Meet Olivia Ostendorff a Virginia K. Shehee Most Influential Young Woman 2025 Honoree
The third annual Virginia K. Shehee Most Influential Young Woman Awards hosted by Holy Angels and sponsored by Red River Bank and the Shreveport Times is almost here and the six honorees have been carefully selected.
The Most Influential Young Woman nominations will go to those who are high school juniors or seniors whose leadership, poise and determination are demonstrated through meaningful acts of philanthropy for their fellow students or community.
Get to know Olivia Ostendorff below before the awards ceremony March 6.
Olivia Ostendorff is a senior at Loyola College Prep and is an active member in her community and school. Ostendorff said, "community service, to me, means doing what I can to better the place around me."
Ostendorff does volunteer work with Community Renewal Friendship House, Advisory Council Member of the Louisiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council, Teen Advisory Committee (TAC) and plays guitar and sings for worship Sunday mornings at both First Baptist Church Shreveport and First Methodist Church Shreveport.
"The first day I volunteered at a Community Renewal I fell in love. I've always wanted to help others find their place, and Community Renewal's mission resonated with me. By simply getting to know our neighbors, we can connect neighborhoods and restore communities to combat divisiveness that is so prevalent," said Ostendorff.
Ostendorff said if you want to get involved in your community, start small. She said, "a rising tide lifts all ships, or in other words big things have small beginnings."
She has also received numerous accolades, including Louisiana Girls State Governor, Freshman, Junior, and Senior Class President, Business Club Co-Chair, Cheer Captain, Student of the Year Finalist, Presidential Service Award, AP Scholar with Honor and A-Honor Roll (9th-12th grades).
"By listening and reserving judgment, our community can be a place where people are quick to listen and slow to speak. Connecting with our community on deeper levels can solve our most divisive issues," said Ostendorff.
The 2025 Virginia K. Shehee Most Influential Woman and Most Influential Young Woman Award luncheon March 6, 2025, at East Ridge Country Club.
To purchase tickets or tables visit https://www.laholyangels.org/events/most-influential-woman/
Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Meet Olivia Ostendorff a Virginia K. Shehee Most Influential Young Woman 2025 Honoree
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