Reception: YWCA Ames-ISU Women of Achievement
| Date/Time: | Wednesday, 22 Apr 2009 at 7:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Location: | Reiman Ballroom, ISU Alumni Center, 420 Beach Ave. |
| Cost: | $25 ($15 for students) |
| URL: | http://www.ywca.org/site/pp.asp?c=cdJKIS...BE&b=84175 |
| Contact: | |
| Phone: | 515-294-1663 |
| Channel: | Groups, governance |
| Categories: | Special events |
| Actions: | Download iCal/vCal | Email Reminder |
Lois Smidt received the Woman of Achievement award, recognizing her volunteer activities. Smidt is co-founder and executive director of Beyond Welfare of Story County. Her volunteer work and activism in the community continually focuses on the empowerment of women and children. She organized single mothers, especially minorities, in advocating for their children in the public schools. She rallied support for the local foster placement of a child, keeping the youngster close to familiar people and surroundings during a difficult time. She voluntarily serves on committees and boards, and has a long list of women and girls she has mentored, leading by example.
Nikki Thompson Frazier earned the Rising Star award for her work supporting social justice initiatives. Thompson Frazier is chair of the Delta Academy, an educational and leadership outreach program for girls age 11 to 14. The academy is part of a national initiative developed by the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. Through grant-writing and securing sponsors, Thompson Frazier successfully established Ames' initial Delta Academy with programming centered on academics, leadership, service and cultural exposure. She also served as a facilitator for Ames' Community Conversations on Diversity and a workshop for ISU minority freshmen.
Beth Wessel-Kroeschell and Susan Benner shared the Shining Star award, which recognizes women who provide extraordinary leadership, service or work that either empowers women and girls or eliminates racism in the workplace.
Wessel-Kroeschell, a local representative in the State Legislature, served as floor manager for the 2007 Iowa Civil Rights Act which ends discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. She also was floor manager for the successful "same-day voter registration" bill that ensures all Iowans are able to participate in the voting process. In 2009, Wessel-Kroeschell is serving on the Health/Human Services Appropriations subcommittee, the Human Resources subcommittee and the Judiciary subcommittee -- all are important in the advocacy for women and minorities.
Benner, senior lecturer in ISU's English department, volunteers as a translator at the Ames Free Medical Clinic. She not only interprets for the Spanish-speaking clients during clinic visits, she also relays physician instructions, makes trips to the emergency room when needed, and delivers medications with translated directions. Benner's translations also benefit the clinic's health-care workers, bridging the cultural gap of misconceptions.
Worldly Goods, located at 223 Main St., was honored with the Community Spirit award. The award is given to a business or organization that empowers women in the workplace, promotes racial justice or impacts the community. The nonprofit retail store offers hand-crafted goods purchased at a fair price from across the globe, especially developing countries. Most of the fair-trade items are crafted by women, who serve as the primary source of income for their families. Volunteers handle day-to-day operation of the store, overseen by a board of directors and small management staff.
Kelsey Kelley and Srivani Harish were awarded YWCA Ames-ISU scholarships. Kelley, a senior majoring in political science, is from Waukee. Harish is a business graduate student from Bangalore, Karnataka, India.