Anitra Warrior, the 2021 Woman of the Year, speaks to those in attendance at Tuesday's Inspire Awards luncheon.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
The Inspire Awards are presented by the Lincoln Journal Star in partnership with Union Bank & Trust and a number of other sponsors. Tuesday's awards were presented at the Embassy Suites.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Deanna Walz of the Lincoln Journal Star was the emcee on Tuesday at the annual Inspire Awards.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Susan Fritz, a retired University of Nebraska administrator, speaks at Tuesday's Inspire Awards luncheon.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Aakriti Agrawal of Ameritas speaks as Founders Award winner for her work with Girls Code Lincoln.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Lincoln Journal Star publisher and president Ava Thomas (right) hugs Mayor Leirion Gaylord Baird after her speech at Tuesday's annual Inspire Awards luncheon.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Karen Griffin of Olsson, the Inspire Awards winner for Excellence in Philanthropy, speaks after receiving her award at Tuesday's luncheon.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Michaella Kumke, director of the Food Bank of Lincoln, reacts to the comment, "she's such a good egg," from one of her nominators during Tuesday's annual Inspire Awards luncheon.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Young Leaders Award winner Batool Ibrahim, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln student, speaks to those in attendance at Tuesday's Inspire Awards luncheon.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Judith Burnfield, the Inspire Awards winner for Excellence in Health Care, speaks at Tuesday's awards luncheon.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird addresses those in attendance at Tuesday's Inspire Awards luncheon.
Anitra Warrior, owner of Morningstar Counseling, has been honored as Woman of the Year at the annual Inspire — Celebrating Women's Leadership Awards.
Warrior, a member of the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma, has a Ph.D. in counseling psychology. She started Morningstar more than a decade ago after graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The firm serves people of all backgrounds but has a particular focus on Native people and partners with the Santee Sioux Nation and Walthill Public Schools, among other organizations. It has now expanded to nine locations and serves people throughout Nebraska through in-person and telehealth appointments.
Warrior said she was "truly humbled" to receive the award, which she dedicated to the mostly female staff at Morningstar.
"I truly believe that empowered women empower women," she said.
The Inspire Awards are presented by the Lincoln Journal Star in partnership with Union Bank & Trust and a number of other sponsors. Tuesday's awards were presented at the Embassy Suites.
The Inspire Awards are presented by the Lincoln Journal Star in partnership with Union Bank & Trust and a number of other sponsors. Tuesday's awards were presented at the Embassy Suites.
Lincoln Journal Star publisher and president Ava Thomas (right) hugs Mayor Leirion Gaylord Baird after her speech at Tuesday's annual Inspire Awards luncheon.
Michaella Kumke, director of the Food Bank of Lincoln, reacts to the comment, "she's such a good egg," from one of her nominators during Tuesday's annual Inspire Awards luncheon.
Young Leaders Award winner Batool Ibrahim, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln student, speaks to those in attendance at Tuesday's Inspire Awards luncheon.
Nebraska Extension's Brie Frickenstein (center) talks with Erika Casarin of Ameritas, Aakriti Agrawal of Ameritas and University of Nebraska College of Law's Elsbeth Magilton (left to right) at Tuesday's Inspire Awards luncheon.
Doris Robertson of Union Bank & Trust (left) presents a check to Inspire Scholarship winners Deseree Chavez and Andrea Orozco-Lopez at Tuesday's Inspire Awards luncheon.
Photos: Take in the sights from Tuesday's Inspire Awards
The annual Inspire Awards luncheon was held at the Embassy Suites in Lincoln and this year's awards were handed out on Tuesday. Journal photos by Francis GardlerÂ
Deanna Walz of the Lincoln Journal Star was the emcee on Tuesday at the annual Inspire Awards.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
The Inspire Awards are presented by the Lincoln Journal Star in partnership with Union Bank & Trust and a number of other sponsors. Tuesday's awards were presented at the Embassy Suites.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Susan Fritz, a retired University of Nebraska administrator, speaks at Tuesday's Inspire Awards luncheon.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Anitra Warrior, the 2021 Woman of the Year, speaks to those in attendance at Tuesday's Inspire Awards luncheon.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Aakriti Agrawal of Ameritas speaks as Founders Award winner for her work with Girls Code Lincoln.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Lincoln Journal Star publisher and president Ava Thomas (right) hugs Mayor Leirion Gaylord Baird after her speech at Tuesday's annual Inspire Awards luncheon.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Attendees to the annual Inspire Awards luncheon watch a video presentation on Tuesday at the Embassy Suites.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Karen Griffin of Olsson, the Inspire Awards winner for Excellence in Philanthropy, speaks after receiving her award at Tuesday's luncheon.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Michaella Kumke, director of the Food Bank of Lincoln, reacts to the comment, "she's such a good egg," from one of her nominators during Tuesday's annual Inspire Awards luncheon.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Young Leaders Award winner Batool Ibrahim, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln student, speaks to those in attendance at Tuesday's Inspire Awards luncheon.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Judith Burnfield, the Inspire Awards winner for Excellence in Health Care, speaks at Tuesday's awards luncheon.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird addresses those in attendance at Tuesday's Inspire Awards luncheon.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Nebraska Extension's Brie Frickenstein (center) talks with Erika Casarin of Ameritas, Aakriti Agrawal of Ameritas and University of Nebraska College of Law's Elsbeth Magilton (left to right) at Tuesday's Inspire Awards luncheon.
MARK SCHWANINGER, JOURNAL STAR
Saphan's Brooke Mullen, Christine Weeks of Eleanor Creative and Michelle Grummert (left to right) chat at Tuesday's Inspire Awards luncheon.
MARK SCHWANINGER, JOURNAL STAR
Doris Robertson of Union Bank & Trust (left) presents a check to Inspire Scholarship winners Deseree Chavez and Andrea Orozco-Lopez at Tuesday's Inspire Awards luncheon.
MARK SCHWANINGER, JOURNAL STAR
Lynn Roper of Merrill Lynch, Excellence in Business-Large award winner, speaks at Tuesday's Inspire Awards luncheon.
The Inspire Awards are presented by the Lincoln Journal Star in partnership with Union Bank & Trust and a number of other sponsors. Tuesday's awards were presented at the Embassy Suites.
Lincoln Journal Star publisher and president Ava Thomas (right) hugs Mayor Leirion Gaylord Baird after her speech at Tuesday's annual Inspire Awards luncheon.
Michaella Kumke, director of the Food Bank of Lincoln, reacts to the comment, "she's such a good egg," from one of her nominators during Tuesday's annual Inspire Awards luncheon.
Young Leaders Award winner Batool Ibrahim, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln student, speaks to those in attendance at Tuesday's Inspire Awards luncheon.