By MARGARET L. WILLIS

Two women were awarded the top honors at Wednesday’s Duneland Chamber of Commerce annual summer awards banquet. Dawn Ruge was given the Athena Award and Shirley Peffers the Senior Service Award.

The banquet for the Duneland Chamber was held at The WaterBird Restaurant in Indian Oak.

The Athena Award winner demonstrates support of the goals of professional women and provides unselfish assistance in their behalf as well as providing valuable service to the business community or the community at large.

Ruge was humble in her acceptance. “There are so many who do so much,“ she said. “I’m honored. Thank you.”

Ruge, who started her own catering business 21 years ago, employs many women in her business and gives them responsibility for meeting client needs.

Her business caters regularly for the Lions Clubs of Chesterton, Burns Harbor and Beverly Shores, Chesterton-Porter Rotary Club, Duneland Kiwanis, Duneland Historical Society, Nightingales and Women in Leadership.

Ruge has also been very active in the community, helping to organize the Porter County Mental Health Association in 1967. She served as president, secretary and a 20 year board member of that organization, as well as regional chairman of the Christmas gift program at Beatty Hospital.

Ruge continues to volunteer annually to escort mentally challenged individuals to the Porter County Fair.

Ruge is currently president of the Burns Harbor Park Board and in addition to her official duties, she is often seen planting, bushes and seeds at her own expense.

She has volunteered her time for the Christmas in April, Father Blaney’s SHARE Foundation and the St. Agnes Center (a non-profit adult day care center) as well as serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA.) She is also active in St. Patrick Church, where she has been a teachers aide, office aide, served on the parish council and as a sacrament sponsor and Eucharistic Minister.

As a member of the Duneland Exchange Club, Ruge has been active with the various youth projects of that club, including serving on the Prevent Child Abuse committee.

Last February, Ruge and her husband went to Mexico with the Lions Club to distribute donated eye glasses.

“To keep this all in perspective,” said presenter Suzanne Philbrick, recent Athena Award past winner “this woman has eight children, 15 grandchildren and has all her Christmas shopping done by August 1!”

The Athena Award is sponsored by Harbor Oldsmobile/GMC Truck. This is the 16th year for the award. Past recipients included Suzanne Perkins, Judy Handley, Edith Thomas, Jeannene Bauer, Gayle Polakowski, Jane Walsh-Brown, Becky Dunbar and Sue Harris.

Also, Gayle Renaldo, Betty Canright, Mary Russell, Candy Davison, Janice Custer, Judy Gregurich and Suzanne Philbrick.

Senior Service Award

Shirley Peffers, Senior Service Award recipient, has demonstrated a “willing and thoughtful commitment” to the Duneland community, said presenter Rick Hokanson.

The award is to honor seniors who “volunteer for the good of the community,“ he said.

Peffers has provided “significant service and leadership” to civic and service organizations as well as her church, the Chesterton United Methodist Church, Hokanson said.

Peffers said she was “overwhelmed,“ at receiving the award. “I accept this with great pride,” she added, “on behalf of all those seniors who do so much.“

Peffers has served as a precinct judge and worked with Riley Children’s Hospital on the state level. She has also served the Westchester Neighbors Food Pantry as a board member for 8 years, currently as secretary.

For nine years, Peffers cooked and delivered for Meals on Wheels and has also worked for Christmas in April.

She has been a Tri Kappa member for 35 years and has served as secretary and treasurer and is now acting president of the Tri Kappa Associates. Other memberships included the Junior Woman’s Club, Chesterton Woman’s Club, of which she is past vice president and past publicity chair for the annual Art Show. Peffers has also been an active volunteer for the Garden Club, the PTA and the Bloodmobile.

Peffers has also been extremely active in the Chesterton United Methodist Church, serving as leader of the Mary Rachel Circle and as secretary, vice-president and president of the Women’s Group. She taught Sunday school for 14 years and Bible school for 25. She has chaired the cookie walk, served on the administrative board for 25 years and is presently head of the kitchen committee and in various prayer groups.

This is the 11th year of the Senior Service Award. Past recipients included Ione Harrington, Margaret Larson, Howard Johnson, Leslie Pratt, Dorothy Crampton, Marguerite Domsic, Faith Halley, Thomas Wagner, William Mullin, Warren Munro, Warren Canright and Margaret Doyle.

The award is sponsored by the Duneland Chamber of Commerce and is funded by Ashley’s Jewelry by Design, Inc., which designed the recipient’s pin.

Posted 7/26/2001