Miranda Uriell

Miranda Uriell, a member of the Nelson County 4-H in Lakota, implemented a self-protection program for nearly 100 women in her community following the abduction and murder of a college student in 2003. When Miranda heard that a young woman had been kidnapped from the parking lot of a nearby shopping mall, she realized that she had been parked in the same lot and had left just minutes prior to the young lady's abduction. It could have been her or one of her friends.

Miranda wanted to do something to help, but since she was too young to assist in the search for the missing student, she decided to help women learn how to protect themselves. She obtained donations and a grant to fund a self-defense course, hired an instructor, rented a training site, sent publicity articles to local newspapers and churches, and handled the registration process. Participants not only learned new skills, but also received pepper spray and an informational pamphlet developed by Miranda.

The course was so successful that Miranda offered it again the following year, and a few months later held a training course for junior high school girls. She also conducted a workshop for 150 FCCLA members and advisors on how to sponsor the course in their communities, and distributed her self-protection pamphlets to area clinics, public libraries, and schools.