Mellisa Hollingsworth - Richards receives recognition and gift from AEHS

2006 World Cup Champion and 2006 Olympic Winter Games bronze medalist in the sport of Skeleton, Mellisa Hollingsworth-Richards received recognition and a donation towards her further sports training fund from the Alberta Estonian Heritage Society at the Jaanipäev celebration on June 16, 2007. Mellisa was unable to be present in person because of prior commitments to her sponsors, however, her aunt Jean Maki gratefully accepted the award on her behalf and read out a message of thanks from Mellisa. The June 2007 photo, sent as a form of thanks for the AEHS gesture, shows Mellisa with her mother Angela, both rightfully proud of her Olympic medal.

Another proud family member, Mellisa’s uncle Arnold Mottus writes:

“As most of you may already know, Angela is Mellisa's mother and my youngest sister by almost 20 years to the day. Starting from Emile and Henry Kingsep, Mellisa's roots descend downwards with their daughter Linda Kingsep who married Gustav Mottus. Their son Rudolph Mottus married Myrtle Solberg and born to them was their youngest daughter Angela Mottus (later adopted by Bill Patapoff , Myrtle’s second husband, as Rudolph was deceased). Angela married Darcy Hollingsworth and their first born was Mellisa Rhean Hollingsworth. This makes Mellisa a 5th generation descendant of Henry and Emile.”