Missouri women of achievement recognized with awards

Julie Smith/News Tribune
Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, left, is shown, with Stephanie Mills, originally from Jefferson City, was recognized for creating a non-profit organization, Fairy Godmother, to raise money for young women in the foster care system to provide a "fairy godmother" experience for prom. Mills, who now lives in Kirksville, has expanded the scope of the organization to provide mentorship for college, scholarship and workplace interviews. Kehoe hosted the inaugural Lieutenant Governor's Women of Achievement Awards Ceremony Thursday morning in the Capitol Rotunda. 10 women were recognized for the significant contributions they have made to their communities and the state. In the background is Zim Schwartze, chief of Capitol Police, who introduced each of the award recipients. At right is Rep. Danny Busick, R-Newtown, who presented Mills with a House of Representatives proclamation.
Julie Smith/News Tribune Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, left, is shown, with Stephanie Mills, originally from Jefferson City, was recognized for creating a non-profit organization, Fairy Godmother, to raise money for young women in the foster care system to provide a "fairy godmother" experience for prom. Mills, who now lives in Kirksville, has expanded the scope of the organization to provide mentorship for college, scholarship and workplace interviews. Kehoe hosted the inaugural Lieutenant Governor's Women of Achievement Awards Ceremony Thursday morning in the Capitol Rotunda. 10 women were recognized for the significant contributions they have made to their communities and the state. In the background is Zim Schwartze, chief of Capitol Police, who introduced each of the award recipients. At right is Rep. Danny Busick, R-Newtown, who presented Mills with a House of Representatives proclamation.

The inaugural Women of Achievement Awards recognized 10 accomplished women from across the state, including a few from Mid-Missouri.

Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe honored the select Missouri women with an award and proclamation during a ceremony Thursday morning in the Capitol Rotunda.

The Lieutenant Governor's Office announced the winners March 1 and held Thursday's ceremony to coincide with Women's History Month. The award was created earlier this year to acknowledge women who have made substantial contributions to their communities.

Kehoe said he's inspired by Missouri's women and recognizing some on Thursday made him think of his own mother, who was a single mother of six.

"We have 10 award winners today, but the reality is there are thousands of women in our state who could win this award," he said.

Capitol Police Chief Zim Schwartze, the first woman to serve in her role, announced the 10 award winners while Kehoe and other elected officials congratulated them and presented each a trophy and proclamation.

For Sharon Naught, an award recipient from Jefferson City, it was an honor to receive the award and be recognized with such an outstanding group of women.

"I'm on cloud nine right now," she said. "To be among these other women that are so talented also and to be one of the first recipients of this award, I just feel very honored."

Naught is an honorary member of the Jefferson City Gold Star Families Memorial Monument and is involved with the Veterans Council, Operation Bugle Boy, East Side Business Association, Relay for Life, Wreaths for Heroes and the Capital Region Medical Center Board.

She also helped create the Boost BBQ, which has raised almost $900,000 for nutritional supplements for cancer patients in 30 years, and a program that sends a rose to families who lost someone to cancer and donates to the American Cancer Society.

The Naughts also sponsored the entrance to the Missouri Bicentennial Bridge.

Naught said she's proud of her accomplishments and by helping others she helps herself.

"My husband and I have lived here since '72, and we are so blessed to be in a community that gives so much," she said. "We've been able to give back, and that's what I've wanted to do."

Support for people battling cancer became a priority in Naught's community service after the disease killed her brother. She's also heavily focused on recognizing and supporting veterans.

"I usually can't say no when people come up and say, 'Would you like to do this?'" she admitted. "I say yes. I don't know how much more I can do, but I want to."

Naught has been recognized with several awards for her dedication to the community, including the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce William W. Quigg Leadership Award and the 2018 Lieutenant Governor's Senior Service Award. She was also recognized at the Salvation Army's Women Doing Good event in February and by K9s on the Front Line Thursday evening.

Sharon's husband, Tom Naught, said he was proud of his wife and happy to see Kehoe recognizing her contributions to Jefferson City.

