Soroptimist of Mount Vernon and Knox County announces Live Your Dream award winners

Soroptimist International of Mount Vernon and Knox County has presented its 2025 Live Your Dream awards to two women, Brianna Williams and Kelley McGruder. The Live Your Dream award provides women who serve as the primary wage earners for their families with a financial award to offset costs associated with attaining higher education.

The first-place award winner is Brianna Williams. Williams works with young adults on career development, as the Emerging Talent Coordinator with Aspyr, the workforce board of Central Ohio. While she is helping these young adults to reach for their dreams, she is doing the same for herself. Williams will complete her associate’s degree in political science at Columbus State Community College later this year and will transfer to John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University, to earn a bachelor’s degree in public management, leadership and policy. Williams is also an amazing mother of two children — one recently diagnosed with type-1 diabetes.

The second place winner is Kelley McGruder. McGruder is a hair stylist who also studies business administration at Columbus State Community College. She is completing her associate’s degree with the goal of continuing at The Ohio State University to complete her bachelor’s degree. McGruder plans to use her degrees to take her business to the next level, so she can also train, recruit, and be a brand ambassador. Besides her focus on working and studying, McGruder is also involved in her church, regularly goes to the gym, and cares for her 18 year old son. He is active in sports, and she never misses one of his events.

The Live Your Dream Awards were presented at the EmpowHER event, sponsored by New Directions, the domestic abuse shelter for Knox County.