SCOTT CITY WOMEN HONORED WITH LEADERSHIP AWARDS

SCOTT CITY -- Two Scott City women have been honored with Missouri Governor's Leadership Awards for their efforts in community betterment.

Donna L. Burk received the 1998 Governor's Adult Leadership Award. Christina Shaw won the 1998 Governor's Youth Leadership Award.

Statewide, 10 people are honored in the adult category and 10 in the youth category.

Shaw juggles a full load at school, participates in youth groups at church and special projects in the community. She has won several beauty pageants and talent awards for her singing.

While volunteering to help young students at school, Shaw learned that many children had no books in their homes. She launched a drive to give at least one book to each child in kindergarten through sixth grade. She spoke to civic and social groups and began collecting books. She met her goal and the project was a success.

When Scott City held its first Railroad Day, Shaw volunteered to coordinate the first Miss Railroad Day Pageant.

Using money from her two part-time jobs, she sponsors two children with a monthly contribution for their food and education.

She is youth staff pastor for Reigning Fire Youth Ministries, a charter member of the Timothy Club, a leader of Children's Church, a worship team leader for youth services.

She was named 1998 camper of the week from 500 girls attending Youth Camp 1998 at which she represented Scott City. She was the first Scott City resident to be chosen for the National Fine Arts Youth Choir. She is a charter member of Tau Delta Pi Christian Sorority, a service organization.

She has been involved in the National Children's Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society.

She has been a class officer, a charter member of Impact Bible Club, a district winner in speech, debate and musical theater.

She was a Senior Citizen Swim lifeguard volunteer and a volunteer city pool coach for two and three year olds.

Burk is director of external affairs for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Cape Girardeau. She works directly with city and county government officials, state legislators, chamber of commerce and economic development organizations, seniors center, schools and organizations in a six-county area.

"Her profession places her in contact with the above named groups, however, no job description in the world would require her to give so much of her personal time," states her nomination letter. "She becomes closely involved with all organizations in her area. She does this on her own time."

Civic activities include Scott City Chamber of Commerce, Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, Sikeston Chamber of Commerce, New Madrid Chamber of Commerce, Dexter Chamber of Commerce,

Cape Girardeau Area Wide United Way, Sikeston Area Wide United Way, Sikeston Rotary Club, Southeast Missouri Area Agency on Aging, regional Commerce and Growth Association, Foster Grandparents Association, Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission, Caruthersville Nutrition Center, Missouri Community Betterment, Southeast Regional Professional Development Advisory Board, Sikeston A+ Schools Committee, Jackson Food Pantry and Senior Center Food Drive.

During implementation of Enhanced 911 service in Stoddard County, Burk explained the process to numerous organizations. When senior citizens were worried about telephone slamming, she volunteered to visit senior center and other groups after hours to explain how to handle these situations.

Gene Spicenger, head of the Missouri Community Betterment presented the awards at a reception held at the Eisleben Lutheran Church parish hall in Scott City. Brenda Moyers and Shirley Young with the Scott City Community Betterment organization hosted the event.