2018 Golden Triangle Region Women of Distinction Luncheon Souvenir Program

Friday

April 6, 2018 11:30 a.m.

First Baptist Church Outreach Center 210 South Jackson Street Starkville, MS

2018 Women of Distinction Nominees

Santee Ezell....................................................................................................................page 2 Dr. Kristen Fyke.............................................................................................................page 2 E d ie Ir v i n .........................................................................................................................page 3 Lisa Klutts........................................................................................................................page 3 D r. B r i d g e t S m i th Pi esch el ..................................................................................page 4 Rachael Potts.................................................................................................................page 4 Dr. Tina Scholtes..........................................................................................................page 5 Sarah Smitherman...........................................................................................................page 5

Luncheon Program

Welcome.......................................................................................... Aundrea Self, WCBI INVOCATION..........................................................................................................................

G irl S c o u t P ledge ........................................Golden Triangle Area Girl Scouts introduction.......................................................................................... Aundrea Self K e y n ote S peaker ..............................................................................Melanie Busby Girl Scout Highlights.......................................................................Jenny Jones Chief Community Engagement Officer, GSHS

2018 Nominees......................................................................................... Aundrea Self c lo sing ........................................................................................................ Aundrea Self

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Nominees

santee ezell Santee Ezell is the Department of Mental Health Consultation & Education Project Coordinator at Mississippi State University. She manages programs that focus on Mental Health, Suicide, Alcohol & Drug Prevention, and Collegiate Recovery. Her position also coordinates the MS Coalition of Partners in Prevention that consists of community colleges and universities across the state. Through her work, Santee has worked to develop health equity strategies and sustainable community development projects for communities in Mississippi.

In 2013, Santee initiated a one-time event for African-American girls that focused on STEM, Education, Health & Wellness, and Entrepreneurship.

The event turned into an organization called Black Girls Rock of MS, Inc. Through this program, Santee has provided a variety of programming, fundraising, and community service for young girls in her hometown and throughout North MS. Santee has worked to provide the necessary resources and knowledge to the mentees they serve. The organization works in the community to meet the needs of young African-American girls with a focus on empowerment, education, enrichment, elevation, and engagement.

dr. kristen fyke Dr. Kristen Fyke completed her undergraduate studies at Mississippi State University and then earned her medical degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in 2006. Dr. Fyke returned to Starkville after completing her OB/GYN residency at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and joined Starkville Clinic for Women, PA, in August 2010. She currently serves on the Physician’s Board for Starkville Pregnancy Care Center.

Dedicated to serving others and extending care to those in need, Kristen has taken multiple medical mission trips to Haiti with the Hispaniola Mountain Ministries.

Kristen received the People’s Choice Award for Starkville’s Best OB/GYN and is dedicated to serving her community and improving the lives of women before, during and after their deliveries. Kristen and her family are members of First Baptist Church in Starkville where she also teaches Sunday School. She is a wife and mother of three children.

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Nominees

edie irvin Edie Irvin is the Associate Director for the Career Center at Mississippi State University. Through this position, she is the coordinator for the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as Undeclared students. Each semester Edie teaches weekly classes on career development to freshman and sophomore students. These classes consist of deciding on a desired career path, resume building, and interview skills. When it comes to her family life, Edie is a devoted wife and mother to her husband and children.

She served on the Women of Distinction committee during its inaugural year and has been an advocate for the event ever since. Edie is a member of the First Baptist Church in Starkville and serves as the chapter advisory board chair for the Delta Omega Chapter of Kappa Delta. She has dedicated 12 years to this chapter and helped shape thousands of young women’s lives along the way. Under her leadership the chapter improved Panhellenic academic standing to second in grades and has kept that status for eight consecutive semesters.

lisa klutts Lisa Klutts graduated from Caledonia High School in 1991 and received her Bachelor of Accountancy from Mississippi State University in 2003 before moving to West Point in 2005. Beginning her career with the City of West Point, she started volunteering with The Growth Alliance by coordinating the Prairie Arts Festival. She served on the board before being hired as the Director of Community Development with The Growth Alliance in 2014.

