs and leadership workshops. In addition to her academic training and seventeen years of experience with horses, Christy is certified as a facilitator of Equine Experiential Learning. Christy completed her undergraduate degree at St. Thomas University where she honoured in science and technology studies and majored in history. She has been awarded over $100,000 in scholarships for her academic research, including one of the most prestigious scholarships in Canada from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. She is now a PhD candidate at UNB completing research on the history of human-horse relations in education and therapy programs. Christy is the cover profile in the alumni magazine Connections
http://www.connectionsmagazine.ca/story.aspx?issue=11&id=358&section=59

Vanessa Paesani - Program Delivery Officer, The Gaia Project

Paesani is dedicated to providing education that youth find relevant and engaging. Through her work with The Gaia Project -- an energy and environmental educational charity -- she works with teachers, students and administrators to realize projects where students lead the charge in researching, developing and implementing school-based sustainability plans. Vanessa earned her Bachelor of Education from St. Thomas University and holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Biology from Mount Allison University. Vanessa has made a great friend in her Little Sister through her role with Big Brothers, Big Sisters and volunteers with the Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre’s crisis line, serves as the president of her condominium corporation and loves throwing around a disc at ultimate frisbee. Through her desire to be an active participant in her community, Vanessa has been involved in the District Education Council.

Matt Sheriko - Communications Officer, St. Thomas University / Assistant Director, Camp Triumph

Sheriko is a Communications Officer for St. Thomas University and Assistant Director of Camp Triumph. A graduate of St. Thomas in journalism and communications, Sheriko was involved in many aspects of student life from athletics and student government to volunteer work and organizing the annual Relay for Life. In his graduating year, he was awarded the Tom McCann Memorial Trophy, presented to a graduating student who best portrays the spirit of STU, and the John Frederick Walls Memorial Award for his successful balancing of a demanding schedule of academic, volunteer, and athletic pursuits. Last August, he began work in the Communications Department at STU and built a new sports information program through web, social media and special events. He works full-time nine months of the year at St. Thomas and during the summer months he assumes a lead role volunteering with Camp Triumph -- a summer camp for children who have a family member with a chronic illness or disability.

For a complete list of the new cohort of 21 leaders, please see www.21inc.ca.