Zonta Club presents awards at annual banquet

Marcia Southard-Ritter, center, accepts The Woman of Achievement Award from Kathy Swan, left, Zonta Status of Women Subcommitee Chairperson and Cheryl Mothes, right, Zonta Club of Cape Girardeau Area President.

The award recipient must exem plify the Zonta ideals of dedication to career, family,self-improvement and service to the community, youth, women and church. By Chris Pagano ~ Southeast Missourian

The Young Women in Public Affairs (YWPA) and the Woman of Achievement awards were presented by the Zonta Club of the Cape Girardeau area at its annual Status of Women Awards Banquet.

The Young Women in Public Affairs award honors a high school student who demonstrates a commitment to leadership in public policy, government and volunteer organizations. The award is given both locally and internationally.

The award was presented recently to Nicole Fadler, daughter of Bill and Jeannie Fadler. She is a Jackson High School senior and member of the cross country team, track team, National Honor Society, Junior Rotary, Spanish Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Future Business Leaders of America. Fadler has volunteered at St. Francis Medical Center for four consecutive years.

The Zonta Club also awarded Marcia Southard-Ritter with the 2003 Woman of Achievement award. This award has been presented annually since 1987 to an outstanding woman in the community who exemplifies the Zonta ideals of dedication to career, family, self-improvement and service to the community, youth, women and church.

Southard-Ritter has offered her talents on local, state, national and international levels. She serves as a councilwoman for the city council, is active in her church and in numerous community organizations including the Family Resource Center.

Beginning in 1993, she and her husband, the late Dr. C. John Ritter, traveled to Third World countries such as the West Indies, Mozambique, Mexico, Liberia and Honduras on medical missions. In 1998 they went to Liberia to re-establish the hospital at Ganta near the capital of Monrovia shortly after an insurrection.

Prior recipients of the Woman of Achievement award include former Rep. Mary Kasten, Karen Hendrickson, Rebecca McDowell Cook, Judy Wilferth, Dr. Janet B. Ruopp, Kathy Swan and U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson.

Zonta International is a worldwide service organization of executives in business and the professions working together to advance the status of women.