March of Dimes is pleased to announce this year’s honorees for the White Rose Award. Five extraordinary women whose volunteerism and professional contributions in Oregon have had a positive and lasting impact on the state’s communities will receive the award during a luncheon in their honor on May 21, 2012. A special addition to the five honorees is a remarkable young woman contributing to her community. 

The 2012 White Rose Award honorees are:

• Joan Albertson, Gresham
• Sue Kupillas, Medford
• Susan Miller, Salem
• Adrienne Nelson, Portland
• Jacque Schreck, Corvallis
• Jessica Blank, Tualatin High School – Youth Achievement Award

Joan Albertson
From the beginning, Joan Albertson has been a pioneer for women in business.  Starting out as one of 2000 women working as Certified Public Accountants in 1969, Albertson’s achievements have grown beyond her title.  Through her commitment to make communities better, Albertson has served as a member of the Gresham Public Safety Task Force, Treasurer of the Police Levy Campaign, a Gresham Citizen Volunteer in Policing, Administrator for the Government Affairs Council, and Treasurer of the Center for the Arts Foundation.  Albertson’s commitment is also evident in the Gresham Chamber of Commerce and the American Association of University Women.  

Sue Kupillas
Sue Kupillas is truly an Oregon treasure. A Jackson County Commissioner for a record 16 years, she’s their only female commissioner since 1982. In 1990, Kupillas started the White City Community Improvement Association and the White City Urban Renewal Agency to better the unincorporated area. She developed the first community policing district in Southern Oregon and saw crime and vandalism decline by 10% in the first year. She also brought the Rogue Family Center into being, co-locating state and local human services under one roof, thereby creating the first one-stop human services program in the state of Oregon. Additionally, Kupillas has served on various federal forest advisory committees and testified at congressional hearings numerous times about the impact of federal legislation on rural communities and counties. She’s served on the Providence Foundation Board, Southern Oregon University Foundation Board, Rogue Valley Chorale Board, Heart of Medford Committee and was the first female member of Rogue River Valley University Club. 

Susan Miller
Susan Miller served as the first female Mayor of Salem from 1983 – 1988 and is still serving her community to this day. As Board President of Family Building Blocks from 1997 to 2001 and Executive Director of the organization since 2001, Miller has become a statewide leader in early childhood education and the establishment of relief nurseries for at-risk families. She also serves as Vice-Chair for South Salem High School LSAC (Local School Advisory Committee) and is a member of the Parent-Staff Focus Group there. Past volunteer involvement includes the Oregon Commission on Children and Families, Abiqua School, Salem Hospital, Liberty House Child Abuse Assessment Center and more. As a testament to her knowledge and expertise, Governor Kitzhaber has called on her repeatedly in putting together his new vision for public education in Oregon. 

Adrienne Nelson
The Honorable Adrienne Nelson’s professional and volunteer activities, as well as her accolades, make her an exemplary role model.  Her appointment in 2006 to the Multnomah County Circuit Court bench made her the second African American female judge in Oregon. Nelson has been elected six times to a statewide seat in the American Bar Association House of Delegates and is a frequent presenter on the issue of diversity, professional development and leadership. In addition to her professional activities, Nelson volunteers with the Portland Public Schools Foundation Ninth Grade Counts program and has served on the Board of Rosemary Anderson High School in an effort to help at-risk students. She also serves on the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars Advisory Board and the African American Mental Health Commission. She has received honors and awards from Lewis and Clark Law School, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement  Executives, Multnomah Bar Foundation, Oregon State Bar, Oregon Women Lawyers and more. 

Jacque Schreck
Jacque Schreck has been serving the people of Corvallis for nearly four decades. In her efforts to support her community she has served on the City Council, currently chairs the Corvallis Budget Commission and the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library Board. She is Vice-Chair of the Corvallis Watershed Management Commission and past chair of the Corvallis Capital Improvement Program Commission, to name just a few. She’s also volunteered with the Assistance League, Dental Care, CARES and Hug-A-Bear. For her consistent community contributions, Schreck was named Corvallis’ First Citizen in 2007. 

Jessica Blank
Jessica Blank is the third to receive the Youth Achievement Award. As a National Honor Society officer, Student Principal Ambassador leader, STAND Up President, and co-founder of the charity Feeding Potential and Possibility; Blank has put hundreds of hours into helping others.  In addition to her considerable community involvement, Blank is in the most rigorous course load offered at Tualatin High School: the International Baccalaureate program—all while maintaining a 3.96 GPA.  She is currently working on a fund raiser for the Caring Closet along with having volunteered at Saturday Academy and tutoring math.  In addition, she plans a career in Bioengineering in order to help others in need.   

These exceptional women will be honored by the Greater Oregon Chapter of March of Dimes at the White Rose Luncheon on May 21, 2012.  This salute to Oregon’s women of achievement will be held at the Portland Marriott Downtown, 1401 SW Naito Parkway, at noon.  Individual seats are $75 each and tables are available. Get more information or make reservations here, or contact Jill Brown at 971.270.2892 or jbrown@marchofdimes.com.

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