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Commission
Board

Carol Walker
Executive Director

Emma E. Houston
Chair

Dr. Kay T. Swan
Chair-Elect

JoAnn Neilson
Secretary/Historian

Dr. Helen V. Graber
Treasurer

Commission
Members

Ruth Jackson

Emma Kuykendall

Bruce G. Parry

Barbara Smith

2002 Women Awards Description

Brief Description of 2002 Award Winners (in alphabetical order):

Afton Bradshaw: Afton Bradshaw has served as a State Legislator and community volunteer with great distinction and style. Her integrity is unquestioned and her wisdom is widely respected. She has served in the Utah Legislature from 1985 to 2002. She has been appointed to numerous boards on both national and state levels. She has truly been a role model of strength, compassion, integrity, and intelligence. Utah is a better place because of Afton Bradshaw.

Colleen Casto: Colleen Casto is currently a producer at KUED-TV. As a single mother she put herself through college, earning a degree in communications from the University of Utah. As a producer at KUED she has championed programs focusing on women, family, and minority issues such as "A Rising Voice! Hispanics In Utah," and "No Safe Place! Violence Against Women." Colleen has highlighted issues important to our community and has been a mentor to other women in broadcasting by utilizing their talents and fostering their professional growth.

Doris Frye: Doris Frye is a remarkable woman in her nineties who first moved to Salt Lake City in 1913 where she grew up, completed high school and married. She and her husband operated their own catering and ranching business in Washington State until her brother became very ill and she moved back to Salt Lake City to care for him. Mrs. Frye made a major impact on African-American youth by modeling high self-esteem and the value of handling economic resources. In spite of her age she has been the most dependable helper and volunteer at the Calvary Baptist Church. She passed away in May, 2002.

Janise K. Macanas: Janise is a great example of female empowerment and extraordinary determination. In 1993, Janise's husband, an FBI agent, was killed in the line of duty. Tragically, Janise found herself a single mother with three children to support - ranging in age from a senior in high school to 3 years old. Rather than wallowing in self-pity, she put herself through law school. Working nights as an adjunct professor at UVSC, she completed law school a semester early and soon thereafter began what has proven a remarkable career as a prosecutor at the Utah Attorney General's Office. Janise is a great example of a minority woman's power to achieve and succeed despite overwhelming adversity.

Nancy Mitchell: Nancy Mitchell has dedicated both her professional and personal life to the success of professional women. She is actively involved in countless organizations in order to provide services and programs designed to help women succeed on all levels. She has coordinated, or been involved in the planning committees, for various conferences, meetings, workshops and symposiums designed to provide cost effective services for women to successfully build their businesses. Her commitment has created many worthwhile programs.

Melanie Raymond: Melanie P. Raymond of Cache Valley has served as community and church volunteer while cognizant of the needs of her large family. For more than 25 years, Utah State University, as well as Logan schools, have benefited from her conscientious participation in numerous positions and boards. Melanie has served the state of Utah as committee chair for Governor Leavitt's Transition Team, Appellate Court Nominating Commission, and as Board Chair of the Utah Festival Opera Company. Currently, she volunteers at the Logan Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit while providing support to 800 women in her faith-based community in Logan. Melanie's vigilant service for women and families is exemplary.

Dana Lee Thelin: Dana Lee Thelin created and now directs the Provo School District's PHASE program, (Peers Helping Advance Self Esteem), now in its 15th year. PHASE is an anti-substance abuse and self esteem building program that teaches leadership skills through a series of twenty overnight retreats. Many at-risk students benefit from this well-organized experience. She was honored ten years ago as a national "Volunteer of the Year," accepting her award at the White House from Barbara Bush.

Laura Thomas: Laura Thomas conceived the idea of making the Hurricane canal into a "trail". She wrote for and received a government grant. She got the Americorps involved, and provided their meals and lodging. Laura was also able to get the property donated and was honored by the Bureau of Land Management for inspiring other communities to look to their heritage. She then continued her work by raising funds and building a skateboard park for the youth of the city.

Dr. Alison C. Thorne: Dr. Alison C. Thorne has devoted her life to teaching others and is a champion of educational causes. She has served her community for many years by serving on the Logan Board of Education, Utah School Boards Association Board of Directors, Cache Migrant Council, co-founder and board member of the Cache and Northern Utah Community Action Program, force behind and member of the first Governor's Commission on the Status of Women in Utah, and served as member and Chair of the State Advisory Council to the State Department of Employment Security. Dr. Thorne earned her PhD in Economics from Iowa State University in 1938.

Brooke C. Wells: Brooke C. Wells has dedicated her life to work that represents both achievement in her professional field as a federal prosecutor and in community service. She was a trailblazer for women when she graduated from the University of Utah Law School enabling others to follow. Brooke is presently the chief of the Violent Crimes Section in the U.S. Attorney 's Office where she supervises and mentors many young attorneys-while maintaining an active caseload of her own. She was recently recognized for her successful prosecution of a Salt Lake City man who burned a cross on the lawn of an African-American couple in an effort to intimidate them. Brooke is truly a heroine of our community and great state.

HONORARY MENTION

Betty Jo Lovato: Betty Jo Lovato has been nominated for this award several years in a row. She was an inspiration to the many who knew her. She worked at Sorenson Research/Abbott Critical for over 20 years. She always had a smile for the world and helped the homeless and needy every chance she could. Betty Jo loved Utah and everyone in it. She passed away in January, 2001.

Kristi Lee Mortensen: It is rare for a deaf Utahn to graduate from a Utah University with an advanced degree. It is even more rare for the deaf Utahn to be a deaf woman. Kristi Mortensen is such a person and has at the age of 44 succeeded in graduating from the University of Phoenix with a MAED/C on May 4, 2002 with a 3.70 G.P.A.

Awards for 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | Awards Description for 2004 | 2003 | 2002