After the 2021 Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy, Jennifer Dunn helped more than 65 victims serving as an invaluable resource to all impacted – connecting them to funding, counseling, law enforcement and preparing them for court proceedings.
Jennifer provided clarity and care for victims during a very dark time along with her service dog, Pepper, who joined the department in 2020 – to ease stress on their worst days, especially children impacted by crime.

After the parade, Jennifer provided on-the-ground support for the community almost immediately. She worked above and beyond to ensure people had what they needed.

Jennifer’s passion to comfort and support the victims of this tragedy was evident from the start. Her clear and concise communication, both through email and on the phone, provided much-needed guidance. She made the victims’ voices matter.

During the trial, she set up a room at the courthouse where the victims could gather. She and her staff were there with Pepper to offer a hug or comforting words as the victims had to relive their experiences from that horrible day. After the trial, her team organized a gathering for the victims and families to meet one another – helping to put closure on this tragic event.

Through the years, she’s helped thousands of crime victims – bringing light to darkness. Jennifer has also demonstrated compassion and calm in the face of violent events and leads the Mobile Victims Assistance Program. She also facilitated a partnership with the Department of Justice that resulted in the brand new United for Waukesha Resiliency Center, a one-stop center where survivors can access service navigation assistance and community support.

A leader in her field, Jennifer has helped create a service for Waukesha County that’s respected across the country. In 2010, the Wisconsin Victim Witness Professionals Association recognized her as the Service Provider of the Year.

Sarah Grooms is a champion for women in business and mentors the younger generation as a positive role model. She embodies the quote “lift as we climb.” She never stops seeking what is right, what is fair and what is just.
She exemplifies the change we have seen in the financial sector where women are becoming senior leaders and even CEOs of banks.

She’s an excellent coach and career advisor for young women and encourages them to strive for leadership positions traditionally occupied by men.

Sarah is an amazing example of a woman who’s willing to get involved and give back to her community. Not only has she been successful in her professional career but also in the ways she leads in the community – juggling work, family and community commitments.

She serves as a policy board chairperson for the Waukesha County Business Alliance, advocating for Waukesha County’s economic vitality. She serves on the Advisory Board for the School of Business and Technology at Carroll University and Marquette University’s College of Business Administration Finance Program. Sarah serves as a finance committee member for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Wisconsin and was also honored in Milwaukee Business Journal’s 40 Under 40.

In addition, Sarah has generously devoted time, talent and philanthropic support to further The Women’s Center’s mission of providing safety, shelter and support to all those affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and human trafficking.

Sarah’s accomplishments are impressive, dynamic and unparalleled – inspiring change in the lives of those around her.

Ildiko Huppertz leads by example in both her professional and volunteer roles – inspiring those around her. At ProHealth Care, she’s created programs, scholarships and opportunities for education, training and career advancement – particularly among women. She doesn’t just “talk the talk” but she also “walks the walk.”
At ProHealth Care, Ildiko has worked tirelessly to ensure career pathways and opportunities to support women, particularly, to advance in their roles through training programs. Since 2019, 40 individuals have advanced in their careers due to these programs. She also works to empower the next generation as a mentor to many leaders. Ildiko sits on many collegiate-level boards and committees with a focus on influencing and inspiring future female leaders.

Her drive and passion to help others also extends into the community where Ildiko has shown a selfless dedication serving on boards of several nonprofits, helping the most vulnerable and most at-risk, including SafeBabies, Healthy Families guiding its partnership with Easter Seals.

Since 2020, Ildiko has served as president of the board at Hebron Housing Services, strengthening the organization to better serve those in need. She advocates for marginalized members of our community, understanding the great needs of women and children in the community. She logged more than 1,000 hours in service to Hebron House by focusing on sustainable practices in its management, compensation, recruiting and hiring, and onboarding.

As described by her daughter: “My mother is as unstoppable as Mother Nature with the intentions of Mother Teresa.” Born in Budapest, Hungary, Ildiko was able to immigrate to the United States as a teenager after her mother spent years in Wisconsin raising money to bring her here. Her drive, kindness and sincerity is palpable to anyone she meets.

