28 FOCUS - JUNE 2019 Because of her small size, at 5’ 2” and only 110 lbs., Jenna said that initially, there was some concern about her being able to handle carrying heavy backpacks and rock samples on the job in the Yukon, but her excellent physical fitness won out over her stature, convincing her boss that she was up for the challenge. Jenna is enthusiastic about applying her theoretical book learning to actual fieldwork. Her science, a heavy course “is hard work but I love it, so I want to do it,” she said. There are 2:1 males to females in her geologi- cal program, and she guesstimated that only 11 out of 30 students will graduate on time. “A determined person,” Jenna is well known locally as a successful, competitive long distance runner. She grew up on Scugog Island and attended Port Perry High School, where she made it to the Nationals in Grade 12. “It was at Fort Henry in Kingston in November, and it was cold!” she recalls. She takes after her mother Paula, who is also athletic. “She was like a coach to me,” Jenna says, “and we would run together.” Now Paula is keener on speed bik- ing, but Jenna still prefers being on foot. She runs up to 8k on her team at University, and hopes to have time to keep up her training while in the Yukon. “Running is fun for me,” said the PPHS grad who was also a soccer star, making it to the Provincials. Becauseofherloveofrunningandothersports,andthe pains and strains which sometimes go with it, Jenna was a patient of the physiotherapy department in Port Perry, and also employed there part-time in grade 10. It seemed obvious that physiotherapy would be her chosen career path. “I took a left turn in grade 11,” Jenna said. Two main life events happened that year. Sadly, her father Paul passed away. And that was the year that she took a Forces of Nature course at Port Perry High School, which peaked her interest in geology. The course covered every- thing from earthquakes to natural disasters to volcanoes. “It was so fascinating,” described Jenna. “I got hooked.” On two days notice, there was her mom, driving her to Sudbury to tour the Laurentian campus in the rain. Jenna and her mom Paula on Easter weekend. Jenna Whitney (continued from page 27 ) BUICK GMC BUICK GMC 10 Vanedward Drive, Port Perry 905-985-8474 www.gusbrownportperry.com DROP IN TO ASK ABOUT OUR JUNE INCENTIVES. NEXT GENERATION SIERRA