Zonta Club of Fredericksburg, TX honors 2024 Woman of Achievement Awardees

At a catered dinner on 15 April, the Zonta Club of Fredericksburg, TX, USA, celebrated Laurie Jenschke as its 2024 Woman of Achievement. This prestigious award is given to a "worker bee" or leader who volunteered in the community.

Club President Liz Wunderlich and Zontian JoAnn Krauskopf were on hand for the presentation.

For more than 40 years, Laurie has proven herself as a leader in the community, a visionary, and a nonstop worker bee. She has been an adjunct professor at Texas Lutheran University (TLC) for more than 16 years and holds the title of director of choirs for the TLU Community Music Academy. Through the years, she has worked with local church choirs and held the position of choir director at the Holy Ghost Lutheran Choir for many years. Laurie spent so much of her time and energy being the founder of the Fredericksburg Children's Chorale, Founder of Canto, the Fredericksburg Adult Chorale and the Essence Women's Choir.

"Singing in choirs is one of the best ways for children to develop as musicians," Laurie said. "Choirs help to shape children's aesthetic sensitivity.:

For the past 30 years, Laurie has founded, directed and toured with four children's choir programs in Texas and New York. Laurie is also the principal officer and served as board president for two years on the Hill Country Community Needs Council, which provides short-term assistance to the county's most vulnerable through judicious and compassionate gifts and volunteer talents. She has nonstop energy and opportunities to show off her volunteer efforts and skills throughout the town and the surrounding areas.

Laurie has a major voice in promoting the establishment of the Little Hearts Child Development Center, which is being planned for the community. The center partners with the Hill Country Community Needs Council to address the critical childcare shortage in Fredericksburg and Gillespie County. Laurie is appearing before local organizations to promote the facility's needs and the financial assistance needed for the center's development. Her commitment and leadership have rightfully been recognized with the club's award.