Federal judge tells 27 senior girls at YWCA event to dream big

BOARDMAN

For Karen Kocanjer-Hinkson, the seeds of leadership that continue to sprout were planted during her childhood.

“My younger brother has cerebral palsy,” the Campbell Memorial High School senior said. “I have a soft spot for people with disabilities and illnesses.

“I love helping people; I’m a big people person.”

That goes a long way toward explaining her main desire after high school to spend two years at Youngstown State University studying to be a certified occupational therapy assistant. Afterward, Kocanjer-Hinkson plans to attend Kent State University to become an occupational therapist, she explained.

For her academic, leadership and other achievements, Kocanjer-Hinkson was one of 27 area high school seniors who received awards during the YWCA’S 20th annual Young Women with Bright Futures banquet Saturday at the Holiday Inn, 7410 South Ave.

The event’s main sponsors were The Vindicator, State Farm Insurance, Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley and the Thomases Endowment Fund of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation.

The students were selected largely because of their academic performance, creativity, leadership abilities and volunteerism, organizers said.

The event’s keynote speaker was U.S. District Judge Benita Y. Pearson of the Northern District of Ohio, who advised the students to use their gifts and talents and not be afraid to challenge themselves in college.

Pearson told the audience she had wanted to be a federal judge since age 8, despite having come from a humble background. But she took others’ advice and followed her dream, an approach the award recipients should strive to do, she said.

For the complete story, read Sunday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.