Downriver Soroptimists Host Annual Awards Banquet

Six women were recognized with monetary awards from the Soroptimist International of Downriver for their ambition and contribution to their communities. The awards banquet was held on March 4, 2025, at Biddle Hall in Wyandotte. Some of the essay judges were in attendance to celebrate with the winners. The applicants were evaluated on a set criteria and essays that assessed their contributions to women and society.

Soroptimist is an international organization of almost 1,500 clubs in nineteen countries for and by dedicated women who use their collective power to help other women and girls transform their physical, mental, and emotional lives and the lives of their families. Downriver Soroptimist is a volunteer group that offers service by way of fundraising and donations, public awareness/educational programs, and hands-on assistance; as well as presenting yearly monetary awards to individuals to help support and further their future. These women give their time and talents to local food pantries, Vista Maria, First Step, Sparrow Project, Stanford House, Alternatives for Girls, and to area women’s health institutions. They host annual charity fundraisers and programs such as “Save the Girls” charity golf outing, the “Dream It, Be It” program for adolescent girls, and the biennial “Battle for Freedom” avant-garde hair and fashion show.

The “Live Your Dream Education and Training Award” was established in 1972 to provide monetary assistance to women who provide the primary source of financial support for their families to obtain the skills-training or undergraduate degree program necessary to improve their employment status and standard of living for themselves and their family.

Each year, over $3 million is awarded to more than 1,800 women in Soroptimist’s member countries and territories. The women receiving these financial awards may use them for any costs associated with their educational efforts, including tuition, books, childcare, and transportation, many of whom have overcome enormous obstacles including poverty, domestic violence, the death of a spouse and/or substance abuse. The “Live Your Dream” chairperson is Nancy Nagle.

Maria Burkett, of Ecorse, is a winner of the “Live Your Dream Award.” The single head of her household, the mother of a seventeen-year-old and a twenty-two-month-old, has overcome many obstacles on her way to an associate’s degree at Wayne County Community College, while working ninety hours per week. “Becoming the primary income earner in my household at just fourteen-years-old set the stage for a path of responsibility and growth. Despite the struggles, I’ve always aimed to better myself and prioritize education, knowing it is the key to a brighter future for my family.”

Also winning the LYD award is Detroit’s DeAnisha Alexander, the full-time working mother of children nine, eleven, and fifteen-years-old. After being out of school for eleven years, she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan- Dearborn with a major in human services, with the goal to be a social worker for elementary-age children. A car accident, the death of the children’s father, and her son’s reluctance to attend school, spurred her resolve to continue her education. DeAnisha said, “It teaches my children about resilience and the importance of lifelong learning. I genuinely want them to know that no matter the setbacks they may face, they can still pursue their goals and dreams.”

The Virginia Wagner Educational Award is given to a woman aspiring to complete a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree to enable her to reach her career goals. Judging is based on a weighted criteria for judging that includes scholarship, extra-curricular activities, need, and effort toward education. The Virginia Wagner chairperson is Fallon Donovan.

Rose Kilburn, of Wyandotte, is a full-time, 4.0 student currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in music education at Eastern Michigan University, while also working as a marching band instructor and Door Dash delivery driver. Music has always helped her severe anxiety disorder, so becoming a music instructor to help others is her goal.

Rose also received excellent references letters; one professor stated that “Rose is very dedicated, hardworking, and shows great potential to be an amazing leader”.

Trenton’s Rachelle DeArmond expects to complete her master’s degree at the University of Michigan-Dearborn in computer and information science next year. She worked as a junior programmer after she obtained her associate’s degree, and then went on to complete her bachelor’s degree in computer information science, while working as well.

Rachelle suddenly lost her fiancé in 2023, but leans on her faith to be an example for her daughter. She received wonderful references, including one professor who stated, “she has demonstrated to me through all her work the highest level of dedication, enthusiasm, professionalism, attention to details and an unconquerable spirit that is inspired by ambition and guided by a highly ethical moral compass.”

The Soroptimist Prime award is exclusive to SI of Downriver. High school girls residing in Allen Park, Brownstown, Ecorse, Gibraltar, Grosse Ile, Lincoln Park, Melvindale, River Rouge, Riverview, Southgate, Taylor, Trenton, Woodhaven, or Wyandotte are eligible to apply for the $1000 award. The Soroptimist Downriver High School Girls’ Award honors young women who make the community and world a better place through volunteer efforts.

For the first time, we have a winner from Southgate. A junior at Southgate Anderson High School, Lilly Truel began her volunteering as a camp counselor at VIP Camp Connect, a summer recreational program for profoundly disabled children and young adults. It was there that she realized that wheelchair-bound people were excluded from most of the park activities. Lilly designed “Wings 4 Wheelchairs” for her Girl Scout Gold Award project, which focused on creating a national disability inclusion education and advocacy platform. Through multi-media exposure for funding, she reached over a million people. Partnering with the city of Southgate, a wheelchair-accessible platform and an ADA adult harness swing were installed. In addition to our Soroptimist Prime award, Lilly has been recognized with the U.S. Presidential Service Award.

The second Soroptimist Prime award winner is Elizabeth Rumley, a senior at Grosse Ile High School. Her involvement with CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates, an organization for children under the care of the court system whose parents have been incarcerated, began as a freshman. Elizabeth coordinated holiday programs to provide toys, pajamas, gloves, and mittens to the children of CASA; and updated the system’s community service resource guide.

You can help improve the lives of women and girls in Downriver and around the world by donating to Soroptimist International of Downriver. Your donation will help fund our service projects. This is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Make an online donation via Venmo or by sending a check to Soroptimist International of Downriver, 1644 Vernon, Trenton, MI 48183.

The Downriver Soroptimist organization meets at 6:30 P.M. on the first Wednesday of the month at the Woodhaven Community Center. All women are welcome to attend. You may contribute to the foundation that the Soroptimists support on krogercommunityrewards.com. If you are interested in learning more about the Downriver Soroptimists and our other activities, contact us at siofdownriver@gmail.com or check out our Facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/SoroptimistInternationalOfDownriver?.