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Women Over 65 Achievement Awards recognize role models of service By
Jennifer Pinnock
Three women were presented with a Women Over 65 Achievement Award by the Utah State University Women's Center in the Evan N. Stevenson Ballroom on Monday. The event has been held for 16 years and Jenny Box, Barbara Croft Fjeldsted and Rachel Whitworth would join an elite group with 74 other remarkable women, who have received this award in the past, said Sue Fuhriman, member of the Women's Center Advisory Board. The women were recognized for their personal achievements and for serving as role models to other women, said Janet Osborne, director of the Women's Center. "I love this event because the Women Over 65 Achievement Award counters society's obsession with youth," said Fuhriman. She also said that all three women are deeply good people with characteristics like kindness, humor, and joy. These women inspire us to "be guiding lights in later years," she said. Box was involved in forming Community Abuse Prevention Services Agency (CAPSA) and has been involved with the program for 25 years. She also help set up the first program of the Cache Community Pantry (food bank), and is currently a member of the Logan Planning and Zoning Board. Box has spent her lifetime speaking for the poor, homeless and abused, said Tom Parker, Women's Center Advisory Board member and presenter of Box's award. Box said that abuse has always been with us and that her contribution "was to bring abuse out of the closet and to the public." "The reason we are here is to help each other," said Box. "Everything else is just passing time." Fjeldsted assured the audience that a "little old lady in tennis shoes" can still show interest in public affairs. She said she is honored to be included among the women who have previously received this award. Fjeldsted serves on the board of the Utah Opera Festival Company and was named Outstanding Woman by the Cache Chamber of Commerce 1993. She also received a Hall of Fame Award in 1996 for her contributions to Utah's tourism. Whitworth worked full time throughout college and raised seven children in the process. She received a B.A. degree and became a licensed social worker. Whitworth worked for the Division of Family Services for 18 years and received the Outstanding Female Employee Award in 1976. "This event is immensely overwhelming," said Whitworth. "My accomplishments would not exist without other people." Each woman had a display table set up showing different awards that each of them had received. The one item all three tables had in common was family pictures. "I hope my example encourages my children and grandchildren to serve," said Fjeldsted. To be a recipient of the award, women must have two nominations from members of the community, be 65 or older, and have made a contribution to the community in some way. The Women's Center Advisory Board then reviews the nominations and selects various women to receive the award. "I always come away from this program wanting to be a better person," said Fuhriman. "And tonight is no exception."
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