AWARD RECIPIENTS — The YWCA of Steubenville held its second-annual Women of Distinction awards banquet Thursday evening at Hellenic Hall. With Sophie Spencer, standing left, YWCA executive director, are honorees, seated, from left, Vanessa Palmer, Melinda Young and Esther McCoy; and standing, Francesca Carinci, Angelita Forte’ and Michelle Miller.

STEUBENVILLE — Six area women with different careers, yet similarities as advocates, were honored Thursday when the YWCA of Steubenville held its second-annual Women of Distinction awards banquet at Hellenic Hall at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.

Before an audience approaching 200, tribute was paid to attorney Francesca Carinci, community and civic affairs; Angelita Forte’, youth services coordinator for Steubenville City Schools, rising star award; Esther McCoy, former columnist, food editor and staff writer for the Herald-Star, legacy award; Jefferson County Common Pleas Judge Michelle Miller, business and professional services; Vanessa Palmer, who retired from Steubenville City Schools, working as a certified school nurse for 30 years, health and sciences; and Melinda Young, superintendent of Steubenville City Schools, education.

Ellen Mosti-Barner, honorary chairperson, expressed thanks for the audience’s support of the YWCA.

“It’s great to be here to honor women who really have made a difference in Steubenville and the surrounding areas,” she said before introducing Sophie Spencer, YWCA executive director.

“I get real excited for this event,” Spencer told the audience, noting the awards program returned last year after having been dormant for some time. “I am so excited because being new to this area, I have met so many incredible women, and it gives me a great honor and a privilege to be able to honor and celebrate those women this evening,” Spencer said, acknowledging 2016 honorees in attendance, including Kelli McCoy, who served as mistress of ceremonies, and Patricia Herring and Constance Vinson.

Spencer offered a brief synopsis “of what’s going on down at the YWCA on Fourth Street where nobody wants to come down to. OK, I’m learning that, but it seems like everybody’s coming downtown, and if you haven’t been downtown, you’re missing a treat — you really are,” Spencer said.

The YWCA hosts weekly Rotary and Kiwanis club meetings; holds luncheon card parties on the second Thursday of the month; is home to the support group Parenting the Second Time Around for grandmothers raising grandchildren; mentors the Y Teens at Steubenville High School, “a great group of girls who are really developing into really fabulous leaders;” operates a residence for women in transition; and rents the facilities for parties and other special events.

“So there’s a lot going on at the Y, but I’m really, really grateful that this community has supported the YWCA, because without your support, we would not be able to put on an event like this or carry on the programs that empower women and eliminate racism,” Spencer said, asking the audience to “take a moment and think about the women who have been empowered in the past few months to come forward in the sexual harassment fiasco that’s been going on.”

Kelli McCoy said she was humbled to share the dais with the honorees and in reading their bios noted one word kept occurring to her as their common denominator — advocacy.

“These women are advocates for our community, advocates for our children, advocates for the most vulnerable in our community, and what they do is important, and we need to honor them,” she said.

At one time one of the few female attorneys practicing locally, Carinci serves as president of the board of the Ohio Valley Health Center and is a board member for the Grand Theater Restoration Project.

“She always inspired me, and she seemed to be fighting for what was right in our community, always an advocate for all that is good and right in our community,” McCoy said of Carinci.

“Angelita Forte’ spends good quality time with the most important folks in our community — our youth — to listen every day with an exemplary background in education and athletics. We’re truly blessed to have someone of her caliber influencing and encouraging our local children,” she said.

“Through the years if there’s one person relaying the positive stories of the Ohio Valley it’s been Esther, always positive, always telling all of us about the good things happening here because there are so many good things happening here. For spreading that positivity, she has always been an advocate for the good in the community and highlighting that,” Kelli McCoy said of Esther, noting the two are not related.

“Judge Michelle Miller is first and foremost an advocate for justice,” McCoy said, explaining the two worked together on Miller’s election campaign. “The moment I met her, I thought people need to get to know this lady. They’re going to love her. They’re going to trust her. And we all have met her, and we’re pretty impressed. She has definitely lived up to the expectations and then some. She has become a voice for those who may not have one. She is an advocate for justice in our community, an advocate for those who need help the most,” McCoy said.

“We can all agree that without our health and family very little else matters,” McCoy said in acknowledging Palmer, who also has worked in community settings as a certified Red Cross instructor and as a certified diabetic educator for a program to help adults understand diabetes and the care of the chronic disease. She also developed school health fairs that enable children and families understand the importance of staying healthy.

“She has been an advocate for health in this community,” she said.

Young has served as superintendent of Steubenville City Schools for the past four years but has 27 years of expertise and experience in the school system, having been a teacher, parent coordinator, principal and director of programs.

