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‘I always believed women could do anything’
women’s complementary strengths.
“That helped me learn the town,” she said, but “I knew that was not a forever deal.” In spring 2012, then-Police Chief Mike Swain advertised openings on his force. She finally reached her goal. She wasn’t exactly a pioneer, said Citta, one of three sworn female officers. North Platte had had women as sworn officers but had gone several years without one before she was hired. Regardless, she knew she had to show herself capable of all aspects of police work. Citta, a self-described “adrenaline junkie,” says she’s got the past shoulder injury and current back problems to prove she is. “I don’t think that men do this intentionally — it’s just their nature” to protect women, she said. But “as women, I think we have one chance to prove ourselves in our ability. ... And you’ve got to be able to prove you can fight like the guys (and) you can make decisions like the guys.” She also has had to advocate for things men don’t naturally think about. “The biggest thing when I hired on was re- alizing that they make (police) uniforms for women,” Citta said. “I went to (the) admin- istration and said, ‘Can we get uniforms that fit women?’ No problem. They were bought.” Citta believes law enforcement agencies, like couples and other workplaces, are stronger when they make the best use of men’s and
put that uniform on for the first time. Even without law enforcement relatives, Citta said, she learned the value of public service from her father, the late O’Neill school Superintendent Doug Nollette. In the years before her 2005 graduation from O’Neill High School, “I went along on rides with my local police department or the (Nebraska) State Patrol every chance I got.” Next was the former Dana College in Blair, which Citta attended on both academic and golf scholarships. She majored in criminal justice but added a second major in social work at the suggestion of her advisers. “I took a lot of extra credits so I could grad- uate in four years,” she said. When Citta graduated from Dana in May 2009 — a year before it closed — she had been dating David Citta of North Platte long-distance for several months. He’s a station operator at Nebraska Public Power District’s Gerald Gentleman Station near Sutherland. “A friend of a friend hooked us up,” she said. “I told him I was going into (police work) and if that was a problem, show yourself out.” First, however, Lisa spent one last summer at home to help care for her dying father. Doug Nollette, O’Neill’s superintendent for 20 years, died that September at age 63. Karen Nollette still lives in O’Neill. A month after her father’s funeral, Lisa joined David in North Platte. The couple married in 2010, by which time she was doubly glad she added social work to her Dana degree. She wanted to join the State Patrol, but competition for open slots was keen. North Platte police didn’t have an opening when she arrived in town, either. So Citta landed a job with the former North Platte office of Boys and Girls Home, which had a contract with state government to help provide foster care services. After that contract expired in October 2010, Citta kept busy as a temporary U.S. Postal Service carrier.
“Women generally tend to be more nurtur- ing, (though) that’s not always the case,” she said. “There’s sometimes on calls that I have some people who tell me, ‘Can you bring that male officer back?’ because I just might be a little too hard on people.” North Platte’s force has been a demanding but enabling place to work under both Swain and current Police Chief Daniel Hud- son, Citta said. “I’ve been to female law enforcement train- ings, and people in other departments have horror stories of feeling like they weren’t promoted because they were female or that they’ve gotten the short end of the stick on duty assignments. ... “I can honestly say that here in this depart- ment, with our administration, I’ve never had that feeling.” Citta also inspires young men and women alike to try law enforcement as leader of Police Explorer Troop 480, a Scouts BSA unit for 14- to 21-year-olds. “Oddly enough, the ones that consistently show up and the ones who are always here are a couple of young females,” she said. “I always do what I can to try to encourage them. I feel a lot of those barriers have been broken, but still you have a lot of women and younger girls who may not realize that they can do this job.”
