The Kappa Rho Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated presented its annual “Local Citizen of the Year Award” to two recipients for their outstanding contributions to their communities and churches. The awards were presented to Catherine Wilkinson and Elvira Ford, both retired educators.

Wilkinson was employed by the Amelia County Public School System for over 40 years serving from classroom teacher to middle school principal. She has served on the local school board as a member and chairman, and a member of the Southside Regional Governor’s School Board. She is also a community activist for the Amelia Retired Teachers Association.

Other community service activities Wilkinson participated in are the Cancer Relay for Life, the NAACP, the Amelia County Sunday School Union, and the Virginia School Board Association.

As a member of the Union Branch Baptist Church in Amelia, Wilkinson served as the Director of Christian Education, President of the Senior Missionary Circle and teacher of Bible Study and Sunday School.

Ford is a retired educator of over 35 years from the Amelia County Public School System. She has served as a teacher to Dean of Students and has had extensive involvement in the Special Education Program, Speech Pathology and Staff Pedagogy.

Ford is a life member of the Virginia Education Association, the National Education Association, the NAACP; member of the Nottoway County Public Schools Advisory Committee; the Nottoway Civic League, an active Alms House participant, and a dedicated member of the Kappa Rho Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

As an active member of Macedonia Baptist Church, Ford has served as Sunday School Superintendent, Deaconess, Youth Advisor, Pianist, Missionary Member, Executive Board Member, Pastor’s Aide Member and executive member of the Nottoway Sunday School Union.