Compassion, patience and caring became apparent early in Sherry Berg. At just 6, she lost her father to cancer and immediately began helping her mom care for five younger siblings. Those qualities steered her to a career in nursing, where she continues to care deeply for the sick, the injured and the traumatized.
As manager of the emergency departments at ProHealth Care hospitals in Waukesha and Mukwonago, she has supported and inspired her staff during the challenges of COVID-19 and subsequent nursing shortages. Her strength, her calm demeanor and her experience also shone during a terrifying time in Waukesha. Watching the 2021 Christmas parade with her sons and other family members, she witnessed the trauma caused by a driver whose vehicle slammed into marchers and onlookers. Sherry sprang into action, treating the injured and then rushed to Waukesha Memorial, where she mobilized her team to provide care for dozens.

Described by one supporter as “a natural leader with a deep passion for her community,” Sherry is president of the boards of the Mukwonago Education Foundation and the Phantom Lake YMCA Camp, where, as a volunteer, she supervises camp medical staff.

Trained in the care of sexual assault victims, Sherry manages a nursing program for victims and is involved in a county taskforce on human trafficking. Sherry’s sister lauded her as a “person (who puts) her own problems aside and takes on another’s burden.”

Recognized as a “servant leader, advocate and change leader” by one supporter, Dr. Jeanne Siegenthaler has earned the respect and admiration of her colleagues during a long career in education. The first woman superintendent of the Richmond School District, she was named Wisconsin Elementary Principal of the Year in 2011 while principal at Dixon Elementary School in the Elmbrook School District. She also won the Distinguished Alumni Award from Madison’s Edgewood College in 2020.
Another nominator noted her “positive attitude and fierce determination to advocate for children.” During her 11-year tenure at Dixon, she earned the respect and admiration of her staff by treating “everyone with equal consideration, compassion and understanding,” a colleague wrote. She mentored and supported teachers so they could do what they do best – teach and support students.

Jeanne shares her skills and passion with other organizations. She has organized successful food drives for The Women’s Center and works for the center triaging crisis calls and as an on-call advocate, a trained volunteer who responds to sexual assault and domestic violence emergencies.

She also spent time in Haiti, where she began the Adopt a Haitian Teacher project, and has been a coach for Special Olympics.

Sheila Frisinger and Susan Marriott share one of a parent’s greatest challenges. They also share a dream.
A chance meeting at a Special Olympics competition at which their sons participated got the dream off the ground. Sheila’s son Matthew and Susan’s sons Marvin and Max have intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). They flourished in high school and, after senior year, all three participated in a public school transition program for students with IDD. Once they turn 21, however, the program ends and opportunities for independent living are limited.

Sheila and Susan set out to find a better solution – and Journey21 was born. After years of planning, research, fundraising and building relationships with businesses, community groups, families, schools and partners that work with adults with IDD, they will break ground this year on a 12-acre site in Pabst Farms in Oconomowoc. The $26 million project will include an Enrichment Center and a residential neighborhood, providing “a unique supportive living and learning community” for about 44 adults with IDD, their nominator wrote.

“Sheila and Susan are inspirational in their efforts to champion services for individuals with IDD,” wrote one supporter. “They are an example for others, demonstrating what can be accomplished with innovative thinking, hard work and passion.”

Recognized for their drive, determination and servant leadership, the two women “shine a spotlight on the need and human rights for adults with IDD to have an enriched life by living independently in a community that is safe, promotes wellness and enrichment for their mind, body and soul,” another supporter wrote.

A distinguished career as a nurse, clinician, nurse-educator, administrator, and school nurse consultant laid the foundation for Linda Caldart-Olson’s passion for healthier communities. Linda turned that passion into commitment – for her profession and her community.
Linda spent the first years of her career as a critical care and coronary care nurse at hospitals in California and Milwaukee. At Children’s Hospital of Milwaukee, she was the first clinical specialist in the cardiology department and was then the department manager. It wasn’t long before she took on leadership roles in education and public health. Her career included a decade as supervisor of health services for the Muskego-Norway School District, stints as an occupational health nurse, and vice president of Community Programs for the American Heart Association. Eventually, she became a consultant for school nursing services at the state Department of Public Instruction, sharing her expertise to help other school nurses deliver effective school health services.

Linda’s enthusiasm for healthier communities led to volunteer leadership roles with the American Heart Association of Wisconsin, the Mukwonago Area Schools Education Foundation, Phantom Lake YMCA Camp, Stillwaters Cancer Support Center, The Women’s Center, the Women and Girls Fund of Waukesha County, the Waukesha Area Food Pantry, the Waukesha Service Club, (the former) United Way in Waukesha County, and the Waukesha chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

The author of numerous school health-related publications and presentations, she was described by a nominator as “a consummate professional who is community-focused, service-oriented and passionate in all she does.”