Lisa Citta
Editor’s note: This story was originally published in the Dec. 22, 2019, Telegraph. By TODD VON KAMPEN todd.vonkampen@nptelegraph.com Plain and simple, Lisa Citta always wanted to be a cop. She didn’t have law enforcement people in her family, says the recently promoted North Platte police investigator, who will speak at The Telegraph’s 2020 Women of Achievement awards banquet Wednesday. But Citta says her mother, Karen Nollette, “says she can remember me being in the third grade and the third-grade teacher asked what everybody wanted to do, and my mom says (that), as long as she can remem- ber, the only thing I ever wanted to do was to be a police officer. ... “I never really grew up with the thought that women couldn’t do this job. ... I always believed women could do anything just the same as men could.” Citta, 33, joined the North Platte Police Department in August 2012. She was first sworn in as a patrol officer after graduating that December from the Nebraska Law En- forcement Training Center in Grand Island. Mayor Dwight Livingston swore her in again Nov. 19 to complete her promotion to investigator’s rank. Citta will formally rotate into the Criminal Investigation Division this spring for a couple of years, she said. It took patience, however, before she could
‘You have to be willing to fail, to fall down and pick yourself back up’
After her high school graduation in 1986, Bourque studied medical technology for a year and a half at Eastern Illinois University before she “found out I absolutely picked the wrong field.” So she took a waitressing job — just for a semester, she thought — at a Ground Round restaurant in Springfield. Then the restaurant chain asked her to become its manager. A semester away from college became 24 years. Ground Round sent her in 1989 to St. Louis to manage another of its restaurants alongside Rick Bourque. He had ties to west central Nebraska through his mother, Kathleen Lute of Ogallala, a St. Patrick High School alumna. “Actually, I did not like him at all when we first got together,” Kathy Bourque said. But she and Rick became engaged while both sought their purpose on a road that led them westward. The couple briefly managed a Grandmother’s restaurant in west Omaha, then moved to Trinidad, Colorado, where Rick studied to be a police officer. But while he applied for police jobs along the Front Range, “we were young and broke.” So the Bourques moved to Ogallala in 1992 to live with his mother and her second hus- band, rancher Robert Lute II, whose family’s Lute Ranch holdings trace their roots back to Keith County’s earliest cattle spreads in the late 1800s. They were still close to those Colorado police jobs. Within a year, though, Bob Lute died — after asking Rick and Kathy, who married in 1993, to stay and run the ranches. “It was before the internet, so I felt I had fall- en off the face of the earth,” Kathy Bourque said. “But I loved it.” Rick Bourque still runs Lute Ranch as well as the Lute Family Foundation, founded from his stepfather’s estate. The latter’s list of local and regional donations includes the Kathleen Lute Public Library now under construction in Ogallala. So much for being a police officer’s wife.
Before his wife would become a foundation manager herself, she had a few career twists left. She worked as an interior decorator at Allen’s Carpet & Furniture and as national marketing manager for Ogallala Down Co. Then the Bourques owned and operated Mailboxes Inc. (later the UPS Store) in North Platte from 1996 to 2014. That’s when she became involved in North Platte community leadership, serving on the chamber board, the People’s Family Health Services board, local and state Business and Professional Women boards, and finally the hospital and GPH Foundation boards. “I got very active in the community when I was owning my business, because I realized that’s how you make or break a business,” Bourque said. “It became mine,” Kathy Bourque said. She resumed college classes in 2012, working mostly online. A bachelor’s degree in busi- ness from Chadron State College in 2015 was followed by a master’s in management and leadership from Western Governors University in 2017. Before that, Bourque took leadership classes being offered through the North Platte chamber by David Bernard-Stevens, then its president and a former state senator and North Platte High School teacher. She credits Bernard-Stevens, who now lives and teaches leadership in Kenya, with planting the seeds of success reflected in But she felt she had more to learn about leadership.
