WILMINGTON — The inductees of the Outstanding Women of Clinton County Class of 2022 were honored Saturday at a luncheon held at the Roberts Centre.
Recognized as part of the event’s 22nd year were Mary Camp, Mary Gibson, Joyce Kelly, JoAnne Lindsey, Frances Sharp, and Katie Muchmore Earley.
The many accomplishments of each were featured in a daily story in the News Journal leading up to the event.
The OWCC Committee annually seeks nominations of women who have made important, perhaps unique, economic, social, cultural or humanitarian contributions to their communities of Clinton County. The event began in 2000 and resumed this year after being canceled in 2021 due to the pandemic.
Guest speaker for the event was Beth Ellis of Cherrybend Pheasant Farm and Operation Cherrybend.
Ellis spoke of how Operation Cherrybend for veterans was started and how far it has come, as well as details of the program and what its participants can look forward to.
Ellis showed a video in which veterans shared what the program means to them, and a video was also shown narrated by Wilmington High School students reading their letters to Operation Cherrybend’s participants.
The Outstanding Women of Clinton County committee also honored its four scholarship winners from the 2022 high school senior class. They are: Regan Grogg of Blanchester; Abbey Steed of Clinton-Massie; Lydia Kessler of East Clinton; and Courtney Parker of Wilmington.
Also recognized were 2021 winners Ashleigh Osborn of Blanchester; Jenna Norman of Clinton-Massie; Marci Ellis of East Clinton; and Vanessa Addison of Wilmington.
Each receives a $1,500 college scholarship, based upon a competitive application process.
Members of the OWCC committee are Nancy Bernard, Molly Boatman, Shelby Boatman, Judy Briggs, Lynn Deatherage, Cherie Dixon, Eleanor Harris, Susan Henry, Elizabeth Huber, Karen Jones, Alice Lundblad, Diane Murphy, Judy Sargent, Frances Sharp, Bonnie Starcher, Mary Olive Taylor, Terri Thobaben, Kitty Werner and Nancy Wolary.
Sponsors are the News Journal, Wilmington College, Peoples Bank, Fox Towing & Truck Service, Bush Auto Place, Dr. Jody Gundler, Beaugard’s Southern Bar B Que, and the Boatman family.
For more information on the OWCC, visit www.outstandingwomenclintoncounty.org .