Latest news with #AbbyMartinez
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Inside KELOLAND Special: Remarkable Women
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Remarkable Women is a nationwide initiative led by KELOLAND's parent company Nexstar Media Group. This year, KELOLAND TV is proud to have two local winners. Since our viewing area covers both the Sioux Falls and Rapid City television markets, we selected a winner from east river and west river. Jill Janecke and Abby Martinez were chosen as this year's Remarkable Women of KELOLAND. They were nominated by people who know them and see the incredible impact they are having on the world around them. As part of the honor, Nexstar awarded a $1,000 donation to the non-profit of their choice. Martinez and Janecke will also travel to Los Angeles later this month for Nexstar's national Remarkable Women conference, where they'll represent South Dakota. The 2025 Remarkable Woman of the Year will be announced during a one-hour special airing on The CW Network. Watch Sunday, April 20th at 8:00 P.M. Central time. This year's local winners were just two of dozens of women nominated across KELOLAND. KELOLAND Media Group received a total of 89 nominations from across our viewing area. We met up with a few of those nominees to share their stories. You can watch all of our coverage and learn more about the contest on our special Remarkable Women page. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Jones County teacher has passion for impacting kids
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Abby Martinez couldn't believe it. 'I didn't know anything about it,' Martinez said. 'I just knew our superintendent just sent out an email saying that there was going to be some sort of an award.' When Martinez stepped into the elementary school gym, she had no idea that she was the reason. Martinez is one of KELOLAND's Remarkable Women winners. She teaches third grade at Jones County Elementary School in Murdo, South Dakota. 'I've always had a passion for kids and working with kids, and so there's never been a point in my life where I haven't worked with kids,' Martinez said. 'I've worked in school districts outside of teaching as well, but every job that I've ever had pretty well revolves around kids.' When she's not in the classroom, Martinez is an advocate for foster care and adoption. She also runs gymnastics and wrestling classes and has co-founded a rural youth leadership program. 'Abby's commitment to her students, family, and community has made her an exceptional role model, proving that small town living doesn't limit one's aspirations,' Ashley Geigle, who nominated Martinez for the award, said. Martinez received a $1,000 donation to the charity of her choice. She's decided to give that money to Jones County Turner Youth. 'They fundraise and they fund projects in our community that are driven by kids. You know, how do we think that we can best impact the youth of our community?' Martinez said. She said she's passionate about empowering children to use their voices to impact their community. 'My son, four years ago, dreamed of having a wrestling team in our community. He stood up in front of a community meeting of about 70 adults and got to the microphone and told them that he wanted a wrestling team,' Martinez said. 'And four years later, we've got a wrestling team.' Her determination is helping kids unlock their potential through a limitless potential of her own. Martinez is headed to Los Angeles to represent South Dakota in the National Remarkable Women Conference later this month. She will travel along with KELOLAND's second Remarkable Women winner — Jill Janecke. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
