Governor’s Column (Featuring the First Lady)
by First Lady Melanie Blunt
Honoring the Achievements of Missouri Women
One of the best parts of serving as Missouri's First Lady is having the opportunity to recognize so many outstanding Missourians. March is Women's History Month and it is an appropriate time to celebrate the achievements of the countless women who make historic contributions every day to enhance our state and communities.
Women like Rose O'Neill, who created Kewpie, perhaps the most famous cartoon character in the world until another Missourian created a charming little mouse named Mickey. Women like Laura Ingalls Wilder, whose book Little House on the Prairie has introduced millions of Americans to life on the frontier. Women like Susan Elizabeth Blow, who started the first kindergarten in the United States at Des Peres School in St. Louis. And women like Helen Stevens, a native of Fulton, who won two gold medals in the 1936 Olympics.
The First Lady Awards recognize the outstanding achievements of Missouri women in the categories of business and innovation, culture and humanities, education, health and wellness, and volunteerism.
Judy L. Burns, of St. Charles, is this year's recipient of the First Lady Award in Business and Innovation. Judy is president of Patriot Machine, Inc. where she is responsible for Patriot's business, financial, and administrative management. Patriot Machine is a defense contractor that Judy and her husband, Robert, began in April 1991 as a small Numerical Control Programming firm in their home. Today, Patriot employs 116 employees, and 2007 sales figures topped $16 million.
Ms. Naoma Powell, the recipient of the Culture and Humanities, has dedicated her career, personal savings, and entire life to the goal of serving all persons through the arts. Naoma founded Access Arts - School of Service in Columbia to encourage creativity and provide opportunities for all people to experience and participate in art.
Dr. Jahnae Barnett is the First Lady Award winner in the education category. Dr. Barnett is the first female president of William Woods University in Fulton. Dr. Barnett's leadership at William Woods has changed the school from a small, single-campus, rural women's college with an approximate 300 student enrollment into a statewide, co-educational university that serves more than 3,000 students with three permanent campuses and an additional 100 Graduate and Adult Studies programs across Missouri.
The recipient of this year's Health and Wellness First Lady Award is Cynthia B. Teas of Purdy. Cyndy is the co-founder and director of Development and Health Services for Camp Barnabas. Cyndy and her husband, Paul, established Camp Barnabas in 1995, a summer program that allows more than 1,200 campers with all types of special needs to enjoy all the typical camp experiences in a setting conducive to their special medical needs.
Matt and I always enjoy reaching out to Missouri volunteers and assisting with the volunteer efforts. The winner of the Volunteerism Award is Rosemary Wick, of Clayton. She is the founder of St. Andrew's Resources for Seniors (STARS) Friends organization. The organization was established in 2002 to help meet the basic needs of at-risk seniors and improve the overall quality of their lives through fundraising for St. Andrew's. The STARS Friends organization has grown to more than 200 members, helping to raise more than $600,000 to date.
I am overwhelmed by the number of Missouri women who are making a significant and lasting impact on their communities and our state. All the nominees for the 2008 First Lady Awards are truly inspiring women who are making history, and I am pleased to recognize their achievements.
While I know that countless Missouri women across the state are making a positive impact in big and small ways, I never could have imagined that, when we introduced the First Lady Awards, we would receive more than 300 nominations of outstanding candidates. I congratulate the winners and thank all the outstanding women who were nominated for making a significant and lasting impact on our state, our nation, and our world.