Altrusa International Club names Woman of the Year
The Altrusa International Club of Elgin Inc. has announced Caren Nickelsen of Elgin as the recipient of its Woman of the Year award for 2008.
Nickelsen will be honored at the 59th annual Woman of the Year Recognition Dinner May 15 at Villa Olivia in Bartlett.
The event includes cocktails and reception at 6 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m. with program to follow.
Former Women of the Year recipients and Altrusa Emeritus members also will be recognized.
For information and reservations, call Barb Schulze at (847) 695-9288.
The local Altrusa Woman of the Year Award began in 1950 when Harriet Armstrong was recognized as the first recipient. Since then, a long line of dedicated local women have been honored for their volunteer service to the greater Elgin area community.
"Caren Nickelsen has made a positive difference in every community project in which she has been involved," said Dr. Clare Ollayos, Altrusa Woman of the Year Committee Chair. "She joins a very distinctive group that has made a difference in the Elgin area community. Caren exemplifies the Altrusa keys of Amity, Loyalty, Talent, Reciprocity, Unity, Service and Achievement.
"Community service is a natural part of Nickelsen's life. She has compassionately served as a leader in many local organizations."
Nickelsen is a current board member of Elgin Community College Foundation and special events co-chair of the recent Gail Borden Library-Elgin Abe Lincoln fundraising event.
She was a founder, president and longtime board member of the Elgin Enrichment Series, which for 10 years brought people of notoriety, arts, and culture to Elgin; longtime member, president of the Elgin PEO group; Fideliter Club emeritus member, former charity ball chairperson; Sherman Hospital auxiliary member; Wesley United Methodist Church, member, chairperson of 100th anniversary banquet; Elgin Junior Service Board member, volunteer, chair; member of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra 50th Anniversary Gala committee.
She also was Jayne Shover Easter Seals Telethon volunteer; YWCA Leader Luncheon chair, individual awards chair and award winner; Larkin Parents Association member; member Elgin Academy Board of Trustees; University of Illinois President's Council, member, and North Park University President's Club member; Instructor, YWCA Indochinese Refugee Program English as a Second Language.
Nickelsen and her husband, Dr. Dale Nickelsen, have a son, Dr. Jon Nickelsen, two daughters, Julie Wallace and Jill McCullough, and two grandchildren.
Altrusa International Club of Elgin Inc. is an international service organization made up of executive and professional women. The Altrusa Club of Elgin sponsors a number of projects in the community through volunteerism and monetary support. Members reside throughout the northern Fox Valley area, including Elgin, South Elgin, Dundee, Sleepy Hollow, Carpentersville, Algonquin, Bartlett, Hampshire, and St. Charles.
For details, call Barb Schulze at (847) 695-9288.