Over $3,000 was presented to seven area women by Soroptimist International of Ponca City (SIPC) as the recipients of the 2023 Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards. This year the awards were presented during the Live Your Dreams Luncheon held at Pioneer Technology Center.

Recipient of the first place $1000 Live Your Dream Award was Carolyn Herring of Blackwell. Second place award of $750 was presented to Jeri Pepe and third of $500 to Amanda Callahan. Other recipients of $250 each were Zipatly Garcia, Makinzie Hicks, Antonia Martinez and Bailey Allen.

The Live Your Dream Award is for women who serve as the primary wage earners for their families and seek financial assistance to continue their education or receive training. At the region level recipients could receive up to an additional $5,000. The program culminates with three finalist $10,000 awards at the federation level. Carolyn Herring’s application has been forwarded to the Soroptimist South Central Region competition.

Growing up in a poor, abusive family, Carolyn plans to further her education to give her two young sons the best life they could possibly have. She started her journey in the health care field in high school and later in the career tech school. She went on to earn two associates degrees.

“Everyone didn’t think I could do it and would tell me (that) often, but I did,” she said. Carolyn’s goal is become a Nurse Practitioner. Currently she is a student in the Practical Nursing Program at Pioneer Tech with a goal to receive her BSN. “I am a firm believer in stair stepping and I believe that with taking this class and starting out as a license practical nurse, it will help me gain more knowledge and skill to be a nurse practitioner.” Currently she is a full-time student and works part-time in an Urgent Care Clinic.

The Live Your Dream Award provides over $2.8 million in cash grants to head-of-household women in need each year. Since the program’s inception in 1972, more than $35 million has helped tens of thousands of women achieve their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families. A study conducted by The Fels Institute of Government, a research and consulting organization based at the University of Pennsylvania, confirmed the efficacy and impact of this program. It improves the recipients’ quality of life; builds their confidence; strengthens their self-determination and makes them want to, in turn, help others. Helping women in this way has the demonstrated effect of leading to stronger communities, nations, and the world.

Founded in 1950, the Ponca City club is part of Soroptimist International of the Americas, a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. Soroptimist, a 501(c)(3) organization that relies on charitable donations to support its programs, also powers LiveYourDream. org—an online community offering offline volunteer opportunities in support of women and girls. For more information about how Soroptimist improves the lives of women and girls, visit www.soroptimist.org For information on the local Soroptimist club and how you can join and make a difference locally and throughout the world, contact President Terri Buesing at 580.765.3919.