The Women’s Advocacy Council Thursday honored six local females for their work in the community and excellence as writers.

The awards reception held in Tarble Arts Center Thursday night, recognized female Eastern students and Charleston residents as part of the council’s celebration of Women’s History Month.

Melissa Fadul, an English major accepted the graduate student award and Rachel Heicher, an English major, accepted the undergraduate award. Caitlin Ahrens, a philosophy major, walked away with honorable mention.

The winners of the writing awards submitted essays to Eastern’s English department, which formed a panel to judge the writing. The essays focused on the feminist perspective of certain issues.

“The quality of the essays we’ve received were incredible,” said Fern Kory, an English professor who presented the awards.

Kristy Poteete, Jonelle DePetro and Patsy “Pat” Black were the winners of the Women of Achievement awards.

Each of the women who received the Women of Achievement award were involved actively in the community through volunteer work.

Poteete traveled to South America, taught English as a second language to children in Mexico, and was a bilingual secretary. Poteete, a political science major, is a member of Sigma Delta Pi, a Spanish sorority. She plans on attending graduate school.

DePetro is involved in the Eastern community. She is actively involved in the Women’s Advocacy Council and is a former coordinator of the Living History Performance.

Black traveled abroad to Japan and other countries. She won the Volunteer Service Award for her involvement in the Special Olympics. Black is also a Girl Scout leader and serves on the Coles County Board. In addition, she volunteers at soup kitchens.

Also recognized in this reception was the Living History Performance, a group of university women who portray influential females in America’s history.