OUA'S WOMEN OF INFLUENCE: Toronto's Jen Rossiter
HAMILTON, Ont. - Ontario University Athletics (OUA) will recognize the top female scholar-athletes from across the province at the eighth annual Women of Influence Luncheon on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (South Building – Hall G), 255 Front Street West in Toronto.
The event honours female student-athletes who have excelled in their chosen sports, fields of study and community involvement. This year's guest speaker will be tennis star Venus Williams. The legendary tennis star is a winner of five Wimbledon titles, seven Grand Slams, 41 WTA tour titles and three Olympic gold medals. Off the court, Williams excels in a variety of areas including interior design, fashion and authoring two books.
Today’s honoured female athlete is the University of Toronto’s Jen Rossiter née Held. Jen is an outstanding student-athlete and lacrosse player who has proven on the field and in the classroom that she is a natural leader and all-star.
After a four-year career with the Queen’s Gaels, during which she was named both the OUA rookie of the year and player of the year, Jen continued on to the University of Toronto to pursue a degree in medicine and continued her excellence on the field with the Varsity Blues.
In her four years with the Blues, the Brampton, Ont. native was a four-time OUA All-Star, was twice named the OUA’s most sportsmanlike player and led all players in the province with 63 points in her final season on the field.
Join OUA as Williams speaks about her career on and off the courts, and how she set a new standard for all female athletes around the world. Tickets to the luncheon are $168.37 (taxes included) at the early bird price and can be purchased by registering at https://register.womenofinfluenceinc.ca/woi/register.aspx.
OUA recognizes the following sponsors for their support of this event; belairdirect., Centaur Products, Pioneer Petroleums, Wilson Sports Equipment of Canada, and the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity.
Name: Jen Rossiter
Sport: Lacrosse
School: University of Toronto
Program: Medicine
Hometown: Brampton, Ont.
Q: What is your proudest academic achievement?
A: Getting into (and surviving) medical school while continuing to play sports.
Q: What is your proudest athletic achievement?
A: Winning the most sportsmanlike player in the OUA lacrosse league for my last two seasons. I've won other awards before, but I feel this one says much more about what kind of a player I am, both to play with and against.
Q: What is your most memorable community related moment?
A: Coordinating a mentorship program for underprivileged kids in the Queen/Spadina area. It was really rewarding to see how excited these kids would get over healthy food, group activities and field trips, and a privilege to provide these opportunities that they otherwise would not have.
Q: What woman has most influenced you, and why?
A: My mother has influenced me more than anyone else. She is the most positive and energetic person that I know. I am lucky to have inherited many traits from her (fortunately for me, this does not include her athletic ability) and I strive to be more like her everyday.
Q: What are your future plans?
A: To develop my own family practice, likely as part of a family health team, and to start a family of my own. And hopefully one day, I'll even have the chance to play lacrosse again!