02/24/2007: "Soroptimists Awards Outstanding Women & Teens"

Soroptimist_Awards-1 (74k image)
(L to R: Tara Melborne, Soroptimist President Becki Day, Lainey Volk and Wynn Barnard at the Awards Luncheon)

The Violet Richardson Awards were presented at the Soroptimists' luncheon meeting on February 21, along with two other annual awards made by the Soroptimists.

The "Making A Difference Award" this year went to Lainey Volk, for her leadership on the Every 15 Minutes program. Lainey put together the program with massive coordination involving 27 organizations, 14 grants and over 200 volunteers. The program simulated a fatal car accident involving teens and alcohol, and involved mock rescue, medical, law enforcement, media, legal, court and funeral proceedings. Students are still talking about the event and according to some, "we know there are young women who have made positive choices as a result." Lainey's compassion and organizational skills have truly made a difference here in our community.

The "Women's Opportunity Award" goes to a woman in San Juan County who is the primary wage earner in her family and is working to improve her economic status. This year the award went to Amy Johnson of Orcas Island. Amy is the mother of three, works full time as office manager at the Orcas Family Health Center, and is working on her Bachelors degree. Amy will be present at the March 14th "Notable Women's Luncheon to receive her award.

Violet Richardson Awards

A teenager's life is busy – going to school; completing homework; often working part-time; and participating in sports, music, or other school activities. Despite these demands, many of our islands' teenagers are setting aside time for volunteering, determined to make a difference in their community.

One such inspiring volunteer is Tara Melborne, a senior at Spring Street International School, who has been selected by the Soroptimists of Friday Harbor to receive the club's 2007 Violet Richardson Award. This award, which comes with a $750 cash stipend, honors Tara's volunteer work for the ESL Child Enrichment Program.

For two evenings each week, Tara works with the children of Spanish-speaking adults who are learning English through Skagit Valley Community College's ESL (English as a Second Language) program. While the adults are busy honing their language skills, Tara helps their children with homework, sets up art projects, reads books with them, and stimulates conversations in English. Rita Ament, who works with Tara in the program, observes, "I love her. She has become a very inspirational young woman. It's rare that someone her age really cares for an individual and gives all of herself to them. Tara brings magic to the program."

Three other young women, who all attend Friday Harbor High School, were selected as runners-up for the award. Wynn Barnard traveled to the Peruvian Amazon last summer, and was inspired to begin developing a project that will send art supplies to children in a little village there and will then sell their artwork here in Friday Harbor, using the proceeds to purchase and send educational supplies to their village. Sarah Heeren is being honored for her work with Island Rec, coaching teams for both basketball and volleyball, as well as putting together and running a very successful volleyball camp last summer. Katie Schmidt, who lives on Shaw Island, has been writing and publishing a monthly newsletter in Spanish, as a way to reach out to the vibrant - but often ignored - Latino community on the island; she is currently in Ecuador, working on improving her Spanish-language skills during a six-month exchange trip.