Cultural Kudos: The Missouri History Museum made news in the nation’s capital. First Lady Michelle Obama recently presented museum representatives with the National Arts and Humanities Youth Programs Award for its Teens Make History program, which encourages local teens to develop professional skills and explore history. The Contemporary Art Museum also is creating headlines. It received an $84,000 grant from the Regional Arts Commission Innovation Fund to develop a new series of landscape architecture installations in its courtyard.
Pictured above: Michelle Obama, student Amesha Payne and Elizabeth Pickard of the Missouri History Museum
Ann Kiburz is one of three award recipients recognized for their volunteer work on behalf of the Starkloff Disability Institute, a local nonprofit dedicated to helping those with disabilities become equal, fully integrated members of society. Kiburz serves as senior editor of the SDI Connections newsletter, which is distributed monthly to 3,500 supporters. She was honored for her enthusiasm and years of commitment at the organization’s holiday luncheon. Also recognized were Bill Durham and Steve Degnan.
Community volunteer Alice Handelman and daughter Marjorie Handelman, national director of sales for Eugenia Kim hats welcomed eager buyers at Neiman Marcus Plaza Frontenac for one of the most successful one-day hat trunk shows in the history of the company.
Dr. Jay Pepose of the Pepose Vision Institute in Chesterfield has received the AcuFocus Innovator’s Award for his contributions to the advancement of the KAMRA inlay, the world’s leading corneal inlay for treatment of presbyopia, an age-related condition that causes farsightedness.
Diane Compardo, a principal financial adviser with The Compardo Team at Moneta Group, is making history. Financial Times, one of the world’s leading business news organizations, has named her to its inaugural list of Top 100 Women Financial Advisers. Compardo, the only woman named from the state of Missouri, earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in accounting from Southern Illinois University and joined Moneta Group in 1997.