A strong commitment to providing safe shelter and programs for victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse, human trafficking, and child abuse has motivated Angela Mancusco, executive director of The Women’s Center, through two decades of dedication to her profession.
The former co-executive director of Milwaukee’s Sojourner Family Peace Center, Angela joined the Women’s Center (TWC) in 2013. Anxious to move TWC forward while honoring its respected past, she led efforts to provide diversity training to staff, offer competitive salaries, start an employee assistance program and create a staff Wellness Committee.

In addition to leading TWC, she is president of the Board of Directors of the Housing Action Coalition of Waukesha County, which works with community partners to address homelessness, an issue Angela has worked hard to bring before the public. She was instrumental in opening a local overflow shelter for homeless families and individuals. She is also a United Way Campaign Cabinet member, an appointee to the Governor’s Council on Offender Re-entry, co-chair of the Waukesha County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, and co-chair of the Milwaukee Commission on Domestic Violence.

Angela is respected as an effective and passionate leader, but one who always makes time for her colleagues. Her nominator noted that she “goes above and beyond the expectations of her position to demonstrate care for her team.”

Lauded by colleagues as an exceptional leader and mentor, Sherri Mowery Perrigo spent more than three decades as a successful manager at GE Aviation/GE Healthcare. While at GE, she held several executive positions, including general manager of installation services, leading a 200-member team that delivered and installed diagnostic imaging equipment, and general manager of business operations for the magnetic resonance imaging business.
While advancing her own career, Sherri became a sought-after and trusted role model, coach and mentor for rising female managers. She held leadership positions in the GE Women’s Network, which fosters professional development to attract, develop and retain female talent in the company.

Sherri also has been an active and dedicated community volunteer and philanthropist, sharing her talents, experience and expertise to help area non-profits achieve their goals. She has served on the boards of The Bottomless Closet in Milwaukee, the Women and Girls Fund of Waukesha County, Ten Chimneys and Make a Wish Wisconsin. She is highly valued and respected for her contagious optimism and attitude. One supporter noted that she “is a natural leader with an outstanding gift of enthusiasm” who “unhesitatingly steps forward” to take on whatever tasks need to be done.

After retiring in 2017, Sherri became a member of SCORE (Service Core of Retired Executives), supporting entrepreneurs with her professional skills and business experience.

Those who meet Mary Baer for the first time notice the infectious smile and the sparkle in her eyes. What they remember is her passion for her community and her genuine example as an adviser and mentor. Her nominator noted that “she inspires and encourages people on contact.”
Baer’s professional resume includes 28 years in various roles at Cooper Power Systems, retiring as manager of North American Customer Service. She also worked for the United Way in Waukesha County and a was a substitute teacher for a short stint. But she is best known and revered for her work as vice president of community engagement for the Waukesha County Business Alliance. In that role, she worked tirelessly to meet the needs of Waukesha County businesses, helping to create and lead several of the alliance’s workforce development initiatives, including Schools2Skills™, a program that introduced young people to the opportunities for excellent careers in manufacturing.

Her volunteer and community service resume includes work with many organizations, including the Waukesha Rotary Club (past president), Waukesha County Public Health Advisory Committee (chair), Thriving Waukesha County Alliance, Waukesha County Community Foundation Advisory Committee, Carroll University, Waukesha Memorial Hospital and ProHealth Care, and the Food Pantry of Waukesha County.

A former member of the WCTC Board of Trustees, she helped raise $2 million in private funding to help build a world-class Integrated Manufacturing Center at WCTC. She was named Waukesha County Freeman Citizen of the Year in 2011 and a Woman of Influence by the Milwaukee Business Journal in 2015.

Maribeth Bush is applauded by Oconomowoc leaders for her enthusiasm for, and dedication to, the community. A founding member of the Oconomowoc Area Foundation, she served as its board’s secretary and president, and is currently the foundation coordinator. She is a co-founder of the Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation and served as its board’s secretary and is currently a member of the grants committee.
Dedicated to raising understanding of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and reducing the stigma associated with it, she helped establish the OCD Foundation-Wisconsin and serves on its board of directors.

Described by her nominator as “a quintessential servant leader,” Bush is respected in the Oconomowoc community for her leadership on a project to raise $500,000 in a short time to establish Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Oconomowoc.

