YWCA honors Women of Achievement

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A viral pandemic that closed Disneyland and canceled March Madness couldn’t compete with the YWCA of Van Wert County’s desire to honor deserving local women during the YW’s Women of Achievement Scholarship Dinner on Thursday.

Women were honored in eight categories during the event: Professional leadership, advocacy, women’s empowerment, racial justice, volunteerism, youth development, civic dedication, and overcoming adversity.

Prior to announcing award winners, the large crowd that attended listened to guest speaker Captain Ashley Mohr, a graduate of Van Wert High School and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York.

Capt. Mohr talked about her career — especially her experiences at West Point — while also noting the unique challenges faced by women who pursue careers in the military, as well as other male-dominated fields.

She also talked about the leadership lessons she learned during her career.

“Leadership is about sharing responsibilities, empowering others, and providing them with the tools to succeed,” Capt. Mohr said.

Following the medical officer’s inspiring speech, it was time to hand out awards.

Jourdan Tomlinson received the Professional Leadership award, with nominator Dr. Adam Houg writing about how Tomlinson, a nurse, excelled after taking on the newly-created position of care coordinator for their family medical practice.

“This was exceptionally daunting for her, and for us, as there was no model for this job position or role in our practice — or in the country, for that matter,” Houg wrote. “It was a job that, until that point, had not existed.”

Dr. Houg wrote how Tomlinson not only met all the benchmarks insurance companies had established for the position, but gained her national recognition and opportunities to speak at state and national conferences. Her success also caught the attention of researchers from Stanford University’s School of Medicine, who flew from California to Van Wert for two days to interview Tomlinson and other staff members so they could use her experience to teach others how to replicate that success.

Dr. Houg noted that their practice continually outperforms other medical practices in quality metrics and cost savings because of Tomlinson’s efforts.

The Advocacy award for 2020 went to Charity Storey. Nominator Jackie Hernandez talked about Storey’s tireless work as an advocate “for those who are often silenced or ignored within our society.”

When she worked at the YWCA, Storey provided support for victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and human trafficking. She helped women access social services and find shelter from abusive spouses and others, while also having an impact on how the community viewed the issues important to her, such as racial justice and equality. Storey was instrumental in organizing Stand Against Racism events in Van Wert County schools.

In her current position with Positive Resources Connection in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Storey continues to advocate for under-served and marginalized communities in that community. 

Recipient of the Women’s Empowerment award was Candy Lammers, who has worked in the male-dominated construction field for the past 18 years, and recently started her own construction company: CSL Contracting.

Lammers’ two daughters, Elizabeth and Gracie, who nominated her for the award, wrote about how they watched their mother start at the bottom of a male-dominated field and work her way up the ladder to her current status as a small business owner. Even when Lammers had down days, they noted she always got back up and eventually made her dream of owning a construction company come true.

Now, Lammers speaks to other women about her experiences in the construction field, and her ability to overcome the challenges she faced.

“As a woman in a non-traditional field, sometimes you’re going to work next to people who may not always like you, and that’s okay,” Lammers has said. “You still have to do your job.”

She also provides advice for other women who want to realize their own dreams, whatever they may be.

“Dare to try something you don’t think you can do,” Lammers says. “Be passionate about what you are doing … and give back.”

The winner of the Racial Justice award was Tanga “Tonya” Mitchell. Her nominator, Michele Bird, noted that Mitchell has shaped the way she and others view racial justice.

“The open, honest conversations we have had over the years have impacted the way I see racial differences daily,” Bird wrote.

Bird provided some examples of how Mitchell, who works for the Marsh Foundation and volunteers at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio, has been treated by others, who are often rude and view her as a threat because she is Black. She also gave her opinion that Mitchell’s willingness to talk openly about her experiences, and to place herself in situations that are organized and run by white leaders, has helped educate others about racial justice.

“By her willingness to speak up, and through her example, she is teaching all of us how to treat others,” Bird said.

The Volunteerism award went to Becky Butler. Her nominator, Ben Laudick, noted that Butler volunteers for local organizations, such as the Van Wert Booster Club, Early Childhood Center, and Lifehouse church “because she has a beautiful heart and it shines through in everything she does.”

Laudick noted that, although Butler is a devoted wife to her husband, Jim, a loving mother to her two daughters, Nikki and Cyndi, and a proud grandmother to five grandmother, she still finds time to spend many hours volunteering in the community.

“She is simply outstanding and a true example of selfless giving of time and energy for the good of others,” Laudick added.

The recipient of the Youth Development award was Natoshia “Tosh” Wilhelm, a teacher at Van Wert High School. Rachel Verville, one of several Verville family members that nominated Wilhelm and a student in Wilhelm’s AP English Literature class, said Wilhelm is “one of the most influential women I have ever met. Mrs. Wilhelm is one of those rare teachers for whom education is a mission, rather than just a job — her dedication to the youth in our community is astounding.”

In addition to teaching junior English and AP Literature, Wilhelm is also the National Honor Society advisor, a small group leader for sixth-grade girls at LifeHouse church and the Van Wert Middle School cross country coach. That’s in addition to being the mother of two children.

Verville, who earned a YWCA scholarship later in the evening, also wrote of how Wilhelm is one of her greatest supporters and a role model.

“She is the kind of person I hope to become someday,” Verville added. “I am confident I speak on behalf of many girls in Van Wert when I say that Natoshia Wilhelm is a life-changer.”

Civic Dedication award winner was Louise Hartwig. Nominator Julie Burenga talked about Hartwig’s leadership when the fledgling local Master Gardeners group decided to create a children’s garden at Smiley Park in 2005.

“Louise Hartwig made it her baby,” Burenga said, noting that, 15 years later, the garden has won many awards and brings many visitors to the community, as well as being featured in numerous travel and gardening publications.

“Louise had a vision for what a quality children’s garden could add to Van Wert, and, through her talent and tenacity, she played a large part in making the Smiley Park Children’s Garden a success,” Burenga said.

Hartwig’s daughter, Kylie, who noted her mother is “a highly creative person who has a seemingly never-ending supply of great ideas, and the energy to make them happen”, also had this to say:

“Some people live their lives out loud, and my mother is a good example of that. She showed me that nothing is impossible if you believe in yourself, and you believe in others.”

The final award of the evening, the Overcoming Adversity award, went to Ellen Rager.

Rager, the patient-community coordinator at Van Wert Health, was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer at a relatively young age, and has undergone a bilateral mastectomy and extensive chemotherapy treatments in a battle to overcome the disease.

According to Paula Stabler, who nominated her for the award, Rager “overcame breast cancer and became an even stronger woman of faith in the process. Ellen took this trial that was hard, emotional, stressful, and challenging, and turned it into a positive experience. Since Ellen’s diagnosis, she has also helped other women going through similar situations by giving them advice she wished she had known.”

In Ellen’s own words: “Everyone responds differently to a cancer diagnosis. There isn’t a right way or a wrong way to respond. For me, I am so grateful for what my diagnosis has taught me. I learned what it means to live in both grief and joy at once, and that there are ways to be nurtured by both. I learned to lean into the community as a whole, and how to accept help from others. … in the words of Emily Dickinson, ‘forever is composed of nows’. I’m ready for a spectacular second act filled with living in the moment of ‘now’.”

In addition to the Women of Achievement awards, the YWCA also presented three senior girls with scholarships. Rachel Verville, a senior at VWHS, earned a $750 scholarship; Crestview senior Laney Jones earned a $500 scholarship; and Lincolnview senior Victoria Snyder earned a $300 scholarship.