YWCA announces WoA speaker, nominees

VW independent/submitted information

The YWCA of Van Wert County will host its annual Women of Achievement Scholarship Dinner at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 12. Keynote speaker for this year’s event will be U.S. Army Captain Ashley Mohr.

Mohr is a graduate of distinction, valedictorian, and class president of Van Wert High School’s Class of 2011. She also was captain of the soccer, basketball and track teams. After high school graduation, Mohr attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, where she was captain of the 2015 national champion women’s rugby team. Upon graduation, Mohr was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps.

Following Officer Basic Course, Mohr’s first assignment was the Second Cavalry Regiment in Vilseck, Germany, where she served as a platoon leader, medical operations officer, and troop executive officer. During her three-year tenure in Germany, she supported numerous NATO operations throughout Europe, including Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Mohr then served in the 89th Military Police Brigade at Fort Hood, Texas supporting Operation Faithful Patriot. 

Her current assignment is the 4th Security Force Assistance Brigade in Fort Carson, Colorado, where she serves as the medical logistics advisor, providing foreign militaries with guidance and expertise on medical supply management.

Her awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal (with one Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Expert Field Medical Badge.

In addition, the YWCA also announced this year’s Women of Achievement nominees in the following eight categories:  

• Professional Leadership — Jourdan Tomlinson & Miriam Owens
• Advocacy — Charity Storey and Kirsten Barnhart
• Women’s Empowerment — Candy Lammers
• Racial Justice — Tanga Mitchell
• Volunteerism — Anne Dunn and Becky Butler
• Youth Development — Alice Schaufelberger (posthumous) and Natoshia Wilhelm
• Civic Dedication — Louise Hartwig
• Overcoming Adversity — Ellen Rager

Winners of the Women of Achievement awards will be announced the evening of the event.  

“The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all — so it is an absolute honor to be able to recognize these females who carry out our mission in their daily lives,” said YWCA Director of Advocacy Kelly Houg. “We are looking forward to a wonderful night celebrating our nominees and their commitment to the Van Wert community.” 

Tickets for the event are available for purchase online at Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/women-of-achievement-scholarship-dinner-tickets-92778114839?fbclid=IwAR1rilWWQcL0-sjQaXovKZrkQXix2eqSgbLB7EPNsEe5WzHNQN9ZjHx7n48 for $25. The YWCA is partially funded by the Van Wert County Foundation and is a United Way Agency. 

For more information about the event, contact Houg at 419.238.6639 or khoug@ywcavanwertcounty.org.