2018 Women of Achievement Nominees
and frames out of old barn wood.
Young was named the 2018 Miss Twin Rivers Outstanding Teen. She volunteers at Rail Fest, Nebraskaland Days and many Kiwanis events and has an extensive list of school-centric extracurricular activities. With the Youth Leaders program, she has recorded radio public service announcements, performed skits for Kids Klub and served in leadership roles for camps. "She has a certain drive about her that sets her apart from the average hard worker without being overbearing," Logan Elliott of Community Connections said. "Rachel possesses a sincere heart for service and compassion for others. There is no hidden agenda in her actions, it is not for admiration nor attention, but simply because it is the right thing." Along with the plethora of volunteer experiences, she is a talented performer, having often sung the national anthem at area sporting events and receiving an invitation to perform at the Fort Cody summer concert series. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Shelli Arensdorf Shelli Arensdorf, a grandmother of four, has been employed by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services for almost 35 years and consistently finds ways to use her talents to affect others. She is nominated in the Volunteer category.
the Army of Angels does so much good for the community.
Arensdorf has been on the Buffalo Bill Rodeo Committee for 10 years and has been a co-chairman for three years. She has served as secretary and judge at several events. In 2002, she created the Cowboy Christmas Gift Show, an annual event in North Platte for which she organizes the group of vendors and also sells her own creations. The "entry fee"to the show is canned food, which is then donated to food pantries in North Platte. "Shelli is not only talented and smart, donating back to the community, but she also has an open door policy for friends and family," Arensdorf's nominator, Cindy Swanson, said. "She is a great friend and neighbor. As my grandfather would say, 'She is the one that would give the shirt off her back if you needed it.'" • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Leslie Fries A founding member of the Army of Angels volunteer group, Leslie Fries has done many things to better the North Platte community. The group was founded by a group of women who wanted to assist a cancer-stricken friend. The friend passed away, but the group stuck together, operating today to help anyone in the community who is in need. Fries, one of about seven original members still part of the group, also works for the North Platte Public School District as an in-school- suspension teacher. Michelle Whips, known as Groovy Granny, nominated Fries in the Volunteer category. She said she made the nomination simply because
Whips and Army of Angels have worked together on several projects to help people in North Platte going through hard times.
Such projects include bake sales, Christmas basket deliveries, silent auctions and raffles.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Leigh Henline Leigh Henline spent 10 years with the Postal Service, where she became North Platte's first female mail carrier. Following her time there, Henline began to work at the family business, Fort Cody Trading Post. Henline also has a rich history in service to North Platte, doing extensive work with First Presbyterian Church, Eisenhower Elementary's PTA, the Grace Ministries Food Pantry and the people of North Platte in general. She is nominated in the Volunteer category. "When I had cancer and faced losing my hair, she was there with one of her mother's beautiful scarves to cover my head. That's just one of the many types of joy Leigh has supported me with," said Sandra Meyer, who nominated Henline for the award. When Henline's twin sons were in elementary school, she served on the Eisenhower PTA for six years in the roles of secretary, vice president and president. She received the lifetime PTA award in 1997. At the food pantry, she has served on the board for the past 10 years. She sends out thank-you notes for donations, visits with civic organizations on the pantry's behalf and writes
She uses her talents in baking to cook up cakes for weddings, birthdays and graduations.
She also is skilled in horsemanship and woodworking. She helps her father and neighbors work cattle. She also builds furniture
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JULY 2018
WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT
THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH
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