Soroptimist International - Rogue Valley

Six local teens have been awarded the Violet Richardson Awards by three of the local Soroptimist Clubs. Taylor Olson-Hill, the winner from the Rogue Valley Sunrise Soroptimist Club's $200 award, has gone on to win an additional $500 award from the Northwestern Region of Soroptimist International of the Americas, Inc. (SIA) for her work with Special Olympics. Taylor volunteered over 500 hours in the last two and a half years, primarily with Easter Seals and Special Olympics. She is a swimming, basketball and track coach for Special Olympics. Through volunteering, Taylors says, "I have learned that community means everyone, and that we all need help ... I have learned that it feels REALLY good to help other people, and that by doing so, I'm helping myself in so many ways."

Kendra Riberio, age 17, a student at South Medford High School is the first place winner from the Soroptimist International Medford noon club.  She was given $500 for her charity. Her main volunteer activity is with the South High School Sparrow club, where she is this year's President, planning all sort of fund raisers and activities to give support to Crystal, the six year child with ataxic cerebral palsy, the club is supporting this year. 

Ila Sturges, age 17, from Ashland High School, is the Medford noon club's second place winner and received $300.  Ila is an eager member of a new high school club, "Schools for Schools," which fund raises and builds awareness of the plight of the "Invisible Children" in Uganda, who are abducted and turned into unwilling soldiers.  

The noon club also has a third place winner, Nicole White, age 17, from South Medford High School, who volunteers with the Rotary Interact Club performing a variety of local service projects in Jacksonville, including renovation of the Jacksonville Community Center, involvement in Relay for Life and work with the Northwest Seasonal Worker's annual toy drive.  Nicole received $200 for her charity.

Maraya Best, 2010

Maraya L. Best is the winner of $200 dollars for her volunteer work in several different organizations from the Ashland Soroptimist club. Maraya has worked very hard with the Relay for Life, hosted by the American Cancer Society, in Ashland.  Her first year with Relay for Life, Maraya raised $3,000 dollars, the most money by any individual in our area. The second year, she was a team captain, fund raising and getting other teens involved in the Relay.  She is also working on "The Memory Project" as her senior project. "The Memory Project" is a unique initiative in which students create portraits for children in orphanages around the world. It is hoped that this project will inspire caring and friendship between American teens and lessfortunate children from developing countries, who w ill receive their portraits. She has also spent her summers traveling and doing community service in Thailand and Costa Rica.

The Violet Richardson Award is a Soroptimist International recognition program for young women ages 14-17 engaged in volunteer action within their communities or schools. This award is given to young women whose volunteer activities make the community and world a better place, and is in honor of the president of the first Soroptimist club, Violet Richardson. Violet Richardson was a woman of action whose indomitable spirit and sense of personal responsibility as demonstrated by her lifelong commitment to volunteering in her community.

For more information, call Karen Gale at (541) 779-0544.