a book she wrote and published this year, “Conquering Busyness.” “I like to think that I’m a recovering P-3 — people-pleasing perfectionist,” Bourque said. “And I’m a procrastinator, so maybe you could call me a P-4. ... “I think that’s what pushes me to think on my feet and step out of that box. You have to be willing to fail, to fall down and pick yourself back up.” When she and Rick sold the UPS Store, she took a year off to focus on her studies. She took live classes at North Platte Community College alongside her online work, putting in 30 credit hours one semester. Bourque also spent 18 months as a West Central Nebraska Development District community developer, “until I decided this was not for me.” But Mel McNea, GPH’s president and CEO, was trying to get her to take an open hospital position as senior director of patient experience. “I kept turning it down, but when it came open a third time, I threw my hat in the ring,” she said. After two years in that role, Bourque took over as the GPH Foundation’s day-to-day leader in July 2018. She can see every wild turn of her first three adult decades leading her to her latest job. “I think sometimes those setbacks that we face are really blessings in disguise,” she said. “It’s hard to see that at the time, but it’s about trusting it’s going to work out.”
Kathy Bourque
Editor’s note: This story was originally published in the Dec. 18, 2019, Telegraph. By TODD VON KAMPEN todd.vonkampen@nptelegraph.com Some people achieve by deciding early what they want and pursuing it with a laser-sharp focus. She followed a long, roundabout path away from and back to a medical setting and from her native Illinois to west central Nebraska, said Bourque, who is the Great Plains Health Care Foundation executive director and one of two scheduled speakers for North Platte’s 2020 Women of Achievement awards banquet Wednesday. “I feel like sometimes I’m more of a downhill skier,” she said. “I kind of know where I’m going, but it takes me a very jagged, zig- zag-way type of thing to get there.” Bourque, 51, has based her professional life mostly in North Platte since 1996 while commuting from Ogallala. She lives just south of the Keith County seat with her husband, Rick, and their son, Cameron, an Ogallala High School sophomore. She has sat on several North Platte com- munity boards, including both GPH and its foundation. But not until 2016 did she finally take a job in the health care field she had first explored in college. And then there’s Kathy Bourque.
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Editor’s note: These profiles are excerpted from the nomination forms.
CULTURAL ARTS Amy Minshull Amy Minshull is being nominated in Cultural Arts for her success in photography. She was just 16 when she became a photographer’s assistant. Now she owns two photography businesses in North Platte: A Moment Photography and Nebraska Portraits. What many may not know is that Minshull created Nebraska Portraits after a major auto accident. Her determination and love for our community gave her the strength to pursue her passion and work with the schools in the local area to provide student portraits in 2019. She has been a longstanding successful business owner with A Moment Photography. Her second business, Nebraska Portraits, employs local photographers to allow them to learn the craft. She has completed her Associate Fellow of Photography and received her Certificate of Professional Photography and a Master of Photography degree from the Professional Photographers of America. Amy is one of 16 certified professional photographers in the state.
gymnastics are why she is being recognized for Cultural Arts.
finds a way to lift those around her up, according to her nomination.
Her love for our community can be found not only in the portraits she produces but also in her volunteer efforts. She assisted in beginning a kitchen ministry at Bethel Church and is involved with many other committees and areas of service within the church. Minshull also donates her time to Platte River Run Series, supports Deborah’s Legacy and mentors young photographers. “Her enthusiasm for state and national work, however, doesn’t hold a candle to her love and investment in the Lincoln County area,” wrote Lindy Hiatt. Vance Wagener wrote, “I admire and support all of Amy’s accomplishments. She has successfully achieved all of the above since I’ve known her while being a mother of three and supporting her family. I have no problem calling Amy Minshull a Woman of Achievement as in my mind she already is.”