A member of the Oconomowoc Rotary Club, she is also a former communications and public relations director for the Oconomowoc Area School District and is the executive director of Observation Tower, which provides leadership workshops. She also served on the board of directors of Gals Institute LLC, which offers mental health services for children and adults, including those who can’t afford it. She was named by the Oconomowoc Chamber of Commerce as Oconomowoc Citizen of the year in 2016.

Widely respected as a talented leader and dedicated community servant, Ellen Langill has a long history of service to the Waukesha community and to Wisconsin. A teacher, author and historian, she has left an indelible mark on many community organizations.
Described by a colleague in a letter of recommendation as “a leader who believes in teamwork and an inspiring mentor,” Langill has used her talents and expertise to benefit the community. A co-founder and first president of the Waukesha Education Foundation, Langill has played a key role in local and area education efforts for decades. She taught history at Carroll University, University Lake School and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She was a member of the Waukesha School Board for 14 years and co-chaired a successful school referendum for Waukesha School District in 2001.

Langill served as president of the board of directors of The Women’s Center, the United Way in Waukesha County and the Adaptive Community Approach Program. She also served on the boards of the Women and Girls Fund, the YMCA and the former YWCA.

The author of more than 25 history books, she was president of the Board of Curators of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin and is serving on the board of the Wisconsin Historical Foundation.

During a career at ManpowerGroup that spanned nearly three decades, Pamila Brown developed a passion for helping people – both within her industry and in her community. As ManpowerGroup’s Community Investment Program Manager, Brown became a skilled mentor who won praise for her professional dedication and commitment. She used her considerable talents to help others develop their own skills and gain meaningful employment. For 10 years, she helped organize ManpowerGroup’s annual Ready, Set, Work! Women’s Job Seminar in Milwaukee, a full-day workshop to help women overcome barriers to employment. The project was so successful that the United Way in Waukesha County, with Brown’s help, replicated it.
Brown’s passion also inspired her to community service. A recognized leader in corporate volunteerism, she ran employee giving campaigns for United Way and the United Performing Arts Fund, and organized her colleagues to spend countless hours volunteering for a wide variety of community groups, including Junior Achievement, the Next Door Foundation, Hunger Task Force, and the United Community Center.

Brown had a special desire to help vulnerable populations. She worked tirelessly with Easter Seals to help people with disabilities develop job skills, and partnered with Pearls for Teen Girls to organize a workshop to educate girls on career planning and education paths.

Christine Fenske-Eben is a partner at Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, serving as the firm’s asset management practice leader, as well as the New York market leader. In addition to her role in providing outstanding client service, Christine is a member of Baker Tilly’s Board of Partners, and she is a founding member of the firm’s women’s initiative GROW (Growth and Retention of Women). This highly successful program provides opportunities for Baker Tilly’s female professionals to network, share information, acquire skills, and develop rewarding professional relationships to help them advance toward leadership roles.
While Christine has spent significant time building a stellar professional career, she believes in the value of giving back to the communities in which she lives and works. She has been consistently dedicated to utilizing her professional expertise to help numerous individuals and community groups reach important goals. Beginning as a donor in 2003 to ProHealth Care Foundation, she decided that wasn’t enough and eventually became a board member. She now serves as chair of the foundation’s board of directors and co-chaired multimillion-dollar fundraising campaigns for the UW Cancer Center, Community Dental Clinic, Sixteenth Street Clinic and CyberKnife®. In addition, she has served in leadership roles heading substantial fundraising efforts for the Milwaukee Art Museum, the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County, the American Heart Association, the YMCA of Greater Waukesha County and Milwaukee Women Inc. Christine was named a Woman of Influence in 2012 by the Milwaukee Business Journal. She is a widely respected and knowledgeable business professional who embodies the positive attributes of leadership and integrity making her an outstanding role model.

Cathy Kozlowicz spent more than 12 years working at the Literacy Council of Greater Waukesha (LCGW), developing and expanding the basic literacy and the English as a Second Language program. But she had an idea for taking basic literacy a step further, focusing on those who have general skills, but are not performing at a competitive level. That idea became Literacy for All (LFA), a nonprofit she founded in 2014. She now has many partners, but in the beginning, she was it – fundraising, communicating to potential students , and writing the curriculum. LFA helps people gain higher paying jobs, change careers, improve academic skills, and understand wealth management. One goal is to teach women, many of them in low-paying jobs and saddled with debt, how money works. What these women learn has helped them pay off debt, save for emergencies and retirement, and improve their quality of life.
Literacy is central to Cathy’s life. She is a national ProLiteracy trainer and coordinated book discussions for Waukesha Reads. She worked with instructors at Waukesha County Technical College to help students earn their high school diploma, and improve math, reading and writing skills through the Literacy Council of Greater Waukesha. Since 2003, she created a countywide Dr. Seuss event, and organized a community book drive to provide more than 300 Dr. Seuss books to needy children. She coordinated this event eleven years, and it has become a community event.

