Five area women honored by Soroptimist International of the Flat Rock Area

FLAT ROCK — Five area women received educational awards recently from Soroptimist International of the Flat Rock Area .

Madilynn Daniels , an Airport High School graduate, received the Sondra Robin Award. The award is for high school students who excel at academics and are involved in philanthropic activities in their communities. Daniels will attend Monroe Community College in the fall.

"Madilynn spearheaded projects with her high school business club, DECA, benefiting Alzheimer's patients, special needs individuals, the deaf community and cancer patients. Through her church, she helps with financial literacy, food distribution and works with mental health concerns in her community," Soropotimist International of the Flat Rock Area said.

Rachel Stapleton of Trenton received the Dr. Virginia Wagner Educational Award. Stapleton attends the University of Toledo and will graduate with a bachelor's degree in business administration in May. She earned an internship with Waste Management, holds two jobs, helps student organizations and volunteers with the Peace Project. The award is named for Wagner, a former midwestern regional director. The award is for women pursuing a a college degree.

Ashley Roe and Patricia Coleman received the Live Your Dream Award, which is given to college-bound women who are the heads of their households and who provide primary financial support for their families. Roe is a single mother of three children, ages 5, 10 and 14. A full-time homemaker, she works 20 hours a week and attends the nursing program at Henry Ford Community College. Coleman also is a single mother of a 6-year-old daughter. She works 35 hours a week and attends the nursing program at Wayne County Community College.

Debbie Petri received the Women of Distinction Award, which is awarded to a woman for outstanding community work.

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"Debbie has been a lifelong advocate for the homeless. Even in her younger years, she fed the homeless people in her Lincoln Park neighborhood," Soroptomist said. "In 2003 she volunteered with ChristNet. After working 25 years in the bicycle business, she decided to change paths and worked for ChristNet Services. In 2007 she assumed the role of executive director for ChristNet Services, which serves the less fortunate and underserved. Then in September 2022, Debbie faced her own battle: a diagnosis of brain cancer."

Area women and girls can join Soroptimist International of the Flat Rock Area. To learn more, call Johan Sutton at 734-782-5076.

— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com .

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Five area women honored by Soroptimist International of the Flat Rock Area