Awards program celebrates those who go above and beyond in service to others
NELSONVILLE, Ohio – Amy Hursey, a Noble County native who continues to volunteer locally, is one of four Appalachian Ohioans selected as 2025 Jenco Award recipients, honoring their selfless commitment to serving others and their communities.
Presented by the Jenco Foundation in partnership with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO), the Jenco Awards celebrate individuals across the 32-county region who have performed noteworthy community service outside their paid positions. Jenco Award recipients exemplify the difference everyday people can make when they give their time, talent and passion to serve their neighbors and communities.
“Each of these individuals embodies the spirit of servant leadership,” said Sharon Hatfield, Jenco Foundation committee member. “Their unwavering dedication to the well-being of others is strengthening our communities and calling others to lives of kindness and purpose.”
A resident of Roseville who continues to give back to her native Noble County, Hursey is a steadfast volunteer whose impact spans two Appalachian Ohio counties, the greater Appalachian region and beyond.
In Noble County, Hursey serves in several capacities at Faith Baptist Church in Belle Valley, including:
- Participating in the sewing ministry, through which she provides “Son-Shine Baskets” to individuals battling illness or in need of cheering up
- Organizing back-to-school blessings, a program that provides care packages for the teacher breakrooms in two Noble County school districts
- Preparing countless meals for new mothers, the sick and those receiving medical treatment
- Creating pantry meal kits for those in need and organizing “cooking days” for congregants to prepare freezer meals for their families
Hursey also leads the Celebrate Recovery ministry, expanding it to a second location in Noble County. As part of the Celebrate Recovery ministry, she serves on the Noble County CARES Coalition.
In Muskingum County, Hursey contributes to Bethel Mission, supporting youth and families and serving as treasurer; Soroptimist International of Zanesville, empowering women and girls through economic and educational opportunities and serving as District 4 secretary of the Midwestern Region; and 100 Women Who Care, investing in local nonprofits.
In addition to serving local organizations, Hursey has supported disaster relief efforts in other Appalachian states and is a citizen archivist with the National Archives, volunteering to transcribe historical documents to make them more accessible to the public.
The Jenco Foundation and the Jenco Awards uphold the legacy of Father Lawrence Martin Jenco, a Roman Catholic priest who dedicated his life to serving others. In 1985, Father Jenco was kidnapped while serving as director of Catholic Relief Services in Lebanon and spent 19 months in captivity. Even in confinement, Father Jenco continued to serve, providing a listening ear for other detainees, including journalist Terry Anderson.
Anderson, who passed away in 2024, founded the Jenco Foundation in 2001 to honor the legacy of his friend, who died in 1996. The Jenco Foundation joined FAO as an endowment in 2011, ensuring that Father Jenco’s legacy would live on in perpetuity. Since 2002, Jenco Awards have been presented to more than 90 individuals who, like Father Jenco, give of themselves and inspire others to serve their communities.
All Jenco Award recipients are nominated by their fellow community members. The other 2025 Jenco Award recipients are Amanda Cleary of Lawrence County, Stephanie Rife of Meigs County and Shannon Stewart of Athens County.
For more information about the Jenco Foundation, the Jenco Awards, FAO and how you can make a difference in your community, visit www.AppalachianOhio.org, email info@ffao.org or call 740.753.1111.