Soroptimists honor four women with awards

Published 12:01 am Monday, April 9, 2012

PORT ANGELES — Soroptimist International of Port Angeles has honored four local women with their Violet Richardson, J.P. Pettersen Teddybear, Women’s Opportunity and Ruby awards.

■   Port Angeles High School sophomore Tana Menlove was the recipient of the $500 Violet Richardson Award.

Menlove was selected based on her activities with the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls.

She serves in the club’s top office as worthy adviser, and her recent volunteer service projects have included Cradle of Caring, the Burn Recovery Foundation and Northwest Harvest.

The Violet Richardson Award honors young women 14-17 who make the world a better place through volunteer efforts. Menlove’s parents, Kevin and Tama’ra Elliott, attended the luncheon.

■   Shari Hinrichs was named the recipient of the $1,000 Women’s Opportunity Award.

Hinrichs also was recognized with an award at the Northwest Region level.

The award recognizes women who are seeking to improve their economic status by gaining additional skills, training and education.

Hinrichs, a single mother of two teenagers, is a Peninsula College student pursing an associate’s degree in computer applications.

Technology Award judge Lucille Schmitt was in attendance.

Brian Betts and Eleanor Tschimperle, the other judges, were unable to attend.

Hinrichs’ sister, Tina Oelfke, attended the luncheon.

■   Michelle Dyche was selected for the $800 J.P. Pettersen Teddybear Award.

The single mother is a Peninsula College student pursuing an associate’s degree in administrative office systems, with concentrations in medicine and law.

She works as an office assistant in Peninsula College’s communications department.

The award was established in memory of J.P. Pettersen, a Soroptimist member, by her family.

Pettersen had her own struggles as a single parent, cared deeply for her family and believed in the power of women, the Soroptimists said.

Denise Bennett, Pettersen’s daughter; Sandy Garrison, Pettersen’s sister; Dyche’s mother, Theresa Bourget; and Sheila Martin, WorkFirst student services coordinator, attended the luncheon.

■   Kristi Toth is the recipient of the Ruby Award.

Toth was chosen based on her volunteer work with Operation Uplift.

She is part of the “buddy program,” which teams a newly diagnosed woman with a long-term survivor of the same type of cancer.

The Ruby Award honors women who, through their professional or personal efforts, are making extraordinary differences in the lives of women or girls.

Pam Erickson attended the luncheon.

Sandra Ruddell and Patty Gray are both Soroptimist members and on the Operation Uplift board of directors.