49 people nominated for Embe's 'Tribute to Women' awards
Makenzie Huber
Forty-nine men and women have been nominated for Embe's 48th Annual Tribute to Women awards, which is the "longest-standing award honoring the achievements of women in the region," according to a news release Monday.
Nominees are separated into eight categories.
This year's event will be on April 15 at 7 p.m., broadcasted for free on Embe's Facebook and Youtube pages. Embe is suggesting a $25 donation in place of a ticket charge.
"All donations received during the event allow Embe to continue programming in women's programs, childcare and school age care, youth development and aquatics."
See this year's nominations:
Business Achievement
Lisa Esser, Papa Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza
Sara Henderson, Avera Health
Laurie Karlson, Lauriebelles Boutique
Kristy Laue, Lawrence & Schiller
Nikkee Rhody, Central Payments
Brenda Schmidt, Sioux Falls Federal Credit Union
Stephanie Wilde, Say Anything…Jewelry by Stephanie Wilde
Community Service
Nona Bixler, Sanford USD Medical Center
Carolyn Dodson, Sioux Falls School District, Birth to Three Program
Angela Drake, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Fight Like A Ninja, Two Men and a Truck
Cindi Johnson, Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort
Kira Kimball, Marsh & McLennan Agency
Jean Lipetzky, Alzheimer’s Association of South Dakota Melissa Maxwell, Citibank
Sara Romeo, City of Sioux Falls Health Department, Falls Community Health
Jessica Wells, LifeScape Foundation
EmBeliever (open to women, men and organizations)
Jeremy Brech, DJ Jer Healthcare Workers & Caregivers, Avera Health and other organizations
Alisha Grove, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls
Taneeza Islam, South Dakota Voices for Peace
Angela Kennecke, Keloland Media Group, Emily’s Hope
Erica Varcoe, The Table Ministry
Susan Williams, The Transformation Project & The Transformation Project Advocacy Network
Government and Law
Allison Blake, Sanford Health
Nikki Gronli, South Dakota Democratic Party
Erin Healy, South Dakota State House of Representatives and Sanford Health
Dana Vuong, Vuong Law
Healthcare and STEM
Sharon Hunt, Sanford Research
Brooke Jones, Sanford Medical Center Child’s Voice
Andrea Polkinghorn, Sanford Health
Molly Satter, Sioux Falls School District
Katie Shuck, Dakota State University, CybHER Security Institute & DigForCE Lab, SD
Fusion Center
Tamera Sturm, Avera McKennan Hospital
Lauren Thum, Urology Specialists
Julie Ward, Avera Health
Humanities and Education
Courtney Anderson, Sanford Health
Abby Bischoff, Stockyards AG Experience
Cindy Heidelberger Larson, Groundworks, SD Agriculture in the Classroom
JJ Johnson, ACE Academy
Sierra O’Donnell, Sioux Falls School District
Patti Ward-Maguire, Sioux Falls School District
Sylvia Henkin Mentoring Award
Valerie Hearns, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine
Gwenneth Jensen, Sanford Health
Marla Meyer, Girl Scouts Dakota Horizons
Lori Popkes, Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center
Young Woman of Achievement
Christina Early, Avera Cancer Institute
Christa Friedrich, Avera McKennan, Avera Research Institute
Amy Moore, Lemonly
Jocelyn Smith, LifeScape Foundation