UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - Eight outstanding women and four leading female college students from Bay, Isabella, Midland and Saginaw counties have been named “Great Women of the Great Lakes Bay Region.”   The Graff Chevrolet dealership in Bay City and Saginaw Valley State University Athletics created the honor in 2011 to draw attention to local women for their extraordinary commitment of time, talent and experience in a meaningful way to improve the quality of life in the Great Lakes Bay Region.

The Great Women of the Great Lakes Bay Region will receive their awards Thursday, Feb. 21. A networking reception will begin at 4 p.m. in SVSU’s Curtiss Hall. The program includes a panel discussion on how women can serve as change agents and make a meaningful difference in their communities.  The ceremony is open to the public and free of charge, but seating is limited.

The following women have been selected as the second class of recipients named for the 2012 award:

• Kaye Bouck of Mt. Pleasant, who has improved the lives of hundreds of young women through her nearly 40 years as a youth softball coach. She founded the girls softball program in Mt. Pleasant and continues to go beyond the call of duty, using her personal home as an off-season warehouse for needed softball equipment and continuing to run tournaments and other events.        

• JoAnn Crary of Frankenmuth, who is the president of Saginaw Future, Inc., a nonprofit economic development organization for Saginaw County that has helped to secure more than $115 million in new investment in 2012. Highly respected in her field, she recently was named the treasurer of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), which has 4,400 members internationally.       

• Carrie Fisher of Midland, who is the owner of Gourmet Cupcake Shoppe, which has won best dessert honors in Great Lakes Bay Lifestyle Magazine three years in a row and also has been voted Midland's best bakery, most unique store and best dessert. Fisher supports regional causes by donating cupcakes to organizations such as the Underground Railroad, Girl Scouts and the Literacy Council.        

• Ava Gonzales of Saginaw, who is a co-pastor at Greater Dimensions Church, a motivational speaker and a zumba instructor.  She has touched many women through the DIVA (Divinely Inspired Victorious Anointed women) conferences she regularly holds free of charge for those who are hurting, abused or oppressed.  Gonzales became a motivational speaker after losing her mother to cancer and is an advocate for personal fitness.   

• Carla Ives of Mt. Pleasant, who is the CEO/founder of Heart Cry International, a nonprofit Christian organization that provides housing, food, education and basic medical assistance to mothers and children suffering from poverty, abuse, and neglect. Her efforts have taken her to New Orleans to assist after Hurricane Katrina and to foreign countries such as Uganda. Ives also serves as a pastor at The Potter's House Family Worship Center, a nondenominational church.       

• Bridget Looby of Bay City, who is the vice president of development and community relations at Catholic Federal Credit Union. She raises money for a number of charitable causes, managing races to support Covenant Kids and Go Red Day, a race to fight heart disease in women. Looby also serves on the board of directors for local organizations, including the St. Mary's of Michigan Foundation, Youth First, and the Saginaw Riverfront Development Commission.        

• Rita Maier of Bay City, who is the director of compliance for Maier and Associates, a financial planning group. She is also a real estate agent and treasurer for the Just for Kids Foundation, which supports hundreds of regional children through scholarships, providing bicycles and shoes to children who lack them, and by honoring children who have made an exceptional contribution to society.        

• Sharon Miller of Midland, who is the owner and manager of ITH (Immediate Temporary Help) Staffing of Michigan, a company that recruits and screens employees for professional jobs. For her success in business, she has received the Small Business Advocate of the Year award by the Small Business Association of Michigan and the Athena Award of Excellence from the Midland Area Chamber of Commerce. Active in her community, Miller is on the board of directors for MidMichigan Home Care, the Bay Area Woman's Shelter, and the Saginaw County Business and Education Partnership.       

The following college students have been selected as recipients for the 2012 award:

• Rachel Church serves as captain of the Northwood women’s basketball team. Now in her fifth year on the team, she was injured during her sophomore year, but worked hard to return to the team and emerged as a leader. Church is the co-vice president of Northwood's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. A native of Midland, she volunteers her time to help young children in elementary schools learn to read. 

• Jeri Gravlin founded the Delta College Peace Club, which seeks to affect positive change by joining communities in an active, nonviolent manner. She also serves as a student orientation leader at Delta and is a photographer for the Delta Collegiate newspaper. A native of Linwood, Gravlin is coordinating an art exhibit at Studio 23 that will feature art by Delta students.  

• Amanda Helton is a member of two of SVSU organizations that work toward improved understanding of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community. Very active on campus, she has been a member of SVSU’s Criminal Justice Society since 2008. Helton also is the co-creator of the biannual personal hygiene drive for Hearth Home of Saginaw and for the annual charity drag show for AIDS Walk at SVSU. A native of Westland, Helton also serves on SVSU's Program Board, a student-run organization that plans and organizes student events and programming.

• Stephanie Turner is captain of CMU’s women’s soccer team and is the soccer representative for CMU's Student Athlete Advisory Committee. Turner has won a number awards during the past two seasons for her performance, including being named to the CoSIDA/Capitol One Academic All-American third team and All-MAC first team. A native of Livonia, Turner also has worked with adolescents ages 3 to 18, teaching soccer.

The honorees also will be publicly recognized during halftime of the basketball game between SVSU and Grand Valley State University that begins at 6 p.m. That game is Girl Scout Night, and all girl scouts wearing official Girl Scouts apparel will be admitted free of charge, along with up to two guests each. For others, tickets are $5 for general admission and $3 for students and seniors.

Presented by Graff Chevrolet of Bay City, The Great Women of the Great Lakes Bay Region award is sponsored by General Motors, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Residence Inn and Spring Hill Suites of Saginaw, and hosted by SVSU Athletics.

To register for the awards ceremony or for more information, contact Angela Pohl at gwglbr@svsu.edu or (989) 964-7311.