ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 1, 1995                   TAG: 9506020048
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: N-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long


NEIGHBORHOOD NAMES

THE YWCA WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS were announced recently, honoring eight women who made significant community contributions in the past year through professional achievements, leadership, volunteerism and inspiration to others.

Tracy Clemons, winner in the physical fitness category, is a trainer for women at the New Fitness Center. In her spare time, she volunteers with the Cave Spring Rescue Squad, Roanoke Memorial Hospital and the Appalachian Search and Rescue Team.

Peggy Dickerson, with help from the Optimist Club of Roanoke, brought an award-winning program on child abuse, "Knock, Knock ... Who's There?," to over 1,000 elementary pupils in the Roanoke Valley. Dickerson is actively involved in Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Salem Baptist Church. She received the organization's community service and volunteer award.

Corinne Gott, manager of the Roanoke City Department of Social Services, was selected as the winner of the public service award. Under her direction, the department has been recognized as one of the best in Virginia. Gott also serves as a chairwoman for the Quality of Life Committee of the New Century Council.

Marylen E. Harmon, a Roanoke County teacher who also designed and taught a program on professional development for minority women at Hollins College, is the education award winner. She also researched and designed "The Traveling African Exhibit" at the Harrison Museum of African American Culture.

Kathryn B. Haynie, chief executive officer and president of Planned Parenthood of the Blue Ridge, was named the health services winner. Haynie is also involved with the Downtown Roanoke Rotary Club, the board of directors for West End Center and the Junior League of Roanoke Valley.

Vernice Johns Law, owner of the area's only African American, female-owned construction business from 1985-90, is this year's business winner. Law served on the Minority Business Enterprise Advisory Committee, as a Boy Scout den mother and in the Roanoke City Schools' Parent Teacher Association.

Karen Michalski, executive director of the Blue Ridge Independent Living Center, won the community service non-profit award. She has served two terms as president of the Mayor's Committee for the Disabled, as a chairwoman of the Statewide Independent Living Council and as a facilitator for the Make Waves Coalition. She is a member of the Steering Committee and the Roanoke Regional Housing Network Board.

Cleo C. Sims, director of Head Start who began her career as a bookkeeper for TAP in 1966, won the inspiration award. She organized parenting classes with the Roanoke Department of Social Services and Mental Health Services. She also serves on the Community Hospital Task Force which monitors the number of children who receive immunizations.

NOBLE MARSHALL, a 1935 Roanoke College graduate, was awarded the Roanoke College Medal, the college's highest honor for alumni.

The former student body president served as president of the Alumni Executive Council and is national chairman of the Honor Guard Advisory Committee. After earning a master of science degree in business administration and economics from the University of Virginia, Marshall returned to Roanoke in 1937.

He retired as head of Appalachian Power Company's accounting department in 1976 after nearly 40 years of service.

CHRISTOPHER KOWALCZUK, DAVID LAWRENCE, and NANCY REYNOLDS, all of Roanoke, were among the 282 who passed the February 1995 Virginia Bar Examination. The Virginia Board of Bar Examiners reported that 507 people took the exam.

LESLIE A. MEADOR was named the 1995 Roanoke Valley Older Worker of the Year. The 36-year employee of Chesapeake Packaging Co. was recognized by the League of Older Americans during a luncheon held recently at the Roanoke Airport Marriott.

COMMUNITY HOSPITAL has elected new Volunteer Auxiliary Officers for 1995. They are Betty Huddleston, president; Billie Smith, first vice president; Janet Natt, second vice president; Dorothy Turner, recording secretary; Georgia Wall, corresponding secretary; Dick Barnett, treasurer, and Mary Johnson, immediate past president.

MORGAN H. GRIFFITH has been elected president of the Salem/Roanoke County Bar Association for 1995-96.

Also elected at the annual meeting were: Van Hoback, first vice president; Michael S. Ferguson, second vice president; Francis W. Burkhart III, secretary-treasurer, and Jeffrey L. Dorsey, judge advocate.

THE ROANOKE BAR ASSOCIATION recently honored 21 attorneys for their free assistance to low-income clients in 1994.

The following lawyers gave more than 40 hours' work each for legal aid clients in 1994: Diane M. Baun, Paul G. Beers, Leisa K. Ciaffone, J. Christopher Clemens, Stacy M. Colvin, Nicholas C. Conte, Thomas W. Farrell, Philip O. Garland, Andrew S. Goldstein, Terry N. Grimes, Wayne Orin Spencer Haig, John C. Johnson, Paul G. Klockenbrink, Ellen Kuo, Abigail L. Perkins, Janell L. Riddle, Kenneth J. Ries, Charles H. Smith III, John Webber III, Thomas M. Winn III and Melissa Amos Young.

AMERICAN BUSINESS WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION, Shenandoah Chapter, elected the following officers for 1995-96: Charlene Wolfe and Charlotte Johnson, co-presidents, both of Vinton; Beth Brown of Blue Ridge, vice president; Ann Shoemaker of Radford, treasurer, and Carolyn Sommardahl of Roanoke, secretary.

THE PENN FOREST 4-H CLUB recently filled 23 friendship boxes with health, educational and recreational supplies for children in disaster shelters and disadvantaged areas where school supplies are not plentiful.

The community service project for the American Red Cross was completed by 4-H members Katherine Anderson, Jamie Brookman, Rebecca Combs, Rachel Currier, Jennifer Fralin, Brittany Neuberg and Ashley Thompson.

ELSIE PERSINGER, who has worked with Roanoke Valley musicians of several denominations, has been honored for 50 years of service to the Roanoke Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.



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