Congratulations To Our Two 2024 Luminary Award Recipients!
Congratulations to all of our nominee finalists for the Shining Star and Visionary Awards for our annual Luminary Awards Luncheon held on September 5, 2024! We honored nine individuals nominated by their peers because of their excellence in their work environment and the community.
This year’s Shining Star Award nominees were:
Amanda Dunn, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region
Jacquie Hower, Zimmerman’s Automotive Tire Pros
Michelle Loomis, UPMC Pinnacle Foundation
Jennifer Magaro, Highmark Inc. (enGen)
Carleigh Williams, A.P. Williams – Mainline Excavating
This year’s Visionary Award nominees were:
Karyn L. Reber-Hummer, Nothing Bundt Cakes – Camp Hill
Bobbie L. Van Buskirk, A.P. Williams
Shelly Wendeln, SPAtacular Escapes
Joanna Dennstaedt, Radiant Hope
Voted on in a blind review process by our previous Luminary Award recipients, Michelle Loomis of UPMC Pinnacle Foundation was the recipient of the Shining Star Award and Joanna Dennstaedt of Radiant Hope received the Visionary Award. Community CARES and Radiant Hope were the two nonprofits chosen by the recipients to receive a portion of the proceeds from the event.
Shining Star Award Recipient
Michelle Loomis of UPMC Pinnacle Foundation
Michelle has been a Major Gifts Officer with UPMC Pinnacle Foundation since 2019. The UPMC Pinnacle Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that coordinates charitable giving to support community benefit and education programs, the needs of seven hospitals, and resources that improve access to and quality of care throughout UPMC in Central Pa. In her role Michelle works to support the oncology and women’s service lines as well as UPMC Carlisle. Michelle thoroughly enjoys raising funds to support the amazing work of UPMC and the community. Michelle’s favorite part of her job is showing a donor how their gift can truly impact someone’s life, turning it into Life Changing Generosity. Michelle also serves as co-chair for the Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce EPIC Committee and the Vice-Chair for Leadership Cumberland’s Development Committee. In addition to her committee work, Michelle also serves as a vocalist for her church worship team and on the planning team for the Great Commission 5k. When she’s not working or volunteering, you’ll find Michelle spending time with her husband Scott and two daughters, Presley and Sydney.
Visionary Award Recipient
Joanna Dennstaedt of Radiant Hope
Joanna is the Founder and Executive Director of Radiant Hope, a non profit organization that is supporting and encouraging lives impacted by cancer, she has chosen to allow the pain she has experienced to be the catalyst for the calling to which she is living out. Joanna is passionate about people, relationships, loving others, and walking through pain and suffering with those hurting. Finding her calling has been a beautiful and captivating story of walking through suffering. Visionary and leader by nature, Joanna has always thrived in a team environment where she can be part of encouraging, equipping, and shepherding others as they bring their own dreams to life. Her enthusiasm is contagious and she loves to see others reach personal goals and empower them in their life journey.
Coaching has been a passion of Joanna’s since being an athlete all of her life. She has coached women, discipled women, and led women for over 20 years. After coaching college lacrosse she is currently the varsity girls lacrosse coach at a Local High School. Whether with her leadership team at Radiant Hope or the many young women in her life she is often surrounded by others and encouraging and cheering them on in life. Joanna has dedicated her life to service and treasures the days she has been given with purpose and passion. Outside of Radiant Hope, volunteering, or coaching Joanna is married to Kevin and also raising her four precious kiddos. Joanna loves spending time with her large family that is spread out all over the United States. In her free time you would find her with her friends, reading, exercising, or drinking coffee.
Thank you to our generous sponsors for making this event possible:
In addition, we would like to thank our photographer: Ashley K Photography who took the photos of the event and to Alicia Richards of abc27 for emceeing the event.
Keep an eye out for when we open the 2025 Luminary Award Nominations in the Spring of 2025!