Four women from Weyburn and area were recognized for their exemplary service and work in the community on Monday at the annual Quota International of Weyburn's Women of the Year award.
Four women from Weyburn and area were recognized for their exemplary service and work in the community on Monday at the annual Quota International of Weyburn's Women of the Year award.
Shirley Wheeler won the SaskPower Award for Excellence in the Workplace.
Wheeler was nominated by her co-worker, Stella Swertz, and the Sun Country Health Region and Tatagwa View.
She has been working in health care for 40 years, always with the Sun Country Health Region, and has worked her way up from the bottom to the position of Regional Director of Environment Services, a post she took in 2005.
Wheeler said her nomination was totally unexpected.
"So honoured to be nominated by co-workers and Sun Country health team," said Wheeler.
"I want to give. It's a part of me," said Wheeler of the driving force behind her accomplishments.
"I get so much joy from seeing others benefit from something I was a part of."
Shannon Seitz, nominated by Connie Nightingale and Sun Country Kids Club, won the Quota International of Weyburn Community Service Award.
"While the ongoing operations are always a team effort, it is only due to the single handed determination and tenaciousness of Shannon Seitz that the Kids Club was established," said Linda Rudachyk of Seitz's contribution to Weyburn.
Seitz, who completed her Early Childhood Education program while becoming a busy mother, said she was very surprised to be nominated.
She said her inspiration came from growing up in a generation where she watched her grandparents donate so much time and effort. She recognized that "giving back to the community is important and keeps this place our home."
She chose to target her efforts at helping the youth in the community because they are the future.
Margo Jacob won the Access Communications Exceptional Entrepreneur Award for her business, Top Line Advertising Products Inc. She was nominated by Marnelle and Kathy Rasmussen.
Jacob opened the business in June 2009 and was the sole employee at the time. Almost four years later, Jacob employs two full-time staff and one part-timer and still had to work very long hours during the busy season.
Jacob said she still sees herself as a housewife though. She never imagined having staff and having to make decisions but is happy to have been able to bring business, which was going to Estevan or Regina, back to Weyburn.
"I'm almost embarrassed. I'm just doing my job," said Jacob of winning the award.
Jacob's charity work lies mostly with 4-H.
"My heart is with 4-H," said Jacob. She helps by donating the occasional embroidered materials and helping where possible.
Tonya Mokelki said she was "very surprised" to win the Investors Group Young Woman of Distinction Award.
Mokelki, nominated by Norma Buydens, may be best known for her volleyball skills, which began in Grade 5 at Queen Elizabeth School, up to being a member of the Canadian women's national team, and she continues to donate her time training younger generation in the sport, but she is also accomplished in academics and professionally.
Mokelki is a legal assistant at NSWB and is the youngest coroner in the Weyburn area. She acquired the skills for those jobs at Metropolitan State University in Denver and Colorado State University where she gained recognition for maintaining a high academic score while participating in athletics.
"I was born and raised here. It's just a fundamental part of being here," said Mokelki of her volunteerism.
The women were all presented with engraved vases for their awards during the luncheon ceremony at McKenna Hall.
