By Mark Squibb | Vol. 12 No. 23 (November 14, 2019)
Three young women from the Southern Shore were top winners among the 33 competing at the 2019 Miss Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador Leadership Program Awards Gala on Nov. 4.
Kathleen Murphy, 17, of Tor’s Cove is crowned Miss. Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador 2019-2020 by Lillith Kelly of St. John’s, last year’s Miss Achievement. Photo courtesy of Ben J. King Photography.
Kathleen Murphy, 17, of Tor’s Cove was crowned Miss Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador 2019-2020.
“I’m happy, but it’s very surreal. In a couple of days, I’ll come down off the cloud and take it all in, but that’s not happened yet,” she joked.
Murphy explained that contestants are judged on a wide variety of criteria.
“It’s a lot about public speaking, a lot about volunteering, a lot about giving back to your community, and a lot about being confident,” she said. “They’re looking for someone who’s confident, who’s involved in their community, someone who does volunteer work, and someone who’s comfortable with speaking in front of a crowd.”
Murphy has been encouraging her friends at Mobile Central High School to sign up too. “I think that every girl should get involved,” she said. “I think it’s an amazing opportunity, and the girls we meet are amazing. It’s not like we’re competing against each other, it’s as if we’re competing as a group, and everyone’s really supportive. I’ve made so many friendships. I’m still getting text messages congratulating me and supporting me all along the way. I only met them Friday, but it feels like they’re going to be my best friends forever.”
Over the Christmas season, Murphy will attend the lighting of the Christmas Tree at Ronald McDonald House in St. John’s and participate in the St. John’s Santa Clause Parade.
Murphy is also a student council co-president, co-founder of an environmental club at her school, and is involved in cheerleading, soccer, hockey, tutoring, and Girl Guides.
“I think it’s a really amazing program, that every girl should have the opportunity to do,” said Murphy. “Someone might be intimidated going into it, because they don’t know anyone else in it before you start, but the support is amazing.”
Murphy was also awarded the Anaconda Mining Volunteer Activity Award.
Meanwhile, Kaitlyn Boyle, 17, of the Goulds was another big winner of the night, earning many awards, including the MMSB Environmental Awareness Award, the Dale Carnegie Communications Award, and the Isabella Ashley Spirit of Giving Award.
Kaitlyn Boyle,17, of Goulds, was the 2019 Isabella Ashley Spirit of Giving Award Winner at this year’s Miss Achievement event. She raised over $2,000 for Ronald McDonald House NL. The contestants raised a total of $18,500 for the charity, which gives families a place to stay while their children receive medical care. The Skinner family of Massey Drive, who have been guests at the St. John’s Ronald McDonald House since July, were on hand for the awards gala. From left are Christine Morgan of RMHC NL, Joshua Skinner, Kaitlyn Boyle, Annette Godsell of RMHC, Krista Skinner, and Brian Skinner. Photo courtesy of Ben J. King Photography.
“It was definitely an honour to receive any of the awards,” said Boyle. “I went in pretty optimistic. I didn’t necessarily expect to win anything, but I went in with a very optimistic outlook.”
Boyle helped raise some $2,285 for Ronald McDonald House NL, earning her the Isabella Ashley Spirit of Giving Award, awarded to the girl who raised the most money for Ronald McDonald House Charities in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Isabella Ashley was the Honorary Patron of the Miss Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador Leadership Program, and the first ever Miss Newfoundland in 1936. She passed away on December 7, 2012 at the age of 91.
“I can’t take all the credit, because I had a lot of support from my family and friends who offered to buy a ticket,” Boyle said of her fundraising effort.
Her little brother Brandon was a particularly a big help, selling tickets on weekends.
As she wants to go into nursing, Boyle said that raising funds for Ronald McDonald House was particularly rewarding.
“In Canada, and in Newfoundland, we have access to free healthcare. That’s great. But you face a problem if you’re from an outport community around Newfoundland,” Boyle said. “You face this whole new array of problems… Just for you to come to the Janeway is extremely challenging sometimes financially, because you don’t have any family out here a lot of time. Any family, who has a child who is sick, that’s burden enough, so to be able to give back in that way, to take the financial burden off them, was something I really thought was important and special.”
Participants collectively raised $18,500 for RMHC NL. Members of the charity were on hand for the cheque presentation, as well as members of the Skinner family of the Corner Brook area community of Massey Drive, current guests at the Ronald McDonald House.
Earlier this year, 17-year old Joshua Skinner was diagnosed with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, a soft tissue cell cancer which would require long-term treatment.
The Skinners have been guests at Ronald McDonald House since July, and Joshua is attending Holy Heart School so he can finish his grade 12.
“It just goes to show that all the work we put into it was worth it when you can help families and see that this was a real-life example of who you’re benefiting,” said Boyle. “It was incredible rewarding, and very emotional.”
Boyle is actively involved in both the SPCA and the Vera Perlin Society, and is looking for more ways to support those causes. She is also a basketball player and former karate student.
She admits that she was unsure about entering the competition at first, but is glad she did, and would encourage any girl to give it a try.
“I did it anyway, because I like to challenge yourself. Honestly, you never know unless you try,” Boyle said. “You have to stay optimistic, and you have to step out of your comfort zone.”
A third young woman from the Southern Shore also earned success in the program.
Brooklyn Kenny of Fermeuse earned the title of second runner up to the coveted Miss Achievement crown. She could not be reached for comment.
