Member Spotlight September 2020: Jessica Szacilowski
After graduating from high school, this all-around athlete narrowed her focus to volleyball and participated in the women’s and co-ed leagues. She also played for the Wesmen College team before the team folded in 2016. The Canada Deaf Women’s Volleyball Team was where she shared an extraordinary team bonding experience and became very close to the other Deaf and Hard of Hearing players.
Being involved with the Deaf community not only has given her a sense of belonging but has helped her discover more about herself. Additionally, this involvement has expanded her network of friendships from all over the world. Her greatest achievements were winning a Gold medal in the Canadian Deaf Volleyball Championship in 2010 and a Bronze medal in the Pan-American Deaf Games in 2016. Jessica feels grateful that MDSA has sponsored her in multiple training camps and covered competition fees that led her to winning these medals. In return, Jessica can only wish to give back and spread awareness about this extraordinary community. She organizes an annual volleyball tournament for the community and Deaf athletes and in 2018, she coordinated the volleyball tournament for the Canada Deaf Games hosted in Winnipeg.
Jessica values the Deaf community that her parents brought her into and this inspires her to study at University of Winnipeg to obtain her education degree. Her goal is to work with Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, in hopes that she can share the same or better opportunities with the next generation of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children.
Congratulations on being nominated Jessica. MDSA is proud to have you as a member!