09-03-2025
Soroptimist International of Joplin announces 2025 Live Your Dream award recipients
On March 8, International Women's Day, Soroptimist International of Joplin announced its Live Your Dream Award recipients.
The awards help women who serve as the primary wage earners for their families with financial resources to offset costs associated with attaining higher education or additional skills.
Recipients are:
Top award, $3,000, Marissa Staten. A mother of three, Staten is enrolled in Franklin Technology Center's nursing program and wants to be a nurse in the behavioral health field.
Second place, $2,500, Kristy Kovis. A mother of four, Kovis is studying in Crowder College's nursing program and wants to be a nurse supporting and advocating for women's well-being.
Third place, $2,000, Starla Lovett. A mother of three, Lovett is pursuing her nursing degree at Franklin Technology Center with an interest in cardiology.
Fourth place, $1,000, Danielle Turner. A mother of two, Turner is enrolled at Missouri Southern State University in social work and wants to be a case manager, working with underprivileged and at-risk families.
Fifth place, $1,000, Amanda Canepa. A mother of one, Canepa is pursuing her nursing degree at Crowder College.
Recipients can use the award money for tuition, books, childcare, car expenses or any other education-related expense.
'The LYDA Awards are more than an awards program, it is a platform for recognizing and uplifting women who are turning their dreams into reality,' Kristine Gustafson, chair of the LYDA committee, said in a statement. 'Behind every award is a story of resilience, ambition and impact. We celebrate the women who are shaping the future with courage, determination and passion.'
Each year, Soroptimist International provides $2.8 million in cash grants to women in need. Since the program's inception in 1972, more than $35 million has helped tens of thousands of women.
Soroptimist International of Joplin is part of Soroptimist International of the Americas, a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training.
