Five Tuscarawas County women have been nominated for the Dennison Depot's 2019 Lucille Nussdorfer Woman of the Year Award. Pictured from left to right are (top) Jerri Middaugh, Jacque Peters, Rose Wanosik; (bottom) Rita McPeak and Angie Thomas. 

DENNISON (WJER) - The Dennison Depot will be naming the Tuscarawas County Woman of the Year for 2019 at a banquet Thursday night. Five finalists are in the running for their contributions to the community.

Former Sugarcreek Mayor Jeri Middaugh is one of them. She’s also been involved with the Swiss Fest board, the county health department board and Salvation Army.

“Well, I was pretty much overwhelmed. I mean, this is a good group of ladies who have been brought to the forefront with this award, and I think I’m in really good company there,” Middaugh says of the nomination.

Jacque Peters of Uhrichsville was nominated for her work with the 4-H, the Dennison Depot’s Women’s Auxiliary and more.

“I’ve never been nominated for something like this before, so I’m not coming in expecting to win. There are some women that have been so much more instrumental in this community than I have, but I am completely honored and if I won, it would be a privilege,” Peters says.

Rita McPeak splits her time between New York City and Uhrichsville. She’s helped revitalize downtown Uhrichsville, and says volunteering is something that doesn’t cost anything to do.

“There were only so many women selected each year for this award, but there are a lot of people in the community who are unhappy about something, and I think a real lesson here is you can sit at home and complain, or you can be part of the solution,” she says.

Also nominated are Angie Thomas of Bolivar and Rose Wanosik of Uhrichsville. Thomas serves on the Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital Auxiliary Board, volunteers as a reading tutor, and more, while Wanosik works with the Dennison Depot Board of Directors, and efforts including Christmas in the Park and the Blessings in a Backpack program.

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