East Central Iowa Acute Care and UnityPoint Hospitals Dr. Sarah Hemming-Meyer is an Iowa native and a Coe College alumna, where she graduated cum laude in 2005 with a bachelor’s in nursing. In 2013, she graduated from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her emergency medicine residency at Indiana University in 2016 […]
Category: Honorees 2024
Erin Erickson
Maquoketa River Watershed Management Authority Erin Erickson has worked as the watershed coordinator for the Maquoketa River Watershed Management Authority (MR WMA) since July 2021. Her extensive background in conservation began while growing up in Missouri, where she explored every wilderness area and limestone rimmed waterway she could. Erickson has worked for the U.S. Forest […]
Zeinab Osman
College Community Schools Zeinab Osman serves College Community Schools as a community engagement specialist. Her primary responsibility is to support students with various barriers to enroll in activities and athletics, pursue their interests in academics and volunteerism, and best prepare them for their options after high school. Osman establishes strong connections with students and their […]
Holly Reeder
Cedar Rapids Community Schools Holly Reeder is the instructional coach at Hiawatha Elementary School. Prior to becoming an instructional coach, she taught special education for 16 years. She received her undergraduate degree from The University of Iowa and a master’s from Morningside University. In addition to teaching, Reeder is the mother of two amazing daughters. […]
Freda Sojka
Cedar River Haven Freda Sojka, an entrepreneur at heart, is the creator of “Iowa’s own” Bug Soother and the founder and co-director of Cedar River Haven, a recovery community for women overcoming substance use disorders. Recognizing the challenges women in recovery face — from negative influences to the struggle of finding employment — Sojka sought […]
Jamie Toledo
Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance Jamie Toledo is the economic development relationship manager for the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance. A positive and innovative-minded professional, Toledo started her career working in the international hospitality industry. She credits the hospitality industry with teaching her to be customer-service oriented and welcoming to people of all walks of […]
Dr. Jean Littlejohn
Family Folk Machine Dr. Jean Littlejohn is the artistic and executive director of Iowa City’s Family Folk Machine, a nonprofit intergenerational choir she founded in 2013. The Family Folk Machine welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds to sing together accompanied by a band. The choir presents twice-yearly concerts at the Englert Theatre and performs […]
Felicite Wolfe
African American Museum of Iowa Felicite Wolfe is the curator and collections manager for the African American Museum of Art. She has been involved with the museum as a volunteer, consultant and staff member since 2011. As curator, Wolfe serves as the lead staff member on exhibit development, research and creation. She manages acquisition, documentation […]
Jess Novotny
Prestige Dance Studio Jess Novotny, known by her studio families as “Miss Jess,” is the owner and artistic director for Prestige Dance Studio in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. With over 30 years of experience in the dance world, Novotny provides her students with a comprehensive view on the techniques, determination and respect that are essential in […]
Betsy Harrison
Betsy Boos Boutique Betsy Harrison is the founder and CEO of Betsy Boos, an online boutique that sells trendy women’s clothing, shoes and accessories for all shapes and sizes. Harrison turned her love for fashion from a hobby that started in her basement to a successful business, amassing nearly 1 million social media followers since […]