To help take care of her family, Pat Deklotz made a difficult choice. Just shy of earning her teaching degree, she left college and began a 20-year career in software development. She eventually earned that degree and, in 1996, realized her lifelong dream of becoming a teacher. She went on to earn both master’s and doctorate degrees and is now superintendent of the Kettle Moraine School District. Widely respected for her collaborative leadership and strong commitment to the potential of every student, Pat was described by her nominator as a woman with “a passion to make her community better.” That passion has spawned new opportunities for students in her district, as well as service to a host of professional and community organizations, including the boards of Waukesha County Technical College and GPS Education Partners. She was recently named Wisconsin’s 2016 Superintendent of the Year.

By the time Dee Mellor recently retired as vice president, chief quality officer for GE Healthcare, she oversaw 1,600 employees in 35 countries and directed multiple facets of a $20 billion business. But it wasn’t just her own career that garnered her focus. Spurred by a desire to use her own success to help other women, Dee helped form GE Women’s Network, a professional development group that now serves more than 100,000 GE employees worldwide. She also led GE Girls, a summer program that exposed girls to careers in science, technology, engineering and math. She earned the respect of colleagues around the world for her efforts to mentor and develop new talent. She won the GE Healthcare CEO Award in 2006, GE Chairman’s Award in 2010 and the University of Massachusetts Engineering Alumni of the Year in 2005. Her work has been cited in national media, including Time magazine and CNN.

Widely known throughout Waukesha County for her passionate dedication to the hungry, Karen has been executive director of the Food Pantry of Waukesha County since 1997. During her tenure, the number of people served has grown from 2,800 to 6,000 per month, and the annual budget from $250,000 to more than $3 million. She led the Food Pantry through two major capital campaigns and incorporated technology to make waiting times shorter for clients. She developed the Food Recovery Program, which recovers from manufacturers, distributors, retailers, caterers and others, food that would otherwise go to waste. She also developed a home delivery program for clients unable to get out, gardening programs to give clients access to fresh vegetables, and a special needs diet program for clients with health issues. Known for leadership skills, but also compassion, she consistently uses her vacation time to volunteer for Friends for Health in Haiti. She also lends her time and talents to a host of Waukesha area community organizations, such as the Waukesha County Nutrition Coalition.

Addison Mulder is strong, determined and accomplished, and her teachers and mentors agree that she works hard to encourage those qualities in her peers. Described by one supporter as a student with “exceptional academic abilities and strong leadership qualities,” Addison is completing the International Baccalaureate Diploma at Oconomowoc High School.

A senior, she is president of Student Council, president of a music honor society chapter, and holds leadership positions in the National Honor Society and the Science Honor Society. A “natural leader who shows respect and compassion for others,” another supporter wrote, she helped found her school’s Women in STEM club. She is also an accomplished athlete, competing in cross country and soccer, and a talented clarinetist with the school’s wind symphony, which performed at Disney World and was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall.

In 2020, she was selected to participate in 1000 Girls, 1000 Futures, a groundbreaking initiative of the New York Academy of Sciences designed to engage young women in STEM activities and advance their pursuit of STEM careers through mentoring and 21st-century skills development.

Addison is also an active leader outside of school. One of her church leaders described her as “compassionate, accountable and hard working.” She volunteers for a food pantry, participated in three mission trips and has helped make meals for a homeless program.

A senior at Menomonee Falls High School, Amma Otchere is described by her nominator as a “dedicated, mature student who leads by positive example.” During her high school years, she has participated in the most demanding and rigorous curriculum, and is expected to graduate first in her class of 340. In addition to her MFHS diploma, she will receive the Global Education Achievement Certificate.

Otchere is known as an articulate leader in class discussions, but also as one who listens carefully to and respects the ideas and opinions of others. Supporters note her concern for social justice, her gifts for literary analysis, her ability to speak precisely, and her eagerness to celebrate the accomplishments of others.

