Trenton Soroptimists' annual awards banquet

Three local women were recognized with monetary awards from the Trenton Soroptimists for their ambition and contribution to society. The honors banquet was held on March 22nd at Trenton’s Grand Event. Several judges, local professional and business people, were in attendance to celebrate with the winners. The applicants were evaluated on a set criteria and essays that assessed their contributions to women and society.

Soroptimist is an organization of almost 1,500 clubs in nineteen countries for and by dedicated women who use their collective power to help other women and girls transform their physical, mental, and emotional lives and the lives of their families.

To qualify for the Soroptimist Violet Richardson award, a young woman must be a high school student who is actively helping to make her community and world a better place through volunteer efforts. The 2016 award winner is Trenton High School’s Brooke Teska. She is the historian of the Rotary Interact Club, whose goals are to get others involved, become aware of current problems, and to make one’s community and world a better place through service.

Brooke’s four-year tenure in the club has involved her in the Goodfellows’ Canned Food Drive, Operation Christmas to help children worldwide, volunteering at the Trenton food pantry, joining the Jingle Drive to collect toys and food, packing meals for Kids Against Hunger, and collecting funds at the Rotary Pancake Breakfast. Her most fulfilling project to date is coordinating the DMC Cereal Drive to collect and distribute cereal to Southwest Detroit children during the summer months who qualify for free or reduced lunches.

As a member of the THS National Honor Society, she has participated in several school and community projects. Brooke and her soccer teammates have also held fundraisers. She has even donated her shorn tresses for “Locks of Love” to help little girls facing cancer treatments or alopecia.

Miss Teska says, “I love helping others, and to have so many opportunities to do so has been very rewarding. I hope I am a positive role model for those who are around me, and my actions encourage others to volunteer and make a difference, too.”

The Virginia Wagner Educational Award honors a woman who is attending college or university to earn a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree. Judging factors included efforts toward education; scholarship based on cumulative grade-point average; extra-curricular activities; financial need; a general impression of stated goals and aspirations; and a good attitude toward education, community, and self.

Brownstown’s Rachel Jenkin is a second-year student at Grand Valley State University working toward her bachelor’s degree in psychology. Her activities include being captain of the Forensics Debate team at Walled Lake Northern High School, photographer for the Rockwood Housing Commission, and personal assistant to a woman who is legally blind. Ms. Jenkin has been an exchange student in Germany and has hosted a student from Germany in her home. Her educational philosophy is to spend her college years discovering who she is and what impacts she can make on the world.

Despite several roadblocks in her adolescent years, college became life changing for Rachel because she received the support and tools to deal with stress. The trauma and issues she had experienced helped her discover that “humans are truly incredible in how they can deal with so many obstacles and still be strong and able.” Ms. Jenkin’s application has been sent to the Soroptimist district level for further judging.

The “Live Your Dream” award belongs to Renay Stefko of Monroe. After a life of adversity and heartache, Renay rose above what would have deterred most people from achieving success. She has overcome family dysfunction, abuse, mental health issues, and addiction to have received her associate’s degree and now is completing her bachelor’s degree in organizational management this autumn.

Ms. Stefko’s determination and personal experience to achieve sobriety and stability have inspired her to pursue the study of the mental health system and a desire to obtain a master’s degree in social work. Renay believes that enduring and overcoming the suffering of her past life has given her the perseverance to fulfill her destiny and her roll in God’s plan. She is determined to make a positive difference in people’s lives and continue to “live her dream.”

Contact Facebook@Soroptimist Trenton, MI or trentonareasoroptimists@gmail.com to learn more about Trenton Soroptimists.