logo
2025 Virginia K. Shehee Most Influential Woman announced at Shreveport ceremony

2025 Virginia K. Shehee Most Influential Woman announced at Shreveport ceremony

Yahoo07-03-2025
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — On Thursday, a group of women leaders who give of themselves to help our community prosper were recognized at East Ridge Country Club in South Shreveport.
A packed house took in the 2025 Virginia K. Shehee Most Influential Woman Award luncheon hosted by Holy Angels.
Six students and six women were nominated for their continued community contributions, leadership, influence, and determination.
Kindness is contagious – locals share why kindness matters
Vivian Andrews, a retired executive, long-time philanthropist, volunteer, and community leader, was named this year's winner.
'I feel like if you live in the community, you should do everything that you can to make sure that the community is what it needs to be. So in order to do that you've got to have a seat at the table. And you have to be able to bring something to the table,' said Andrews.
She adds that the event inspires her, as she knows the community work being done by so many is making an impact.
'We need people who really love people and want everybody to be successful,' said Andrew. 'And to be around such powerful women that are really doing that, and in the trenches, it makes me feel so wonderful.'
Holy Angels CEO, Laurie Boswell echoes Mrs. Andrews' words and enjoys how the Most Influential Young Woman Award helps shape the community's future female leaders.
Sharon Roberson Jones shares her journey since winning 2020 Remarkable Woman honor
'I love the idea of honoring young women. When you read what they are accomplishing it touches our heart,' said Boswell. 'And I think it inspires all of us to continue to work hard and to serve our community.'
This was the ninth year for the award presentation, named after the late Virginia K. Shehee, who embodied community service and leading with love.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Mega Millions winning numbers for Aug. 15: $198 million jackpot
Mega Millions winning numbers for Aug. 15: $198 million jackpot

Yahoo

time20 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Mega Millions winning numbers for Aug. 15: $198 million jackpot

The Mega Millions jackpot rose to $198 million for the drawing on Friday, Aug. 15, after no one matched all the winning numbers in the drawing on Tuesday, Aug. 12. There have been four Mega Millions winners this year, with the most recent being the June 27 win in Virginia of a jackpot of $348 million. Before then, on April 18, an Ohio player took home a $112 million jackpot, a lucky lottery ticket holder in Illinois took home a $344 million jackpot on March 25 and another lucky person hit the Mega Millions jackpot on Jan. 17 for $113 million. Here are the winning numbers from the Mega Millions drawing on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. Mega Millions winning numbers for 8/15/25 The winning numbers for Friday, Aug. 15, will be posted here once drawn. Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Did anyone win the Mega Millions? Any Mega Millions winners will be posted here once announced by lottery officials. To view the list of past winners, visit the Mega Millions website. How to play the Mega Millions To play the Mega Millions, you have to buy a ticket. You can do this at various locations, including your local convenience store, gas station, or even grocery store. In some states, Mega Millions tickets can be bought online. Once you have your ticket, you need to pick six numbers. Five of them will be white balls with numbers from 1 to 70. The gold Mega Ball ranges from 1 to 24. If you're feeling especially unlucky or don't want to go through the hassle of picking, you can ask for a 'Quick Pick' or an 'Easy Pick.' These options let the computer randomly generate numbers for you. Mega Millions tickets now include a built-in multiplier, which increases non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four, five, or 10 times. Before, players had to pay an extra dollar to add the 'Megaplier.' Where can you buy lottery tickets? Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets. You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to select your lottery game and numbers, place your order, view your ticket, and collect your winnings — all using your phone or home computer. Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit for full terms. Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at and follow him on X @fern_cerv_. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mega Millions winning numbers for 8/15/25: Jackpot at $198 million

VMI appoints new leader to replace school's first Black superintendent
VMI appoints new leader to replace school's first Black superintendent

