At an awards banquet last Friday at the Homer Elks Lodge, South Peninsula Haven House honored four people.

“We are so honored to celebrate some of the most devoted, inspiring and passionate leaders in our community,” said Jessica Lawmaster, Haven House executive director. 

Receiving awards were:

• Woman of Distinction, Martie Krohn. After raising two biological sons, Andy and Josh, Krohn expanded her family by taking in a new group of young men and women, two of whom she has adopted and two more she is in the process of adopting.

• Woman of Wisdom, Mary Lou Kelsey. Calling herself “hopelessly Midwestern,” Kelsey grew up in Lakewood, Ohio. She has bachelor’s and master’s
degrees in nursing and is a certified
nurse-midwife. A Homer resident since 1981, she has worked at the Homer Medical Clinic to provide a full-scope midwifery service.

• Young Woman of Distinction, Zoe Story. A Homer High School senior, Story has grown up in Homer. For the past two years she has worked for the Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic and the R.E.C. Room as a peer health educator with the Promoting Health Among Teens, or PHAT, program. 

• Hero of the Heart, Doug Koester: Koester grew up near Chicago. He served in the Peace Corps in Chad, Africa, and came to Alaska after his service. Koester works at the R.E.C. Room coordinating the PHAT program.