Young Women of Achievement profiles

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By John Willard | Tuesday, May 01, 2007 | No comments posted

Erin Blecha

Erin Blecha, a varsity track and field standout at Augustana College, brings her winning spirit to the community.

Among other things, she initiated Augustana’s Athletes Giving Back program. Since it was established a year ago, more than 250 varsity athletes at the Rock Island college have donated 1,000 hours of community service. Projects have ranged from neighborhood cleanups to a “buddy day” in which youngsters mingle with athletes after games.

“The intent is to instill the benefits of serving the community while acting as positive representatives of the college varsity program,” she said.

Her other community service has included planning and implementing summer activities for at-risk girls through the Community Outreach Program of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.

She also worked with the Girl Scouts council to create “Mom and Me” workshops intended to help single mothers and their daughters become more self-sufficient. As a volunteer, she leads a junior troop of Girl Scouts at the Rock Island Intermediate Academy.

“Whether it has been through showing her fellow athletes at Augustana the reward of giving back to their community or through her work with area youth, inspiring them to live their dreams and be all they aspire to be, I’m confident that our community is a better place because of Erin Blecha’s hard work and commitment,” said Maureen Taylor, the Quad-Cities outreach coordinator for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.

A native of Woodridge, Ill., Blecha majored in psychology and speech at Augustana and plans to work toward a master’s degree in interpersonal communication studies at the University of Arizona. A track and field participant since junior high, she throws the discus and is an all-conference high jumper at Augustana.

Surprised and humbled by her honor, she said the recognition reflects the work of her fellow athletes and many other people. “I could not have done it without their support,” she said.

Emma Crino

Emma Crino received her introduction to community service as a seventh-grader at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Davenport.

“We had a service project every month,” she recalled. “I really enjoyed it.”

She has not let up on her drive to contribute to the community. She volunteers for a variety of causes ranging from helping young cancer patients at a summer camp to rallying fellow students at St. Ambrose University for special projects around the Davenport campus.

“Whether in the residence halls, as a member of the Student Senate or working with our campus ministries program, Emma presents herself diplomatically, passionately and with a focused sense of direction,” said Timothy Phillips, associate vice president and dean of students at St. Ambrose.

Emma, daughter of Sally and Ronald Crino of Davenport, graduated from Assumption High School in 2004 and is majoring in history and elementary education at St. Ambrose. She hopes to teach and later become a middle school guidance counselor.

If working two jobs and maintaining a 3.65 grade-point average were not enough, she immerses herself in public service. Among the volunteer work she finds most satisfying is her annual two-week stint as a leader at The Heart Connection, a summer camp for children with cancer.

As president of the Student Government Association at St. Ambrose, she organized a project called “Bee the Difference Day” in which more than 100 students, faculty and staff helped neighbors of the college with yard work, cleaning and other projects.

She also participates in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program in which she has been a mentor to a middle school student. She also is active in the college’s Habitat for Humanity chapter.

Of her community service, she says, “It lets you see what impact you can make in people’s lives.”

Krista Currie

Krista Currie says community service helps her academically.

“I actually think my grades are better when I am more involved,” she says. “I’m not someone who sits around. I’m always doing something.”

Indeed, the United Township High School senior is active in a variety of school and community activities.

At school, she is student council president, a cheerleader, a member of the marching band color guard and an inductee in the National Honor Society. She also is active at Christ the King Catholic Church in Moline, where she is involved with Teens Encounter Christ and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

As student council president, she was instrumental in helping UTHS become the Quad-Cities’ top school in terms of collections for the Student Hunger Drive. In addition to collecting canned goods and other foods, the school sponsored a golf outing that raised more than $7,000.

She also has worked with other students to organize two annual blood drives at the school in East Moline. As president of the Interact Club, she has led efforts to provide monthly assistance to a local soup kitchen.

Currie is described as a caring, energetic person who enjoys putting a project together for a successful outcome.

“I believe that Krista is a good role model for younger girls because many of our high school activities include the feeder elementary school districts in our student council activities. It is important that those girls see other females in leadership roles in their community,” said Barbara Suelter, former superintendent of the United Township School District.

Krista, daughter of Laura and Brian Currie, of Silvis, Ill., will attend Iowa State University, where she plans to major in hotel and restaurant institutional management with the goal of becoming an events planner.

Jil Gates

Jil Gates wasted little time getting involved with the community after she came to St. Ambrose University to attend graduate school.

While working toward her master’s degree in organizational leadership, she made the community her laboratory.

She organized a Habitat for Humanity chapter on campus, volunteered for a number of projects as a member of the Davenport Jaycees and put her agility to work as a high ropes coordinator during weekend retreats at an area camp.

Even while combining graduate studies with her job as a residence hall director, she found time to form and advise the college’s Habitat for Humanity chapter. She has helped with the construction of six homes in the Quad-City area and has worked on homes in other Midwestern cities.

“The St. Ambrose University Habitat for Humanity chapter’s level of engagement of students and unparalleled levels of success are directly attributable to Jil’s inspiring leadership,” said Jason Kilmer, the university’s assistant director of residence life.

If running the campus Habitat for Humanity chapter were not enough, Gates led a volunteer service trip to the Appalachian Mountains region.

A 2004 graduate of Eastern Illinois University with a degree in elementary education and a concentration in mathematics, she worked for the university in housing management, first as director of a residence hall and later as a full-time director responsible for more than 200 students living in a residence hall and in other student housing.

She said the experience of working with students outside the classroom should be invaluable in her profession.

She has landed a job as a freshman mathematics instructor at Sterling (Ill.) High School.

Cara Voelliger

A sense of responsibility drives Cara Voelliger to civic action.

“I see a great need for service. I feel it is my responsibility as a citizen to go out and help others,” she says.

In addition to achieving a 3.7 grade-point average at Bettendorf High School, where she is a senior, Voelliger has immersed herself in more than two dozen activities in and out of school. They cover a broad spectrum ranging from music and athletics to philanthropy and service as Bettendorf High’s representative to the district school board. Her involvement with school clubs has included serving as president or co-president of three of them.

Along the way, she has earned an academic letter, made the school’s highest honor roll and been selected to the National Honor Society.

She said her mother, Connie Voelliger, of Bettendorf, has been a strong influence. “She was always there for me,” she added.

Among her interests is Teens for Tomorrow, or T4T, a philanthropy program in which teens evaluate community needs and issue grants in affiliation with the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend.

“Cara has taken the initiative to become personally involved in her community. She has the ability to take charge and has guided members of T4T to make decisions that are for the betterment of the community,” said Ali Rorah, director of communications for the Community Foundation.

Voelliger has received an academic scholarship to Drake University in Des Moines, where she plans to major in biology and psychology. She wants to enter the field of medicine, either human cardiology or practice veterinary.

Participation in the Trinity Health Occupations Academy has given her a good introduction to the health sciences as has the National Scholars Academy, Biomedical Research, at the University of Iowa, where she presented a paper on meningitis.