The Stanislaus County Commission for Women has released the list of winners for their 44th annual Outstanding Women and Young Women awards, and among those recognized are Hannah Sahota and Audrey Smallwood, two seniors at Turlock High School.

According to SCCW Board President Jane Manley, the Outstanding Women and Young Women honors aim to highlight those who have made a positive impact in their communities. A panel of SCCW members create a selection committee to read nominations from the community and make selections, with emphasis given to volunteer activities and work that focuses on women and children.

Both ladies admitted they were shocked when they received a phone call congratulating them on being recognized as Outstanding Young Women. But looking at their long lists of community service efforts and extra-curricular activities, it should come as little surprise.

Sahota has given back to the community by way of her charity initiative, Hannah’s Project, which was established in late 2021. It is described as an organization dedicated to promoting literacy, education and empowerment to disadvantaged groups and youth in the Turlock area. Under the banner, Sahota has partnered with the American Association of University Women and their “Tech Trek” program to help expose young girls to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects and careers. She has also helped tutor local students. Additionally, Sahota raised over $400 last May for Dignity Health’s Birthday Cakes for Babies program. Extra funds allowed the hospital to donate children’s books to rural clinics.

“I'm very humbled and excited to receive this award, as I believe it doesn't extend only to me, but this recognition brings light to so many issues in our community, especially revolving around activism, and all of the great talented young women who are really trying to make a change in Stanislaus County in our community. I think that this is a really great opportunity and program,” Sahota said.

Smallwood shares a similar story, as she helped found the Kitchens for Change program within Turlock Unified School District and has served as a youth ambassador and group facilitator at Jessica’s House, which provides grief support for local children and families. She explained how both initiatives are something incredibly close to her.

“I am actually the daughter of a restauranter, so my whole life I have been taught the power food has to unite. And during the pandemic, we were really seeing the impact that COVID had in our community. I wanted to do something to help my community, so that's when the concept of Kitchens for Change came to mind,” she explained.

Since the club’s inception, Kitchens for Change has cooked and served meals to Turlock’s homeless population alongside the Turlock Gospel Mission and has cooked meals for Turlock’s Afghan refugee population.

As for her work with Jessica’s House, her passion stems from her childhood, as she used nonprofit’s services herself.

“I was actually part of the very first Jessica's House support group over 10 years ago after the loss of my father,” Smallwood shared. “I returned after being healed by their program as a six-year-old little girl, and I was really interested in becoming a volunteer, so I did and started working with kids who were going through the same thing that I once went through.”

As part of the recognition, honorees for the Outstanding Young Women portion will receive a scholarship courtesy of the SCCW.

Sahota said she has applied to several universities and is eagerly awaiting to hear back. She plans on majoring in biomedical sciences in order to receive her doctor of medicine degree and pursue research in women's health.

“It’s a subject I'm actually very, very passionate about, so I feel like that career choice is the best fit for me,” Sahota explained.

As for Smallwood, she will continue her education at Boston College this fall to major in Psychology and eventually get her Master’s in Social Work.

“I want to go into grief counseling, and I want to work somewhere like Jessica's House in my future,” she said. “Doing an internship at Jessica's House and learning the logistics of running a grief support center really heightened my interest of the field.”

Honorees, loved ones and community supporters are invited to attend the SCCW Outstanding Women recognition brunch at 10 a.m. March 25 at the Greens on Tenth event venue in downtown Modesto. The official ceremony purposefully coincides with Women's History Month in March. At the brunch, honorees will be formally recognized while being given the opportunity to share a short acceptance speech. Guests can purchase tickets to the event online at Eventbrite.

For more information on the Stanislaus County Commission for Women and the Outstanding Women awards, including a full list of winners for 2023 and past years, head to www.StanislausWomen.net.