In 2015, while on a visit to a local university, Otchere met a professor who complained about the lack of quality children’s books for Milwaukee’s inner city youth. Otchere got to work, founding Reading Roots, and organizing classmates who collected more than 1,000 children’s books.

She is a member of the MFHS Debate Team, state secretary for the Wisconsin chapter of Health Occupations Students of America, and a three-year member of the MFHS student government. She was one of only 20 students nationwide chosen to attend MIT’s MathRoots, an intensive math summer camp.

A childhood in war-torn Bosnia inspired Emina Halilovic to devote her life to improving the lives of others. A Bosnian refugee who emigrated to the United States with her family at the age of eight, Emina, a Waukesha resident, is a student at Carroll University.

Lauded for her passion, perseverance and positive attitude, Emina’s life story has inspired Carroll students and staff. In 2015, he started a fundraising walk, Walking in Their Shoes. With participation by students, Carroll employees and community members, he walk raised $2,300 in 2016. The funds will help provide meals and transportation to school for eight children in Bosnia.

Education is a priority for Emina. Carroll staff and faculty note that she is an excellent student, and is interested in the education of others, too. This summer, she will return to Bosnia to implement a tutoring program she created, and she has mentored first-generation college aspirants through two Carroll programs. Emina’s dream is to be a pediatrician. She has volunteered more than 3,000 hours at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and has accepted a research job at the Medical College of Wisconsin. After her 2018 gradation from Carroll, she will attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine.

Described as “unforgettable and a “Renaissance woman,” 18 year old Genevieve Rohrer is the winner of this year’s Young Woman of Tomorrow Award.

Genevieve, a senior at Oconomowoc High School, is the salutatorian of her class of 338 students and the recipient of numerous distinctive academic awards.  Genevieve is a lover of languages, having studied French, Spanish and German.  In 2013, Genevieve was awarded a scholarship to attend the National Security Language Initiative for Youth, which allowed her to study at an Arabic language institute in Morocco. Genevieve is involved in a number of extra-curricular and service activities, including peer tutoring, and has worked for the past decade on a family farm. Drive, intellectually curious and profoundly compassionate, there seems to be no limit to Genevieve’s energy and potential.

AIlyse Jorgensen, an honors student at Arrowhead, plays Varsity Lacrosse and Tennis and is an active volunteer.  Her activities include National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Spanish Club and Student Senate. She is a two-term president and co-founder of the Arrowhead Key Club, a service organization. Both her leadership and ability to motivate students have resulted in school initiatives resulting in thousands of hours of student community service.

Chapter president of DECA, an association of marketing students, Allyse participated in competitions at the district, state and international levels. In 2010, she placed in the top 10 at the International Careers Development Conference with her Fashion Promotion Plan.

Allyse is active with the Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County, where she regularly works with dogs and helps with special events. In 2010, Allyse organized “Jammin’ for Haiti” a benefit concert for the Haitian Earthquake Relief, raising nearly $10,000 for the American Red Cross.

In 2008, Allyse mobilized the community-at-large to collect books and money for underprivileged children at two Milwaukee inner-city libraries. Her efforts resulted in 40,000 books collected and $5,000 raised. In 2009, Allyse was the first youth to be recognized as the Community Outing Association’s Distinguished Volunteer of the Year.

Stacey Lynn Bjorgaard is a senior at Kettle Moraine High School, where she is ranked first in her class of 351 students, with a 4.989 weighted GPA.

Stacey played number one singles tennis on her conference tournament championship team, was chosen by her coach as MVP and was named Outstanding Player of the Year by the Waukesha Tennis Association. She is co-associate concertmaster and member of the 1st violin section of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Senior Symphony, which performed throughout China. Stacey was elected vice president of her class as a Junior and Senior, was instrumental in the success of blood drives and homecoming festivities, and was appointed as student representative on a committee to increase Summer Academy enrollment. She participated with the Best Buddies program, which pairs students with those with disabilities. She has volunteered at the Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital as well as La Casa de Esperanza, where she was a classroom assistant.

This fall she will be attending Brown University, Providence, RI, studying biology and Spanish. She aspires to become a pediatric specialist.

Hortencia C. Huerta, a senior at Waukesha South High School, has realized exceptional accomplishments through the qualities of hard work, honesty, integrity, and respect. Hortencia came to the U.S. as the third child in a family of five girls, just over six years ago, knowing no English. Within a few short years, she has both mastered the language and achieved a high level of academic success, including membership in the National Honor Society.

