RA Alumni feature
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ollowing high school, Kathleen O’Neil 2008 enrolled into the Disabilities Studies program at Mount Royal University. During her second year of study, Kathleen had the opportunity to work at two practicums - Janus Academy for students with autism and Renfrew Educational Services at the Janice McTighe Centre. In the spring of 2011, Kathleen graduated with a Disabilities Studies Diploma.
During her six years at Rundle Academy, figure skating was a huge part of Kathleen’s extracurricular activities and continued throughout university. In 2014, she performed in the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede Enmax Ice Show as a professional figure skater. The Ice Show reaffirmed her love to perform, thus beginning her audition process for Disney on Ice. At the same time Kathleen also worked in a kindergarten classroom at Renfrew. “...with hard work and determination, anything is Kathleen then worked part-time for Autism Partnership in homes and in possible. It may have taken a long time to get to classrooms with children. Kathleen continued to coach and teach skating at the highest shelf, but it is so worth it in the end!” the University of Calgary, the City of Calgary, and the Calgary Winter Club. Kathleen auditioned numerous times for Disney on Ice and in June of 2015 was offered a position in the show, “Disney On Ice Presents Dare to Dream!” Kathleen toured for seven months in North America and is currently on tour again this year. “Disney on Ice has been on the top of my shelves, sometimes out of sight, but never out of mind, so to speak. In attending Rundle Academy I was taught there are many shelves to go through, but with hard work and determination, anything is possible. It may have taken a long time to get to the highest shelf, but it is so worth it in the end!” Kathleen O’Neil 2008
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Summer 2017 | Ascent Magazine