In her capacity as the Director, Lisa is responsible for the Farmers Market, Christmas Parade and all new business ribbon cuttings. At the Chamber of Commerce, Main Street and Tourism office, Lisa is the catalyst for enhancing the quality of life in West Point in many ways - recruiting volunteers, donations and sponsors as well as fundraising efforts to beautify and promote the town she calls home.

A wife and mother of three, Lisa attends the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation in West Point where she is a Sunday School teacher and committee chairman of the Invite, Welcome, Connect Ministry.

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Nominees

dr. bridget smith pieschel Dr. Bridget Smith Pieschel holds bachelors and master’s degrees from Mississippi University for Women and a Ph.D. from the University of Alabama. She has been a Professor of English at MUW for many years, and students across the years rave about her dedication to her work and her ability to inspire learning. Her career at MUW also includes serving as the Director of the Honors Program and as the Head of the Division of Humanities. She became the Director of MUW’s Center for Women’s Research and Public Policy in 2005. The Center conducts research and has programming that focuses on all issues affecting women and girls, and particularly on the history of MUW and women’s education.

Dr. Pieschel was the recipient of the MUW Medal of Excellence in 2005, Mississippi’s First Alumnae Association Alumnae Achievement Award in 2010, and MUW’s Kossen Faculty Excellence Award in 2012. She has served on the boards for The Girl Scouts Heart of the South, The Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters, and the Tri-State Southern Literary Trail.

Bridget has also had multiple works published and participated in many community activities.

rachael potts Rachael Potts is a graduate of Mississippi State University and is Branch Manager of the Gum Tree Mortgage Starkville location in The Mill at MSU. Rachael has helped countless customers and in 2017 she was named the company’s Top Producing Mortgage Lender. Rachael is very active with various fundraisers through her love of golf. Annually she volunteers with the Skip Gleason Memorial Golf Tournament which funds scholarships for Law Students at Ole Miss in memory of her friend, Skip Gleason. She also chaired the annual BNI Charity Golf Tournament that benefited the Northeast MS Down Syndrome Society.

In 2016 she competed in Dance Like the Stars and raised over $10,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of North Mississippi. A recent Starkville resident, Rachael immediately became involved in the community. She is a member of the Starkville Rotary Club, President of her BNI Group, advisor to Delta Gamma Sorority at MSU and currently serves as Treasurer for the Starkville Area Arts Council.

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Nominees

dr. tina scholtes Dr. Tina Scholtes is a National Board Certified teacher, a past Starkville Teacher of the Year, a past Mississippi Teacher of the Year, USA Today All USA Teacher Second Team, and a Presidential Awardee for Math and Science. She has served on various advisories and working committees for the Mississippi Department of Education, including the math framework writing committee and the State Superintendent Advisory.

She is a graduate of the National Staff Development Association’s Academy of Leaders, a multi-year experience focusing on inquiry and problembased learning in a professional development setting. She has conducted Professional Development and classroom demonstrations throughout the state. Dr. Scholtes has shown her leadership by first teaching school for over 20 years. She then turned her phenomenal success into teaching others. She worked as a curriculum specialist in the Starkville School District. She achieved her doctorate and National Board Certification in addition to the above mentioned honors and accomplishments.

sarah smitherman Sarah Smitherman plays an integral part in helping the children of Starkville and Oktibbeha County through her volunteer work with the Junior Auxiliary of Starkville. Her largest role has been through Project Help, a partnership with the Oktibbeha Consolidated School District to provide uniforms, school supplies, coats, and hygiene products to those considered homeless. This year she saw that over 60 children received warm coats for the winter months. Sarah has served as Project Chair for Junior Auxiliary, Education Chair and was the Project Chair for Starkville’s Annual Safety Town Event. She is currently the co-chair for the organization’s largest fundraising event centered around the Kentucky Derby.

Sarah also served on the Young Life of Starkville Committee for 4 1/2 years. Currently, Young Life has three ministries at MSU, Starkville High School and Starkville Academy. Sarah assisted in starting the Young Life program in Starkville which included fundraising and community outreach.

She is the mother of two amazing little girls, Anna Claire and Abigail, and a doting wife to her husband Jeremy.

She and her family attend First Baptist Church in Starkville where she also teaches Sunday School.