Alongside the classes that are regularly offered at Legacy Dance & Gymnastics, Ryan brings in many choreographers and dancers to teach dance and cheer clinics throughout the year. She continues to try to provide classes that will fit for any background and experience level. Over the summer, Ryan began a class for children on the autism spectrum or with physical challenges. She provided an environment that allowed children to open up and enjoy dance without sensory distractions. encourages them to get involved with the community by running fundraisers or gathering donations for local nonprofits, according to the nomination. VOLUNTEER Holly Barraclough New to the community, Holly Barraclough has not been shy about stepping in and volunteering her time to help those in the North Platte area. Barraclough truly wants Ryan also inspires her students to reach for their goals and
She is actively involved in many local area nonprofits and events. She passionately donates her time to North Platte Community Playhouse, Miss Nebraska Scholarship Organization, Make-A-Wish Wish Granter, Fur the Love of Paws, Crimestoppers Board, Walk to End Alzheimer’s and many more. “Moving to a new community may cause others to step back, but Holly was an exception: She personally reached out to Make-A-Wish and the Miss Nebraska organization to find a way to help serve,” said Amy Sabatka. “To know Holly is to know an encourager, a coach, an artist, a humanitarian, a volunteer and, most of all, a friend,” said Tyler Cronin. Nancy Mack Nancy Mack has been helping to improve the community for over 40. Mack has volunteered countless hours working with the Grace Ministries Food Pantry, helping to feed many hungry people in our community. She has also donated
Janna Ryan Janna Ryan has built her dance and gymnastics studio from the ground up. The many classes that she has brought to the community and
Randa Musil Randa Musil’s professional and personal life involves helping those around her. She works for Goodwill Industries to help people find employment. She goes above and beyond to those she assists. Musil also volunteers her time with MOPS and her local church, and is passionate about helping with Deborah’s Legacy and the Women’s Resource Center.
Center, Mid-Nebraska Community Foundation, Boy Scouts and PTA, and serves meals for the Habitat for Humanity work crews. Nancy also has organized many funeral dinners for grieving families. “To Nancy, providing this ‘pay-back’ to the community is as essential as breathing. Her lifetime of giving has richly helped the North Platte community,” nominator Ned Mack said.
Area Chamber and Development Corp. She is also actively involved with Leadership Lincoln County Committee, Agri Business Committee, Tourism Advisory Council and Relay for Life of the Plains Committee, and she can be found at many meetings and events around North Platte. “Kathy is one of the most dedicated, loyal, and committed women that I have worked with. She is a tireless promoter of our community,”
helping someone,” nominator Sarah Shaver wrote.
Kathy Swain Kathy Swain’s love for this community brought her back. After retiring and moving to Lincoln, she always found herself traveling to North Platte. She came out of retirement when her dream job opened up. Swain now serves as vice president of the North Platte
“She never thinks twice about
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Jennifer Priest wrote in the nomination.
Molly always exhibits grace and passion when working with the students at area schools, according to her nomination. She donates her time to help with the North Platte High School Food Pantry and is always stepping up to ensure the students have what they need. This goes outside of the material things; she also provides them with genuine care and love. “Over the years Molly has been an unsung hero for students,” nominator Brandy Buscher wrote. “Molly shows genuine care and concern for the students in our district and community. Her excitement, determination, and dedicated work with TeamMates shows her true compassion for helping support our youth,” Jennifer Schlager said in the nomination.