McCoy described Young as a mother not only to her two daughters but also to every child in the school district. “You will not find someone who cares more for each child than Melinda Young does. Do you realize that Mrs. Young is at the helm of one of the most successful school systems not just in the state, but in the country? Her kids matter. Her teachers matter. Her parents matter. Her community matters. She is an advocate for education and our children,” McCoy said.

Each honoree took a turn at the podium to express gratitude for the recognition.

Esther McCoy said she was “deeply honored” and thanked her husband, Lamont, for his support and patience during election coverage, cookbook contests and food page photos. She also thanked her sons for attending — sons “who made their way into my Sunday column a lot, and I know there were times they weren’t always happy about that.” She also thanked the Herald-Star for 37 years. “It’s been an amazing ride, and I enjoyed every minute of it,” she said.

Carinci described herself as “just a character” who grew up in Steubenville on South Street, not far from where the awards banquet was being held. “Everybody else here is distinguished,” she said. “I love Steubenville, and I really appreciate everybody in this room who does so much. I’m just inspired to do a lot and be the best I can be from the example that all of you have given me,” she said, imploring the audience to “keep loving Steubenville and keep making it grow, because good things are happening here.”

Young said the award was especially important to here because of what the YWCA stands for. “The Y’s mission is to eliminate racism, empower women and the belief that our strength is in our diversity,” she said. “The Y makes a difference in our community every day, and the Steubenville schools can’t thank the Y enough for everything they do for us. At Steubenville City Schools, we are proud of our diversity. We bring together students from all income levels, religions and race not only to learn about academics but also to learn about each other. We do believe there is strength in diversity,” Young said, citing diversity’s benefits as enhancing the social development of children, preparing them for future careers, promoting creative thinking and increasing students’ knowledge base.

A former nurse, then attorney, then judge, Miller said, “I grew up in the small town of Smithfield, and so I don’t get choked up, this diversity and empowering women, you could not have grown up in a better village to do that,” she said. “And I look around the room, my parents have always been by my side, my daughter has made the trip here from Cincinnati, and at every level, be it during my education, during my professional career as a nurse, during my practice and beginning, Fran was one of the mentors who took me under her wing,” Miller said. “I have been blessed with good leadership, compassion, strength and support. The reason this award is so important is that the YWCA provides that kind of support to those individuals who aren’t as fortunate as I have been,” Miller added.

“I am so grateful and definitely honored to receive this award,” Palmer said, thanking her husband, Mark, “who is tolerant of me going through all my different changes, in school, out of school,” and other family members and friends on hand to help celebrate. She said in her three decades as a school nurse, “I enjoyed every moment, every day. I loved all of the children, and I’m so grateful God gave me the opportunity to do that,” Palmer added.

“I am honored to have this award and be recognized by my community,” said Forte’, who started her teaching career as a health and physical education instructor at Steubenville High School and also coached volleyball, basketball and track. She left teaching for a few years and coached Division I collegiate basketball at Ohio University and Boston College, then returned to Steubenville City Schools in 2012. Forte’ serves on the board for the Fishers Council, a Christian-based, nonprofit community outreach and mentoring program.

Forte’ expressed gratitude for all the support, words of encouragement and mentoring she experienced, all of which was instrumental in her development, she noted.

Resolutions and proclamations were presented to the honorees by Mayor Domenick Mucci; state Rep. Jack Cera, D-Belliare; and Ashley Karlen, field representative for U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Marietta.

A special award in memory of Barbara Young, who volunteered at the YWCA for more than 25 years before her death in July at age 80, was accepted by her daughter, Jeanne Blackburn. Young helped with the summer camp, attended YWCA card parties and served drinks at Friday Rotary Club luncheons, according to the program booklet.

“She was one of the most stylish women I ever knew, and she loved the YWCA. She would regale me with great stories about the YWCA. I miss her so much. She had a helping heart, and we loved her at the YWCA,” Spencer said.

Women of Distinction committee members included Ellen Mosti-Barner, chairperson; Lisa Noble, fundraising chairperson; and Aimee Livingston, Patricia Fletcher, Tyra Timmons, President MaryJoy VanDyne and Donna Phillips.

Under the direction of Scott Wolodkin, Steubenville High School choir members performed several a capella selections before the dinner.

The fundraiser included a 50-50 drawing, a silent auction, a Chinese auction and “red carpet” photo opportunities provided by Monica Lynne Photography, one of the key sponsors in addition to Trinity Health System, Apollo Pro Cleaning and Restoration and Ed McCauslen’s Florist.

(Kiaski can be contacted at jkiaski@heraldstaronline.com.)