Kinetic Knights mentor receives Barbara Wright award

Richard Yun (right, with Gemma Mendez-Smith, executive director of Four County Labour Market Planning Board and nominator), a mentor with the Kinetic Knights Robotics Team 781, Kincardine, has won the Barbara Wright award for mentors in the community.

Yun is the administrative mentor with the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) team and is currently exploring the idea of introducing the FIRST LEGO League to his local area.

His nominator wrote: “His willingness to say ‘yes’ when asked to take a leadership or even supportive role in supporting youth skills development is tremendous! Richard is always willing to step up to the plate, roll up his sleeves and make things happen if it will benefit the youth, cause and community. I admire his commitment to excellence.”

The 2016 Barbara Wright mentor in education award goes to Paul Messerschmidt, a manufacturing teacher at John Diefenbaker Senior School in Hanover. He has coached students in provincial and national skills competitions for more than 20 years resulting in many medals, including a provincial gold this past year for Carpentry – Team of Two. Many of his evenings and Saturdays are also spent working with students in robotics.

Here are two comments by his nominators:

“I think Mr. Messerschmidt should get the award because he is always helpful to students. He encourages us to join the skilled trades and has shown us how successful we can be in skilled trade careers.”

“Paul has demonstrated all of the eligibility criteria for the Barbara Wright award and he should be recognized for the strength he has shown over the years to keep students in the skilled trades, to promote good work ethics and to stress health and safety.”

The Barbara Wright Awards are presented annually to two outstanding mentors for their invaluable contributions to local students in the skilled trades.

Wright is the former Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) co-ordinator/facilitator for the Bluewater District School Board who continues to support skilled trades-related programs for local youth. The award named after her recognizes skilled trades champions whose efforts, as demonstrated through their sponsorship, encouragement and support for apprenticeship, have been instrumental to the development of students in Bruce and Grey counties.

Congratulations to both of this year’s award recipients for their ongoing support of the skilled trades, which has had a profound impact on the success of local students.



Richard Yun (centre) of Kincardine receives the Barbara Wright award from Dave Barrett (second from left), OYAP co-ordinator/facilitator; with them, are Kinetic Knights Derek Eberl (left) and Sara Currie, and Gemma Mendez-Smith; photos courtesy of the Bluewater District School Board