Soroptimist International of Joplin receives top award at conference

 

(From Soroptimist International)

Soroptimist International of Joplin was awarded the top honor in Public Awareness for the South Central Region of Soroptimist International at the 100th Annual South Central Region Conference in Kansas City on Saturday, April 25, 2026.

The South Central Region Public Awareness Olympics was launched in 2025 to increase the visibility of local Soroptimist clubs through social media, print, television, and digital channels. It recognizes clubs that meet set goals and activities within these communications.

“We worked so hard for this honor,” says Kerstin Landwer, PR Olympics committee chair. “This was definitely a group effort that engaged several different communications committees within our club. It is so exciting to be the very first club to win this award.”

Club President Lisa Paugh says, “This award is especially meaningful because it highlights our club’s commitment to increasing awareness of both our mission and the impact Soroptimists make in the lives of women and girls in our community.”

Other committee members include Lynn Onstot, Jayde Thomas, Jennifer Reeves, Amanda Mitchell, Anne McLaughlin, and Emily Gibson.

The South Central Region of Soroptimist International of the Americas consists of 7 states, 31 local clubs, and 711 members.

Soroptimist International of Joplin is part of Soroptimist International of the Americas, a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. 

The Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards® is the signature project of Soroptimist International of the Americas. Soroptimist, a 501(c)(3) organization that relies on charitable donations to support its programs, also powers LiveYourDream.org—an online community offering offline volunteer opportunities in support of women and girls.

For more information about how Soroptimist improves the lives of women and girls, visit www.soroptimist.org, www.joplinsoroptimist.org, or www.facebook.com/SIJoplin.

(Photo: region conference award. Left to right: South Central Region (SCR) Governor, Leigh Hedgepeth; SI Joplin President, Lisa Paugh; SCR Public Awareness Chair, Kelly Fogarty; SCR District III Director, Shebra Hackett.)