After 36 years helping St. Louis students prepare for careers and college, educator and community volunteer Susan Katzman will be recognized this month by the National Council of Jewish Women St. Louis.

Katzman will receive the Hannah G. Solomon Award, the organization’s highest honor, during NCJW’s annual Celebrating Women event on April 27 at Congregation Shaare Emeth. The award recognizes leadership and service that reflect the group’s mission of improving the lives of women, children and families.

Recognizing a career focused on opportunity

During her career with St. Louis Public Schools, Katzman worked to expand career and college readiness opportunities by helping build partnerships between schools and the business community through the district’s Division of Career Education.

Her involvement has also extended across the St. Louis nonprofit and civic landscape. Katzman is a past president of NCJW St. Louis and has held leadership or advisory roles with organizations including St. Louis Community Credit Union, Prosperity Connection, the Michael K. Thomas Scholarship Fund, the Brown School at Washington University and the National Career Academy Coalition.

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She has also focused on developing women leaders, co-founding the CORO Women in Leadership Alumnae network, serving as a leadership trainer and helping create programs through NCJW St. Louis aimed at mentoring and supporting women in their professional growth. Her work also included helping establish the first internship program within St. Louis Public Schools.

Community leaders also to be honored

In addition to Katzman, NCJW St. Louis will recognize several community members with Section Awards:

• Peggy Cohen Voss, Community Impact Award
  • Mitch Baden of Royal Banks of Missouri, Community Partnership Award
  • Lisa Oxenhandler, Emerging Leader Award
  • Randee Schmittdiel, Fritzi Lainoff Advocacy Award
  • Sue Lapp, Leadership Award
  • Barbara Barnholtz, Volunteer Service Award

Organizers say the honorees reflect the organization’s longstanding focus on leadership, advocacy and volunteer service in the St. Louis Jewish community.

Event details

The Celebrating Women event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 27, at Congregation Shaare Emeth, 11645 Ladue Road.

Founded in 1895, NCJW St. Louis operates more than 55 programs and initiatives and works with more than 300 partner agencies focused on social and economic justice issues affecting women, children and families.

For more information about the event, visit NCJWSTL.org.