She is active at her school, her church, and in the community. At Waukesha South, she is a member of FBLA. participates in the Business Co-op Internship Program, and is a leader in the Bilingual Program, having received the Bilingual Program Junior of the Year Award last year. At St. Joseph’s church, she has taught Sunday School for many years. She further serves in the the LaTEENo Community Program and has undertaken numerous community service projects.

Hortencia is planning to pursue a college degree in business.

Karly Wallace has a rare blend of determination, self-discipline, and leadership abilities that have resulted in her success on many levels. She is ranked in the top 2% of her senior class at Waukesha South High School, and number one in the first graduating class of the Waukesha Academy of Health Professions.

She is a scholar athlete, participating in varsity tennis and softball. Karly is involved in numerous clubs including Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), Service Learning, and as a member of the National Honor Society. She has completed hundreds of volunteer hours of community service and with organizations such as Special Olympics, Waukesha South Service Learning, and Interfaith Caregiving Network. Her numerous awards include first place at State in Pathophysiology Knowledge Test – HOSA, first place in State in Job Seeking Skills – HOSA, Student of the Month recognitions, and sporting Spirit and Hustle awards.

Karly plans to pursue a career in health care as a Physician’s Assistant.

Flora Zeng is a senior at Hamilton High School who excels in math, science, music and sports. She also excels at volunteerism. When she’s not in school earning a 3.975 cumulative GPA, she’s out in the community volunteering for the Teen Health Crew of Children’s Education Center, as a teen representative for Menomonee Falls Youth Initiative, and for Habitat for Humanity – and more. As a volunteer with the Milwaukee Modern Chinese School, she received the award for Best Public Interaction at the Inernational Folk Fair and is the co-committee chairperson.

Flora is a National Merit Scholarship Finalist, won the Principal’s Leadership Award, was named as a Outstanding Student of America, and was on High Academic Honor Roll for seven consecutive semesters. She was Student of the Month two times, won the Bradley Foundation Student Achiever Award and the Rotary Club Student of the Month. In sports, Flora was named a Greater Metro Conference Student-Athlete, excelling in tennis, track, and swimming and diving. Musically, Flora’s talents shine as a pianist where she earned gold medials at the Wisconsin School Music Associations Piano Solo District and State competitions, and was the recipeint of the National Federation of Music Club trophies and the Associated Piano Teachers trophies – all in each of her four years at Hamilton High School. Flora’s commitment to education and volunteerism is seen through ther success she’s already achieved. She has earned the respect not only of her fellow students, but also from the teaching staff at Hamilton High School. One teacher even commented, “Overall, Flora is a talented and energetic student who uses every opportunity to learn and develop as a student, and as a competent, thoughtful member of society. After high school, she will no doubt continue to be an outstanding young woman and scholar who is an excellent role model for all young women.”

Callie is a senior at Waukesha South High School who is involoved with a countless amount of academic and civil activities. She is a leader academically, ranking fifth in her class of 350 students, and is a part of the National Honor Society and the French National Honor Society. Callie is a champion athlete receiving two varisty letters in tennis and a four-year varsity letter in track and field. She has been the Vice President of her class for the past two years and is also involved with the music and the arts.

Civically, Callie has a passion for helping others. She volunteers with the new YWCA of Waukesha County’s Teen Peer Educators and is a member of the YWCA Teen Leadership Council and Committee. Through her mission volunteerism at the First Congressional Church of Christ, Callie has traveled around the country showing her care for humanity through missions such as building homes from the ground up on a South Dakota Indian Reservation, rebuilding damamged homes from the flooding in Princeville, North Carolina, and building homes in inner-city Camden, New York. She was involved with the physical labor of these projects and shared with them hope through Bible studies.

Lindsey Cunneen, a senior at Kettle Moraine High School is a promising young woman. She demonstrates a high degree of responsibility, never lacks in motivation and shows great amounts of leadership. Lindsey is a young woman who has achieved great things for someone at the age of eighteen.

Throughout her academic career, Lindsey has challenged herself with honors courses. She maintains an “A” average; she has always been on the honor roll and ranks as number one in her class of 369 students. In 2001, she received Marian College’s Leadership Award, as well as, the Society of Women Engineers Merit Award. This year, Lindsey is a National Merit Semifinalist. Along with these distinguishing honors, Lindsey has shown that she is a leader who is driven to succeed. Whether it be her involvement in an academic club or a student government position, a sports team or a musical group, Lindsey never gives less than her best at all times. Not only has she been a leader in school, but she is also working to do great things for her community.