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Master of Ceremonies

aundrea self We are pleased to again have Aundrea Self serving as our Master of Ceremonies for today’s luncheon. Aundrea Self is home grown.

She graduated from Starkville High School and earned degrees in English and Mass Communications from Stillman College where she also served as “Miss Stillman College.” Aftergraduation, Aundrea began her broadcasting career at WACR radio. After joining the WCBI-TV family as a news producer, Aundrea eventually began reporting. That ultimately led to her 7-year run as co-anchor of “WCBI News Sunrise” and “Midday.” Aundrea currently anchors the five and six o’clock newscasts at WCBI and hosts the daily talk show, “MidMorning with Aundrea.”

Outside of work, Aundrea spends time speaking to area churches, schools, and civic organizations. She is an active member of the Starkville chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and enjoys reading, spending time with family, and sampling her husband’s tasty dishes! Aundrea and her husband, David, have three children: Kimberly, Alan, and Emilee.

Special thanks to our dedicated 2018 Women of Distinction Committee Members: Lara Bowman, Kathleen Burnett, Melinda Lowe, Adrienne Morris, Cate Robinson and Committee Chair Caroline Skelton.

Without you, this extraordinary event would not be possible.

Thank you for investing your time and talents to help recognize and honor Women of Distinction in the Golden Triangle Region and to promoting the mission of Girl Scouts.

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Keynote Speaker

melanie busby Over a 13-year career with the West Point School District, Melanie Groner Busby was devoted not only to the district but her students, as well. Melanie served as a high school math teacher, guidance counselor, tennis coach, public relations director, grant writer, partners in education coordinator and mentor coordinator, all while managing her own consulting firm that helped other teachers and school districts improve their own operations.

Melanie has helped win the West Point Community over 9.8 million in state, federal and private grants. These funds have been used to provide infrastructure, quality of life improvements, and jobs to the people of West Point and Clay County. Melanie has served as the grant writer and manager for the City of West Point for 13 years.

Melanie’s passion for teaching allowed her part-time business in Arbonne International to be as successful as her other careers while at the same time changing many other men and women’s lives. In her 12 years with the company, Melanie has built an extremely successful organization and teaches and trains others (primarily women) to build their own businesses that help them provide for their families and encourages them to give back to their communities. She has won 10 achievement trips with the company and is on her third Mercedes Benz.

Melanie and her husband, Dr. Michael Busby, enjoy playing USTA tennis their spare time. They have one daughter, Macey, who is 9 years old. Macey is a Brownie and is involved in church and in competitive voice and dance. Melanie’s other job is running Macey to all her activities.

Melanie Busby is a three time graduate of Mississippi State University, a former Road Runner and Orientation Leader for the University. Melanie currently serves as an officer for the alumnae Golden Triangle Chapter of Kappa Delta sorority and teaches a Sunday school class with Michael at First Baptist Church in West Point where they both sing in the choir. Melanie was recently recognized as Citizen of the Year for West Point for her work in being the playground build chair with Yokohama and Kaboom.

The Girl Scout Mission Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

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Event Sponsors

cadette level sponsors Kappa Delta Sorority Delta Omega Chapter

junior level sponsors Dr. Donna Reese

brownie level sponsors 4-County Electric Power Association Brown & Langston, PLLC Trey & Lara Bowman Cadence Bank Mississippi University for Women West Point Clay County Growth Alliance

daisy level sponsors BancorpSouth Bulldog Mobile Concierge Melanie Busby, Arbonne International Gum Tree Mortgage LA Green Adrienne Morrris Starkville Clinic for Women 8

Event Sponsors

luncheon sponsors Many thanks to the following restaurants for providing such a delicious lunch. As you patronize these eateries, please thank them for their generous contributions to our community.

Aramark Harding Catering McAlister’s Deli, Starkville Newk’s Eatery, Starkville Starkville Café The Cake Box

gifts provided by Kendra Scott

floral arrangements by Events Off 5th Fleur de Lis Caroline Skelton Events

The Girl Scout Promise On my honor, I will try: to serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law. 9

The Girl Scout Law I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.

Girl Scouts Heart of the South www.girlscoutshs.org I 800.624.4185