GIRL POWER: Woodbine’s Alison Makey, BV’s Vanessa Anderson honored
Two Middle School girls from Woodbine Community School and Boyer Valley Community School were celebrated by the Loess Hills Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) at their fifth annual Girl Power on Display (GPOD) event on April 23 at the Looft Hall at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs.
Two young ladies out of a group of 10, included Adeline Makey of Woodbine, daughter of Alison Makey, and Vanessa Anderson of Boyer Valley, daughter of Josh Anderson.
The Loess Hills Branch of AAUW brought together 106 people for the Girl Power event despite the severe weather warning. The AAUW organizers formed Girl Power to honor the young ladies for their perseverance in overcoming challenges in their personal, academic, or extra-curricular lives.
Each girl was honored for her achievement with a framed certificate, a financial award, and a goodie bag.
Keynote speaker Brandy Wallar, CEO of New Visions Homeless Services in Council Bluffs, shared her personal story of perseverance and resilience by sharing with the honorees her childhood stories of seeing her single mother work hard to make a way for her and her siblings.
Wallar also shared that she faced bullying at school and abuse from her mother’s boyfriend. She encouraged the girls to pursue education; it’s the key to a better life.
Yearly, members of AAUW reach out to school counselors and principals to recommend one girl who has persisted through challenges such as health issues, injuries, family problems, language barriers or academic struggles.
Each girl who was honored walked up to accept the honorary gifts from AAUW President Jan Creasman. Dr. Vergarie Sanford, Program Coordinator, read each girl’s letter of recommendation aloud to the audience.
Sanford said, “2026 Girl Power on Display was amazing! I am so honored to work with the Loess Hills Branch AAUW. It was wonderful to celebrate each girl and her story of perseverance and resilience. The event is truly a dream come true for me.”