Washington Post

timea day ago

  • Washington Post

VMI appoints new leader to replace school's first Black superintendent

The Virginia Military Institute Board of Visitors appointed retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. David Furness as its 16th superintendent on Friday, replacing retired Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins, the institute's first Black leader, who was ousted from his position this year over his diversity, equity and inclusion policies. 'His impeccable military record, passion for the VMI experience and proven record advancing the mission of complex organizations make him the right person to lead the Institute in this next chapter of its history,' board president Jamie Inman said of Furness in a statement. Furness, who is White and graduated from VMI in 1987, takes over an institute reeling after years of tension on campus that began with a 2020 Washington Post report about racism at the school. A statewide investigation followed, finding the institution tolerated a 'racist and sexist culture.' When Wins implemented policies to try to rectify that, conservative White alumni fought back, alleging those policies themselves were racist and eventually calling for Wins's removal. Furness served in the Marine Corps for 36 years, retiring in 2023 as a three-star general. He had been rumored as the board's pick for the job since the spring, after the board decided not to extend Wins's contract, but was chosen after the governing body formed a selection committee with alumni and students and hired an outside firm. 'The committee's search process was transparent, inclusive, and, above all, thorough, screening hundreds of candidates, interviewing six, and conducting on post visits with three finalists,' the school said in a statement. Furness said in a statement he was 'thrilled' to return to his alma mater as its new leader. 'I am indebted to the Institute for molding me into the man I am today, and it is an immense honor to give back and serve the VMI community as Superintendent,' he said. Furness, originally from Columbus, Ohio, majored in history at VMI before entering the Marine Corps. There, he served as a senior military officer in Djibouti and later helped oversee operations around the world, managing more than $2 billion in assets. He also earned two master's degrees, including one in military studies from Marine Corps University and another in national security and strategic studies from the National Defense University. After retiring, he worked at J.A. Green & Company, a bipartisan government relations firm, as executive vice president of defense programs. Furness has not served on any university or alumni boards since graduating, though he was a guest speaker at a VMI dinner in Richmond. In 2019, Furness received criticism from a junior Marine officer for being a micromanager with a rigid daily routine that mandated 5:30 a.m. reveilles, reported at the time. Furness defended his policies in that article, arguing that 'attention to detail' in a Marine's personal life makes for a better fighter. 'Marines in the division … I think they understand, there is an issue here. We may have slipped a little bit; we need to do a better job,' he told the outlet. 'The sergeants remain supportive; they believe we're doing the right thing for the right reason.'

Summer Food Service Program a big success in first year for Augusta County Public Schools
Summer Food Service Program a big success in first year for Augusta County Public Schools

Yahoo

timea day ago

  • Yahoo

Summer Food Service Program a big success in first year for Augusta County Public Schools

Shawn Baska and his Augusta County school nutrition program team got a shoutout at the most recent school board meeting on Aug. 7. South River representative Mike Lawson spoke at the end of the meeting during school board member reports, thanking the school division for providing food to children through the Summer Food Service Program, known as SUN Meals. It was the first time Augusta County used the program that is federally funded through the United States Department of Agriculture. "I want to congratulate Shawn Baska for coordinating that," Lawson said. "That went really well. Hopefully we'll be able to expand that next year depending on funding." The program originally was going to be offered at just three schools in Augusta County — Wilson Memorial High School, Riverheads Middle School and Buffalo Gap High School. But Baska, in his first year as the school nutrition program supervisor, said his office started working with the Augusta County Library and the Central Shenandoah Valley Office on Youth and was able to expand the locations where the meals were available. In addition to the school locations, meals were available at the Verona Volunteer Fire Department, the Stuarts Draft Volunteer Fire Department and the Craigsville Library Station. Baska thanked Staunton City School's Amanda Warren for connecting him with the library, saying Warren had used the library in the past for a similar program. Meal kits were distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, at the sites. Kits included five breakfasts and five lunches that were available for any children in a family up to 18 years old. Throughout June, Baska said the school division served 28,300 meals. "We're very happy with how it went for our first year," Baska said. Since this was a new program and it was Baska's first year, coming into the position after being principal at Stump Elementary, Augusta County decided to only operate the program in June. Baska is already looking on ways to expand the program into July next summer. "There's a need," Lawson said at the school board meeting. "And it's much appreciated by the community." Baska said providing the food to students over the summer is exteremly important. "For one, over the summer, it gives us a chance to lay eyes on the kids," Baska said. "We don't get to see them a lot throughout the summer. But knowing they've had a healthy summer to eat, a healthy foundation when they come back to school, It's important. That's a basic need, having your food needs met. I'm a believer that, until we get those basic needs met, it's hard to get them to learn, to educate them." Augusta County, along with Staunton and Waynesboro, are offering free meals to students this school year also. "What our nutrition staff does, they can't be thanked enough for that," Baska said. "They're kind of behind the scenes but without them, without kids being able to eat, getting something in their bellies before they go into class, kids aren't going to be able to learn. All they're going to be thinking about is how hungry they are. That partnership we have within the schools, I think that's where it starts and then it goes from there into the classrooms." More: $348M Mega Millions jackpot from ticket sold in Burgess, Virginia, in June is claimed More: Stuarts Draft 88-acre rezoning recommended by Augusta planning commission Patrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips are always welcome. Connect with Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@ and on Instagram @hitepatrick. Subscribe to us at This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Augusta County finds success in inaugural Summer Food Service Program Solve the daily Crossword

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store