Megan McGown. During a time of management transition, she led nutrition and environmental services departments as well. Most recently, her title changed to chief development officer, overseeing several departments including marketing and education. Fiona leads all staff education initiatives including clinical and non-clinical competencies, skills labs and certification programs. Community education is also offered under Fiona’s leadership. Examples are joint camps for orthopedic patients and advanced life support for EMT squads. Fiona is a trusted and valued member of the hospital’s senior leadership and executive teams. She is often called upon to offer her perspective on topics outside her direct responsibility. Fiona takes a lead role in facilitating the hospital’s strategic planning. She was instrumental in the hospital’s receipt of the Nebraska Recreation and Parks Association Wellness Initiative Award. She was also responsible for multiple marketing awards, and submitted the application for the Baldrige Foothills Performance Award that led to receipt of the Peak Award in early 2020. The Peak
Alicia Odean Alicia Odean has served as a social worker for 14 years at Great Plains Health’s Behavioral Health department. She is always able to find creative ways to complete hard tasks. Alicia’s passion for her patients is admirable. She finds ways to help set her patients up for success with their treatment plans and ensures they have everything they need. Even when things do not go according to plan, she does not back down; she finds another way to solve the problem at hand. “Alicia finds working with the mental health community rewarding. She is a voice for the mentally ill to empower themselves, and helps patients to lead fulfilling and independent lives,” nominator Cindy Pueppka said. MEDICAL Fiona Libsack Fiona Libsack was initially hired as the vice president of marketing at Great Plains Health. Her leadership strength was immediately visible and she was asked to oversee volunteer services and valet services, according to the nomination by
SOCIAL SERVICES April Hodges April Hodges is a hard worker who is always the first to help anyone around. She worked her way up with Sodexo to become a kitchen manager of the grade schools, according to her nomination. In 2011 she started foster care and now has guardianship of three kids. April has volunteered many hours as a 4-H leader and with her church. She can be seen always supporting her kids at games.
Molly Morales Molly Morales is a North Platte native and local TeamMates coordinator.
Kellie Golden Kellie Golden was one of five women who founded a solely female-owned real estate company, Coldwell Banker Preferred Group. Golden is being nominated in Business in the same year that Coldwell Banker Preferred Group celebrates 25 years of service. Golden’s passion for the community is shown by the organizations and boards she has been a part of. She has been on the boards
driven to see North Platte become the best it can be,” Jeff Caldwell wrote. Shae is described as being someone who is never afraid of a challenge. She is always willing to step up and do what she can to help organizations, events, a neighbor and even a competitor. Ultimately her focus is the success of North Platte.
is the highest award available at the regional (four-state area) level. Great Plains is now eligible to apply for the national Baldrige award. Fiona Libsack serves on the Rotary board and is a past Rotary program chair, co-chair of the Mayor’s Committee on Wellness and Recreation, is a member of the Chamber governmental affairs committee, serves on West Central District Health Department subcommittee and is a North Platte Kids Academy board member. She has had other civic commitments in prior years. Health Needs Assessment and is responsible for developing action plans to address those needs. In 2017, Fiona was the only Nebraska recipient of the American Hospital Association Grassroots Champion in Healthcare Advocacy award. BUSINESS Shae Caldwell Shae Caldwell and her husband bought a small screenprint business 8 years ago. Since then, Shae has led the business through growth and managed two additional At Great Plains Health, Fiona oversees the Community
businesses. She genuinely cares for their employees, customers and our community. In 2019, she received the North Platte Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Shae gets involved any chance she can: substitute teaching, managing her daughter’s softball and basketball team, coordinating events and being instrumental in the development of Blackledge Park. Shae is a member of the North Platte Trails Network, actively trying to bring safer transportation alternatives to the area. She is also involved with North Platte Public Schools Foundation; North Platte Parks, Recreation and Wellness Foundation; North Platte Chamber Hostess; North Platte Area Chamber Economic Development Committee; North Platte Downtown Association; and many more. She has also been actively pushing out #iamnorthplatte — a movement to bring positivity to the North Platte area. “As I sat down to put all of these achievements on paper, I find it amazing that one person has been able to accomplish so much and has the desire to accomplish even more. I hope that you can see as clearly as I see that this is a woman who is
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is currently involved with the following: Lincoln County jury commissioner, Lincoln County Mental Health Board, Lincoln County HIPAA Committee, Legislative Committee and Nominating Committee of the Clerks Association. “We are honored to work alongside such an exceptional leader as well as a dedicated team player,” said the nomination from District Judges Richard A. Birch and Michael E. Piccolo. Tanya Roberts-Connick Tanya serves as the chief deputy county attorney. Her passion for law and justice has led to her nomination for Government/Law. For over 8 years, she has worked alongside the Lincoln County Victim Witness Unit, where they have witnessed her professionalism and judgment used to benefit both victim and defendant. She has worked with victims and defendants to come to a mutually agreed-upon resolution that is fair to both parties. Juries have been impressed with her knowledge of the law as well as courtroom procedures and her ability to present facts in a clear manner.
