Butler Soroptimists honor dedicated community members
The Soroptimist International of Butler County welcomed members of the community at the Butler Country Club on Saturday, April 11, for their Spring Fling fundraising luncheon. Five awards were handed out for the Live Your Dream scholarships and the Club and Community Ruby Awards.
Rosanne Natili received the Community Ruby Award, recognizing her for her outstanding commitment and volunteerism she does for the community.
“What makes this award especially meaningful is that it recognizes how we can impact the lives of women and girls, which I hope, in my case, is through volunteerism and service in our community,” Natili said. She noted how inspiring it is to see downtown Butler grow and change alongside people who show up to keep its momentum going.
She was praised for her work efforts and consistency in planning and updating events around the county. From the Butler Farmers Market to the upcoming Steeples and Stacks celebration for America250, Natili is involved.
“When you look around, what is happening around Butler, with the mayor and those things, most likely you will see Rosanne’s fingerprints on the activities,” Becky Plymale said.
The second Ruby Award goes to a member of the Soroptimist club who has shown immense commitment to making the club the best it can be. This year’s Soroptimist Club Ruby Award winner was Laura Ankrom, the club’s recording secretary and co-chairwoman of the Spring Fling.
Ankrom was honored for her activity in the community, even outside the club. She volunteers at the American Legion in Lyndora, works in the Butler County Controller’s office, is active in the church and is even planning her upcoming wedding.
Scholarship awards were also handed out at the fundraiser to three women making notable strides in their education.
The first 2026 Live Your Dream Scholarship for $2,000 went to Noelle Mitchell. Mitchell is working towards graduation in May and becoming an Obstetrics Nurse. As a mother of three boys, she has worked tirelessly to provide herself with an education, overcoming poverty and homelessness.
Quijuene Williams was presented with the second Live Your Dream Scholarship for $1,000. Williams is a Bioengineering major at the University of Phoenix who hopes to find a career in designing prosthetic limbs. As a single mother, she dedicates her time to volunteering at hospitals and working with CVS Health’s technical department, while still attending school.
“Those in Quijuene’s life describe her as caring, independent, motivated, and filled with grace,” Donna Sybert, past club president said.
The final $1,000 scholarship award was awarded to Krystal Breelove of Butler. Breelove, a single mother of two, is chasing her passion for science and studying to become a Marine Biologist at Unity Environmental University, set to graduate in 2027.
“I’ve been trying to get back into school, get my degree, and get everything done for the longest time, and finances have been one of the biggest issues with that, so this means the world to me,” Breelove said.
