EmpowHER Raising the Bar Award Winner 2025
Kelly Welker was the winner of the 2025 Raising the Bar Award.
She was nominated by her sister-in-law, Natalie Welker.
Click HERE to hear Kelly talk with WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart.

Kelly shares how she felt when she received this award.
Kelly is the Director of Operations at Mortellaro McDonalds. She has worked with McDonalds for 42 years! She oversees 8 different restaurants in 4 counties. She talks about her journey to this position. She also shares encouragement for young women who are just getting started in their careers.

Kelly talks about the EmpowHER Event Theme – Thrive Without Limits.

Raising the Bar Award:
This award is given to a Woman with 20+ years of experience in their field! The recipient of this award is an extraordinary woman who has manifested a legacy that continues to inspire others. She has dedicated her life to the advancement of those around her and paved the way for the leaders of tomorrow. She is recognized as an ambassador for women through her extraordinary dedication, personal achievements, and service to others through mentorship, philanthropy, and business. This award recognizes a woman who has spent more than 20 years in her field.

EmpowHER Event Heart Award Winner 2025
Chris White was the winner of the 2025 Heart Award.
She was nominated by Lauren Lochotzki, Director of Survivor Services at New Directions of Knox County.
Click HERE to hear Chris talk with WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart.

Chris shares how she felt when she received this award.
Chris is on the front line as the Director of the Emergency Department and directs the Forensics Program at Knox Community Hospital. She has been serving at KCH for 20 years and has served in healthcare for 32 years. She talks about how to face a day in the ER where things are challenging and rewarding.

Chris talks about the EmpowHER Event Theme – Thrive Without Limits.

Heart Award:
This award is given to a Front-Line worker! The Heart Award was born out of COVID19 and the need to acknowledge greater endeavors in support of our humanity with a focus on others over self. This woman has a commitment and passion for service while making an impact and leads with purpose. She has dedicated her life as a successful front-line worker. She has proven her endless dedication to her field.

EmpowHER Event Grit and Grace Award Winner 2025
Nature McPeek was the winner of the 2025 Grit and Grace Award.
She was nominated by her daughter, Kelcy Fowler.
Click HERE to hear Nature talk with WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart.

Nature shares how she felt when she received this award.
Nature shares about her children and that they have been through a difficult journey. She talks about how she finds strength (the grit and grace) as a single Mom. She also gives advice to single Moms in our community.

Nature talks about the EmpowHER Event Theme – Thrive Without Limits.

Grit and Grace Award:
This award is given to a single-parent mom who has overcome adversity and demonstrates resilience. She has transformed her life and the lives of her children with dignity and grace. She leads by example. She is a picture of selflessness and courage to all who encounter her.

EmpowHER Event Vision Builder Award Winner 2025
Click HERE to hear Kristi talk with WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart.

Kristi Klinkner was the winner of the 2025 Vision Builder Award.
She was nominated by her accountant, Winnie Skinner.
Kristi shares how she felt when she received this award.
She talks about her journey from finance into opening a beauty salon. This was a huge career change for her. Her main goal is to help young women breaking into cosmetology to grow and flourish.

Vision Builder Award:
Vision shapes our future. The recipient of this award is a woman with less than 10 years of experience in her field who has wasted no time making an impact and breaking down barriers. She emphasizes building honest relationships, values input, has the mindset of a leader, and leads by example with an immense amount of courage. She has valued what she’s learned from her mentors and wants to pay it forward as a mentor to others. She is changing the landscape in which women serve.

EmpowHER Event Scholarship Winner Kennedy Auker 2025
Click HERE to hear Kennedy talk with WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart.

Kennedy is a senior at Mount Vernon High School and attends the Knox County Career Center.
She is taking Landscape Design at KCCC. She plans to attend Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster to major in sustainable agriculture. She wants to take over the family farm in the future.

She is the winner of a Girl Power Scholarship of $2,500!
She submitted an essay based on a quote from Sheila Murray Bethel. She wrote on how she uses her Girl Power to empower others. Kennedy talks about the many organizations that she is involved in and how she strives to involve others and help them work together to serve the community.

She talks about the EmpowHER Event Theme – Thrive Without Limits.

EmpowHER Event Scholarship Winner Grace Humphrey 2025
Click HERE to hear WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talk with Grace.

Grace is a senior from Centerburg that goes to Mount Vernon High School.
She is the winner of a Girl Power Scholarship of $2,500!

She submitted an essay based on a quote from Michelle Obama that talked about how you can use your unique story to empower others.

She empowers others through her horse riding, how she plans and working hard on her academics.
She will be attending Cedarville University, majoring in Allied Health.
She talks about the EmpowHER Event Theme – Thrive Without Limits.

Lindsey Lamp, New Directions Executive Director, shares the passion behind this event. This is the 4th year for the EmpowHER Event.

Click HERE to hear the conversation with WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart.

This event is to celebrate the women that live and work in Knox County. They want to uplift the amazing women that they are. They want women to connect and show that they are thriving.

She talks about the theme – Thrive Without Limits. Their goal is to celebrate the flourishing women of the community. They also want to encourage all women to bloom where they are.
They had a flower theme in their decorations.

Lindsey also shares an update about New Directions. She shares that the agency is thriving. They are increasing the services that they provide. They are adapting through transitions and continuing to thrive. That is why they picked the theme.

Coming up on 2025 Calendar: April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month – they are collaborating with local law enforcement for training. The Teen Advisory Council will host the color run at the end of the summer. In October, they will host the annual Bowl-athon.

Goals for the organization for 2025:

• Continue to prioritize survivors
• Creating a survivor counsel
• Lead some survivor support groups
• For prevention – get into elementary schools for education and healthy relationship skills

Lindsey shares that you can give at their website – http://www.newdirectionsknox.org
Donations go directly back to their clients and the survivors in our community.