WISE Women of Blair County deserves applause for another successful Tribute ceremony and for the contribution it makes to our community.

The organization, which hosted this year’s annual dinner on Wednesday at the Blair County Convention Center, honored seven women for their contributions that have made our community better.

At a time when it’s easy to get caught up in governmental politics and the rhetoric among leaders who may or may not be making wise decisions, the Tribute ceremony provided a chance to hear about seven women whose interactions with others truly make a difference.

While all seven of the Tribute honorees humbly downplayed their accomplishments, they praised their nominators, including family, friends and colleagues, for support and encouragement of their pursuits.

And because of those interactions and relationships, our community has been beneficiary of Kathrine Muller’s artistic endeavors, a friendly face inside Kelly Irwin Adams’ clothing and gift boutique, Tami Hinish’s theater project involving children with disabilities, Lisa Surkovich’s lifelong teaching endeavors, Zhorea J.I. McAnuff’s pursuit of health equity, Emma Peterman’s devotion as a patient care technician and Janet Pennington’s five decade career of working with thousands of patients attempting to gain or regain their speech.

Those pursuits — and additional accomplishments and endeavors outlined in the WISE Women Tribute dinner booklet — make up a lot of good reasons for living in this community.

The mission of the WISE Women organization, formed years ago as a successor to Altoona YWCA, is to empower women and to encourage acceptance and inclusion of all through collaboration, service and education.

For the job WISE Women has been doing since hosting its first Tribute dinner in 1992, the community should applaud its longtime success.

2026 WISE Women honorees

— Arts and Letters — Kathrine Muller

— Business and Professional — Kelly Irwin Adams

— Community Service Volunteer — Tami M. Hinish

— Education — Lisa Surkovich

— Non-Profit/Government — Zhorea J.I. McAnuff

— Rising Star — Emma Peterman

— Lifetime Achievement — Janet K. Pennington.