Friday, December 7, 2007

Project proves phenomenal

Wood River student honors 120 valley women


By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

Midge Patzer, a counselor in Ketchum, was one of 120 women honored at the Wood River High School as a ?Phenomenal Woman.? Photo by David N. Seelig

Over the past two or three years, senior projects at both Wood River Valley high schools have gone from the mundane or self-serving to primarily altruistic and charity-driven. They have worked at orphanages, raised money for charities and collected items for the needy. It's a very good sign of how teens in the valley are making use of their opportunities.

Hannah Ward, a senior at Wood River High School, recently completed her project, which was to honor women in the county. She called it Phenomenal Women Week. Her mentor for the project was her volleyball coach, Kelsea Valentine, who had previously done a similar event.

"I sent out nomination forms to all the high school students and they nominated 120 women," Ward said.

Among the honorees were Rachel Eastop, Amy Stroebel-Haft, Sarah Adicoff, Paula Perry, Jennifer Hazard-Davis, Heidi Albrecht, Kris Cronin, Nancy Williams, Susan Canham, Jill Clark, Tracey Caraluzzi, Beverly Brenner, Karen Hunt, Carol Ward (Hannah's mother), Mary Jacobson, Cindy Hinajosa, Becky Miller, Vicki Williams, Rosa Maricich, Christy Peterson and Alma Cardona.

There were also some students nominated, including seniors Dezi Peters, Dede Todd and Natalie Hague, and junior Ali Maricich. The retired principal at Hailey Elementary School, Ellen Morrical, was nominated, as was retired Wood River High School teacher Midge Patzer. She received the lion's share of votes along with bus driver Karen Hunt. Two posthumous nominations were made for Marilyn Coleman and Mila Riggo.

"It's great to recognize each other," Ward said. "If it kept going, I think it'd be fantastic. I would love it if it became a yearly event. Some of the women who I sent invites to the ceremony said, 'I don't know who would nominate me.'"

On Nov. 3, Ward held a ceremony in the Wood River High School's commons area for all the women who received nominations. She received refreshment donations from Albertsons, Atkinsons' and the Golden Elk cafe, which donated cookies and hot chocolate.

"I welcomed everyone and then Midge (Patzer) spoke about what makes a women phenomenal, who went far in life and excelled in what they do and are confident and strong," Ward said. "There are so many unrecognized women who do what they do with no recognition and still do it well. I read every name, and everyone who was there came up and got their certificate. After that, the microphone was open for anyone to say anything. Quite a few people got up and talked. A lot of people started crying."




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