The 2025 Women of Achievement (WOA) dinner, held April 9th and hosted by the Muskingum County Family YMCA, brought an evening of uplifting and inspiring stories from remarkable women who are leaving a mark on Muskingum County through their work in their professions and volunteer work. Eight women were honored during the dinner, and each gave a speech after receiving their award at a packed banquet room at Zane State’s Campus Center.
WOA was established in 1988, and since that time, over 250 Muskingum County women have received the honor of being recognized for their achievements and contributions. The 2025 recipients were Karen Lyons, Muskingum Family Y Lifetime Service Award; Jessica Sabine, Josephine Phillips Health Care Award; Amanda Blevins, Winifred K. Vogt Education Award; Katie Ware, Ethel Granger Schultz Young Adult Award; Stephanie Bridwell, Mary Townsend Professions Award; Ginger Hamilton, Mary Vashti Jones Funk Business Award; Melinda Russell, Aldine Roach Flegal Special Recognition Award; and Chloe Buchanan, Muskingum County Community Youth Foundation Bright Futures Award.
“It really is a privilege to honor the extraordinary achievements of women. The YMCA is so proud to work with the Women of Achievement Committee to put this on,” said Adama Shilling, CEO of Buckeye Family YMCA. “Today, we recognize the honorees and we also celebrate the rich history and the bright future for women, not only at the Y but also in this community. So together we’re not just honoring the achievements, but we’re building momentum for the next generation of leaders.”
Karen Northrup Lyons, Muskingum Family Y Lifetime Service Award
Karen Lyons received the honor of being the 2025 Muskingum Family Y Lifetime Service Award due to her dedication to her work in volunteerism throughout the community. Although a retired nurse, Lyons keeps her license active so she can volunteer during vaccination events. Her passion to help where it is needed goes beyond the healthcare world, with her jumping into action to establish a girls’ soccer team when her daughter was in school because the only option at the time was for girls to play on the boys’ team. Lyons is also a Master Gardener and lends her talent in horticulture to assist the team that plants and maintains the flower containers downtown. The gardens at Dr. Increase Mathews House and at Mission Oaks Gardens are also maintained by Lyons. As the president of the Friends of Dillon, she helps to maintain flower beds and containers at Dillon State Park, assists with events, and works to fundraise. Lyons took on the responsibility of collecting and keeping record of the plastic for the Muskingum Valley Garden Society and the Zanesville Pickleball Group. She collects film plastic to be recycled into composite benches to be used in the area.
“I am truly honored and humbled to receive this award,” stated Lyons. “We have an amazing community full of good deed doers, as the Wizard of Oz called them. I see many of you in the audience today. – There are so many volunteer opportunities out there, it would be difficult to name them all, but the need is there. The Muskingum County Health Department recently developed a volunteer hub where folks can go to find an opportunity that speaks to them. Obviously, gardening spoke very loudly to me. Whatever the task is, you are giving your time to help others and improve our community. I may be the one receiving this award today, but you all deserve recognition. I truly believe I am a better person because of all of you and my volunteer work. Volunteering is addictive; the more you do, the more you want to do. An additional bonus is the wonderful friends you make along the way. They actually become more than friends, they become extended family. For those that are just thinking of volunteering, I encourage you to get out and make a difference. Your heart and soul will thank you.”
Jessica Bridwell Sabine, Josephine Phillips Health Care Award
Sabine’s leadership skills have been an asset in her career as the Chief Marketing Officer for Coler Healthcare, the parent company of Shrivers Pharmacy, Shrivers Hospice, Shrivers Compounding, Shrivers Home Medical, and Coler Long Term Care. She is the Executive Director of the Shrivers Hospice Foundation, and serves as the co-chair of Quality Care Partners QCP Community Challenge, and is on the OneOhio Recovery Foundation Committee.
Amanda G. Blevins, Winifred K. Vogt Education Award
Amanda Blevins is the Director of Bands at Zanesville High School. As a long-time advocate for music education, Blevins has been the driving force behind creating state-qualifying bands for almost 30 years, receiving excellent and superior ratings. She has been recognized for several awards throughout her career, with the most recent being a 2024 Grammy Music Educator Legacy Quarterfinalist. Over the years, Blevins has secured grants and has acquired instruments for students who otherwise may not have been able to have one. Additionally, she is active in the community, participating in numerous parades with the Zanesville Marching Band, participating in the Hisey Wind Ensemble, and Zaney Follies.
