SHAWNEE, Ohio (AVC News) — Guernsey County resident Stephanie Laube was among seven Appalachian Ohioans honored with 2026 Jenco Awards during an Oct. 8 ceremony at the Tecumseh Theater.
The awards recognize individuals across Appalachian Ohio’s 32 counties for community service performed outside their paid positions. The recipients are nominated by community members for their efforts to improve the lives of others.
The other 2026 recipients were Sarah Adkins of Athens County, Lisa Carroll of Gallia County, Perry County Probate-Juvenile Court Judge Luann Cooperrider, and Tecumseh Theater restoration advocates Sandra Landis, Skip Ricketts and John Winnenberg.
Adkins founded Rising Suns Non-Profit Pharmacy, which provided free medications to uninsured and underinsured residents across seven counties. Carroll founded God’s Hands At Work, an all-volunteer nonprofit serving several southeastern Ohio counties. Cooperrider was honored for decades of community service beyond her judicial role, including efforts involving legal assistance, at-risk youth and housing. Landis, Ricketts and Winnenberg were recognized for their work restoring the historic Tecumseh Theater, which celebrated its reopening in June 2026.
Laube was recognized for two decades of work helping individuals and families transition from homelessness and uncertainty to safe, stable housing.
While working professionally with children and families in Guernsey County, Laube identified safe housing as a common need among those she served. That experience led her to co-found the Samaritan Center of Guernsey County, an all-volunteer nonprofit that operates multiple transitional homes.
The organization provides residents with safe places to live and individualized case management to help them address barriers to permanent housing. Laube now serves as the organization’s board president while leading its case management and fundraising efforts. She also helps secure resources for the transitional homes and emergency assistance for families at risk of homelessness.
This year’s ceremony marked 15 years of partnership between the Jenco Foundation and the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, as well as more than 100 people honored through the regional awards program.
The awards honor the legacy of Father Lawrence Martin Jenco, a Roman Catholic priest who dedicated his life to serving others. Jenco was kidnapped in 1985 while serving as director of Catholic Relief Services in Lebanon and spent 19 months in captivity. Journalist Terry Anderson, who was held captive alongside Jenco, founded the Jenco Foundation in 2001 to honor his friend, who died in 1996.
The Jenco Foundation joined the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio as an endowment in 2011 to preserve Jenco’s legacy.
For more information about the Jenco Awards and the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, visit AppalachianOhio.org, email info@ffao.org or call 740-753-1111.
Last Updated on October 9, 2026 by AVC News