"For as long as I've known her, which is 32 years, she's been a hard worker and dedicated, especially if there are children or veterans involved," Naught said. "We've committed our lifestyle to giving back to the community, but she's just really a workforce."

The significance of being part of the award's first class of recipients wasn't lost on Stephanie Mills, either.

Mills, an award recipient from Kirksville who grew up in the Capital City, said she was pleasantly surprised to be traveling home to be recognized for her achievements in the nonprofit sector.

"This was such an exhilarating experience, especially coming back home and coming over that bridge to see the Capitol and just feeling like I was home," she said. "It was phenomenal."

Mills previously owned Evey Lynn Bridal, but closed the bridal shop to spend more time with her daughter with autism. While operating the shop, she created Fairy Godmother, a nonprofit providing women in foster care with a gown, accessories, and hair and makeup services for prom. In addition to the fairy godmother experience for prom, the nonprofit offers mentorship and clothing for interviews.

She brought her oldest daughter with her to the ceremony.

"It was really important for me for my 9-year-old to see," Mills said. "I've had Fairy Godmother, and I've been on so many different committees throughout her whole entire life, so I don't think she really understands the magnitude, necessarily, yet of what I do and how many lives it affects. It was nice to have her witness today exactly what that means."

Award winners came from all parts of the state and from a variety of backgrounds.

Seeing women recognized for their accomplishments and leadership in everything from business to community service is inspirational, said Libby Martin, the youngest award recipient.

"It's just such an honor," she said. "You look at the other women here and they're just such an inspiration and all the things they've achieved is really great for people who are young, like myself, to see."

A California native, Martin founded a precision agriculture startup that employs sensory hardware and prediction software to help farmers monitor the health of pregnant cows. She created Calving Technologies, LLC as a student at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

With her startup, Martin won MU's first Entrepreneur Quest Student Accelerator competition and $40,000 to continue her business.

She also serves as the 2022 class vice president at MU, a student ambassador for the NAVE Veterinary Group of Las Vegas, Nevada, and vice president of marketing for the Veterinary Business Management Association.

All 10 award recipients were invited Wednesday evening to a dinner at the Governor's Mansion, which Martin said was a memorable experience.

"I've definitely learned something from each of them, and I look forward to using that as motivation to keep giving back in the future," she said.

Martin said she completed veterinary school last week and will be graduating from MU in May. She'll be moving to Kansas City to practice as a veterinarian and continue working on her calving business.

Several leaders from Lincoln University attended Thursday's ceremony to congratulate award winner Sheryl Branch-Maxwell, the assistant area coordinator for LU Cooperative Extension in Charleston, Missouri.

Following the ceremony in the Rotunda, the women of achievement were recognized in the Missouri House and Senate.

  photo  Julie Smith/News Tribune photo: Libby Martin, second from left, is applauded by Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, left, and representatives Sara Walsh Willard Haley after receiving an award and recognition from the. Missouri House and Senate. Martin of California, was recognized for founding Calving Technologies, LLC, a precision agriculture and Internet of Things startup. She attends veterinary school at the University of Missouri and continues work on her technology. Kehoe hosted the inaugural Lieutenant Governor's Women of Achievement Awards Ceremony Thursday morning in the Capitol Rotunda. 10 women were recognized for the significant contributions they have made to their communities and the state. In the background is Zim Schwartze, chief of Capitol Police, who introduced each of the award recipients.
 
 
  photo  Julie Smith/News Tribune photo: Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, second from left, applauds Sharon Naught who was recognized for her commitment to serving Jefferson City, veterans and other causes. Kehoe hosted the inaugural Lieutenant Governor's Women of Achievement Awards Ceremony Thursday morning in the Capitol Rotunda during which 10 women were recognized for the significant contributions they have made to their communities and the state. Shown in the background is Zim Schwartze, chief of Capitol Police, who introduced each of the recipients. Also pictured are: Sen. Mike Bernskoetter, at left, and representatives Dave Griffith and Rudy Veit.