“Being a teacher will always be a special calling to me,” Blevins explained after being called to the stage to be presented her award. “In Sunday school, I was taught that Jesus was a teacher. My mother was a highly respected English teacher for over 40 years. My favorite people when I was growing up were teachers, coaches, and leaders. I feel we are all teachers in some fashion. We all have the ability to touch someone’s life in a positive manner. I am blessed beyond measure to have worked with so many wonderful and awe-inspiring people and students. I have worked hard in my career and have been blessed in an abundance of ways, and tonight is truly a special blessing.”
Katie Ware, Ethel Granger Schultz Young Adult Award
After being hired as Sales Director at Primrose Retirement Community, it did not take long for Katie Ware to advance her career by taking on the Executive Director position. Ware has spearheaded many events for the retirement community, such as a Halloween event with a haunted trail, a Wedding Vow Renewal Ceremony, a Veterans Day Recognition event, and an event to recognize area educators. It was because of her efforts that the Community received the 2023 Distinguished Community of the Year Award by Primrose. Additionally, she has developed partnerships with local institutions of higher education to enhance mentoring opportunities.
Stephanie Bridwell, Mary Townsend Professions Award
Stephanie Bridwell serves as the Quality Manager at Miba Bearings USA and works as a partner alongside her mother, Carol, and sister, Alicia, of Elk’s Eye Endeavors in Zanesville, helping to run the Elk’s Eye Art Market and advocating for the arts in the community. She is also an active member of the Zanesville Business and Professional Women, and has previously served as the state president for the Ohio Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Club, is currently serving as the President of the Board of Trusstees for the Ohio Arts and Crafts Foundation, as Student Art Chair for the Salt Fork Arts and Crafts Festival, and as a member of the Artist Colony of Zanesville. Some of her other achievements include American Society of Quality Certified Quality Auditor and Certified Quality Manager designations. In addition, she was inducted to Phi Kappa Phi and was named a Business Professional Women Ohio Individual Development Winner.
“I worked in manufacturing for the last 25 years. I fight every day to prove that we can manufacture top-quality products right here in Southeastern Ohio. I grew up listening to talk of Armco and AK Steel, and I decided that was the path for me,” Bridwell said. ” I’ve implemented international standards as part of a global team and supported product development for some really cool engines. And there were a lot of times when I was the only woman in the room or the only American, and what I learned and what I do is what all of us women do. We stand up straight, we smile, and we figure out how to make it work. – I encourage anybody to pursue a career in STEM.”
Ginger R. Hamilton, Mary Vashti Jones Funk Business Award
Ginger Hamilton has dedicated her career of 40-plus years to banking and her life to service. She retired from her long career with The Community Bank and is now serving Y Bridge Inc. and WAS Investments as a consultant, working with several businesses and training their staff. Over her career, she has served on a variety of boards and has helped with many events. She has been a member of the Zanesville Kiwanis serving as President, Past President, and was a part of several committees. Because of her service to the organization, she was recognized as Kiwanian of the Year. Earlier this year, Hamilton received the 2025 Millennium Miracle Maker from the Muskingum Adult & Child Protective Services.
Melinda Russell, Aldine Roach Flegal Special Recognition Award
Melinda Russell is the Director of Human Resources for the Muskingum County and Guernsey County Boards of Developmental Disabilities. She is involved in the Zaney Follies, Rotary Club of Zanesville, Thursday Music Club, and the Genesis Quality of Care Committee. She performs as a singer at several local events and fundraisers. Additionally, she is an advocate for social services awareness. Russell started a program for Muskingum County that raises awareness of human trafficking and offers training. She was the recipient of the Rising Star Award from the Rotary Club because of her contributions.
Chloe Buchanan, Muskingum County Community Youth Foundation Bright Futures Award
Chloe Buchanan was awarded the Bright Futures Award because of her volunteer work and willingness to work with other students and help her peers. She is a senior at Zanesville High School with a 4.0 GPA, and she serves as Class Vice President, Key Club President, and Student Council Vice President. Buchanan is also a member of the Muskingum County Community Youth Foundation and The Community Bank Junior Board of Directors and is the founding member and current secretary of Muskingum County Young Democrats. At school, she is the only female member of the Robotics Team and has qualified many times for State and Vex Worlds competitions. In her spare time, Buchanan volunteers for blood drives and church activities. Some of her achievements include various tennis awards, Most Outstanding Witness at the 2025 Mock Trial Competition, Student of the Month, and making the Principal’s List throughout high school.
Proceeds from the WOA dinner benefit scholarships at the Y for youth and families. For more information about WOA, including a past list of recipients, please visit muskingumwoa.org. The Muskingum WOA can also be found on Facebook and Instagram @muskingumwoa.