of Great Plains Health Care Foundation, North Platte Public Schools Foundation, LincUP and the Board of Realtors. She has also proudly supported the following organizations: Habitat for Humanity, Prairie Art Center, Mid- Plains United Way and many others. “If you want to know the heartbeat of this community, spend an hour with Kellie,” said nominator Sheri Mullen.
in business for opening a local day care, All Seasons. The day care is located at Linden Estates and is a benefit to the children and residents. Phye loves to bring joy to both groups through the work she does at the day care. She is always supportive to her staff and works to bring more resources to the day care to keep improving and provide the best to the children and staff. “She is a true inspiration and has definitely earned her place as a leader in our community,” Michelle Whips wrote. GOVERNMENT/LAW Debra McCarthy Debra McCarthy serves as the Lincoln County District Court clerk. She has extensive participation in boards, committees, and many organizations outside of her responsibilities with the court. Debra is always willing to step up and volunteer, according to the nomination. Previously she has served as the treasurer, vice president and president for the Clerk of District Court Association. She was also involved with the Lincoln County Merit Commission. Debra
Libby Lashley wrote, “Kellie’s commitment to her community is commendable, both in business as well as her volunteer service. She has built a successful business that has flourished through economic changes and she continues to be committed to growing and improving our community.”
Stephanie Phye Stephanie Phye is being recognized
We are proud of you!
Rachel Mullen
Kellie Golden
Tanya stepped up to lead and help write program guidelines for the Anti-Violence Program. She was also the key person in the implementation of the Domestic Violence Program, and she has been instrumental in the human trafficking task force as well as the Child Support Enforcement Agency. Tanya also actively supports the following organizations: RDAP, CRT, SART and Bar Association. “In addition to professionally going above and beyond for RDAP and the community, she has also continually personally supported our program. She has painted and redecorated spaces at our shelter facilities, donated Christmas gifts for children served through our program, attended fundraisers, donated various household items, and provided monetary support as well,” wrote Jenny Bonta, executive
director of the Rape/Domestic Abuse Program. EDUCATION Janelle Higgins Janelle Higgins is the head softball coach and dean of student life at North Platte Community College. As the coach, she teaches her team valuable lessons in respect, hard work, success, failure and how to have fun. Because of her work with the players on her team, she is being nominated for Education. Her passion extends to the North Platte community through involvement in many events and organizations. Some events she has been a part of include Strike Out Childhood Cancer, benefit game between North Platte police and fire departments, TeamMates mentoring, Double Dips Dine Out for RDAP and many more.
program. Through her leadership and dedication she has led the NPPS Foundation on a great path. “Jodi is a positive role model in a profession that urgently needs quality women leaders. She inspires trust through her work ethic, reliability, intelligence and, perhaps most importantly, her commitment to a student-first philosophy,” Superintendent Ron Hanson said.
Jodi Howard Jodi Howard received multiple nominations for Education. She truly cares about North Platte youth and the educators at our local schools. As the executive director of the North Platte Public Schools Foundation, she has developed a teacher recognition award within the district and has been able to double the ability to meet the foundation’s Reach Grant
Jodi’s involvement with our
e are so proud of all you for being nominated for 2020 Women of Achievement awards W
Education: Madonna Madsen – NP Schools Jodi Howard – NP Schools Social Services: Molly Morales – NP School Mentoring Program April Hodges – NPHS
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Madonna Madsen For over 20 years, Madonna Madsen has been providing support and love to her students and their families. The owner of Old MacDonald Preschool is being nominated in the Education category for her extraordinary level of commitment
community is not limited to the school district. She is an active volunteer with the Lil’ Cowgirl Program. “She has a talent of making these sessions fun for the girls while enhancing their public speaking. I have had many girls tell me they have benefited from the lessons they learned from her during the Lil’ Cowgirl Clinic,” said nominator Peggy Moorhead.