Lindsey plays a dynamic role in her church. For the past three years, she has been a student teacher in religious education classes at St. Paul’s. In the summer of 2001, Lindsey solicited donations from potential business donors and she headed efforts to collect clothing, medicine and supplies for the Hogares Santa Maria de Guadeloupe Orphanage. While in Guatemala, she was able to deliver the supplies and assess the needs of clinics and the orphanage. Upon returning, her parish was able to target further fundraising and donation efforts.

With the aspiration to become a lawyer specializing in international relations between the United States and Central American countries, Lindsey would like to attend UW-Madison or Notre Dame. Her nominator says, “Lindsey is an extraordinary young woman with poise, elegance and outstanding academic abilities and holds a bright and promising future.”

Gena Cooper, a senior at Mukwonago High School, demostrates admirable qualitites of responsibility, dependability and self-motivation, surpassing expectations of her parents, teachers and peers. Gena has chosen a rigorous academic curriculum including honors and Advanced Placement courses.

Along with her scholastic achievements, Gena has also succeeded in several leadership roles including President of 4-H in Wisconsin, State 4-H Youth Leader Council, 4-H Foundation board of Directors, Vice-President of National Honor Society. Waukesha County Summer Camp Program Director, Captain of Cross-Country and Officer in Fellowship of Christian Athletes. As the State Youth Representative for 4-H, Gena had the opportunity to attend a national conference in Washington D.C. where she spoke with Congress members concerning the need for more 4-H funding. Gena takes her responsibilities all in stride saying, “I truly enjoy my state and national 4-H responsibilities; it is amazing to think that my decisions affect all 43,000 Wisconsin members!” Gena has been committed to the Summer Camp program for seven years, far more time than most teenagers would commit to. Her Summer Camp responsibilities include challenging participants to work togeher as a team, respect each other and become more responsible people. Gena recognizes her natural ability to lead and actively seeks opportunities to make a positive difference by utilizing her unique talents. Gena’s genuine, thoughful and compassionate nature are evident in every aspect of her life. According to Laura Heiden of the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation, “Gena has a ‘heart of gold’ as she is always thinking of what she can do to help others achieve their goals. “She is an excellent role model as other students look toward her for leadership and guidance.

With her leadership, enthusiasm and integrity, Gena is sure to find success at UW-Madison where she plans to study Biochemistry and later enter medical school.

As an honor student, accomplished musician and athlete, Kettle Moraine High School senior Linda Lardinois seems to have it all. However it is her leadership, work ethic and volunteer spirit that permeates her own life and touches all of those around her.

Linda ranks second in a class of 319 while pursuing Kettle Moraine High’s most rigorous course of study. Besides being elected to the National Honor Society, she has received the honor of National Merit Commended Student. She is also active in forensics, Chemistry Club, Spanish Club and International Thespian Society, and she participates on the math team and the academic decathlon. Her intellectual talents are complimented by her musical aptitude. After just learning to play the violin as a freshman, Linda set a goal of becoming a member of he first violin section by her senior year. With many hours of practice, she has met and surpassed that goal. Recently, Linda performed a Vivaldi violin duet as her senior concerto, entered the Wisconsin Music Contest and performed as Assistant Concert Mistress of the Kettle Moraine High School Philharmonic Orchestra. “Linda gives other talents and abilities freely and with great enthusiasm. Linda lives the concept of team work and cooperative learning. There are days Linda could be considered a one-woman cheering section raising everyone’s spirits and desire to accomplish more”, says her orchestra director.

In between pursing her intellectual and musical endeavors, Linda also finds time to take part on the downhill ski and tennis teams. “Linda is a study in time management and organization”, says her guidance counselor. “Linda is a goal-setter and an achiever, but she is also a very pleasant person and genuinely cares for others. Her sensitivity has attracted a large circle of friends – she is very people-oriented.” That “people orientation” permeates throughout her life as she shares her talents and enthusiasm with others. She has received the Ray Rupple Award for community volunteer work, as well as the Friends of Volunteerism award. She tutors elementary students, serves as a peer listener, teaches Sunday School and is a member of her church’s youth group. “I am amazed and in awe of Linda’s upstanding character and accomplishments”, says a nominator. “Wherever she goes, she makes friends easily because she is always willing to meeting new people and accept them for who they are.”