Mother of six receives shooting star award at LIVE UNITED awards

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The LIVE UNITED awards took place Thursday night in Bowling Green.

The event was to recognize 53 organizations and individuals for giving back to those in need.

The President and CEO for United Way Debbie Hills coined last night’s event a celebration of outstanding efforts.

A few of the companies that received awards are Fruit of the Loom, Logan Aluminum, and Trace Die Cast.

Trace Die Cast earned the premier award of the year, the Live United award.

The award is for their increased giving and exceptional volunteer participation, among other things.

The final award of the night, the shooting star award, was presented to Kiosha Owens.

Owens is a mother of six who dropped out of school at 15…but has worked hard ever since.

She recently passed the G.E.D. exam on the first try and enrolled in Southern Kentucky Community Technical College.

Owens credits the foundry preschool for not only her growth as an adult but for helping two of her children be kindergarten ready.

United Way’s Big Bold Goal.

Owens, who in recent months found new housing through BRASS, wants to be an example her daughter can follow.

A shooting star, Owens hopes her story encourages others to shine brightly in their own lives and to never burn out.

Owens will begin attending classes at SKYCTC in the spring.

She will return to work part-time at the Foundry in a substitute capacity.

The three finalists for the Live United award were Logan Aluminum, The Murphy Construction Group, and Trace Die Cast.