she has created. Her encouragement is also extended to parents. She continues to be a positive resource and sounding board to families and past students. “Ms. Madonna has an unmatched level of compassion and a deep- seated devotion to help every child she teaches to walk away from her classroom better, brighter, and with more confidence,” said nominator TinaMaria Fernandez YOUTH SERVICES Lisa Frederick Lisa is being recognized for her volunteer work with Girl Scouts. Although she is only in the second year of establishment, her troop is being recognized as Troop of the Year for the western part of the state. She cares for each girl in her troop and has created a fun, safe environment to teach the girls many valuable lessons, the nominator reads. Her troop has been out cleaning up local area parks and donated canned goods to food pantries. Aside from being a troop leader, Lisa is also involved with The Rock Church and donates many hours to help where needed. She is an active member of MOPS and is a
discussion leader.
Mitzi Mueller Children’s librarian Mitzi Mueller has developed many programs through the North Platte Public Library. Mitzi always makes a connection to the children who come to the library, according to the nomination. From the time they are born, her programs introduce them to the joy of reading. Some programs she has developed and is passionate about include gift bags to new babies, Wee Read for children under age 3, weekly storytime for children ages 3 through kindergarten and the Summer Reading Program. She works closely with the Kids Klub to provide new programs for that group. Mitzi reads, sings songs and plays games with the children who attend programs or visit the library. She has a knack for learning everything she can about the children who walk through the library doors, from their names to their interests. She makes children feel important by stopping any project she is working on to help them find the perfect book and focusing on them.
to those who have attended her preschool. She provides
students with guidance to develop relationships, empowers them to navigate their emotions and allows them to feel safe in the environment
Mitzi can also been seen
Her involvement extends to the Santa Cop Christmas, Salvation Army, Partner Up Rodeo and Buddy Ball for special needs kids, and raising money for Children’s Miracle Network. Addilyn’s motto is “You don’t have to be perfect to be amazing.” “The TeamMates Organization is very fortunate to have Addilyn as a spokesperson. She may only be a freshman in high school, but she is making a huge impact!” Jennifer Hampton wrote. Rachel Mullen Rachel Mullen started her own business at the age of 13, Rachel Mullen Photography. Later, she added to her entrepreneurial skills by starting a cupcake business. Rachel’s skills are not limited to baking and photography; she is also a writer, graphic designer and a registered nurse. She works with Coldwell Banker and is the creator of its biweekly e-zine “Destination Home.” Rachel also steps out to help the community; she has been involved with Tree of Home for Liberty House, the Mid-Plains United Way
chili feeds, Run For Your Life 5K and many more activities.
participating in many community groups such as Foster Grandparents and MOPS, and has been a member of many local organizations. “If I were to write a book telling the story of our lives in North Platte ...I know that the North Platte Public Library would have its own chapter in our story, and the heroine of that library chapter would most certainly be Mitzi Mueller,” Jessica Stone wrote. UP AND COMING Addilyn Wilson Addilyn Wilson, a freshman at Hershey High School, has already made a huge impact. Currently holding the title of Miss Swedish Days Outstanding Teen, she uses her platform to promote Mentoring Matters: Embracing Uniqueness, Potential and Success. Addilyn has hosted many events to benefit the community and has logged over 200 hours of community service. She organized a backpack drive that provided many area youth with school essentials and hosted a Daddy-Daughter Dance in Hershey that raised over $1,200 for TeamMates Scholarships.
“Registered nurse, award-winning photographer, graphic designer, writer and baker ... it’s hard to believe but this describes not five, but just one, single young woman that has accomplished so much in her first 25 years. I can only imagine what the next 25 will bring,” Kimberly J. Hipp said in her nomination.
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