The local chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood awarded its 2020 Program for Continuing Education (PCE) Grant to Nadine Sikora of Houghton. Sikora, a 2019 Michigan Technological University graduate in Sports and Fitness Management, will use the award this fall when she begins the Master’s Degree program in Exercise Science at Northern Michigan University.

Ginny Hemmer, P.E.O treasurer, presented the award to Sikora at a reception Wednesday afternoon at Ray Kestner Waterfront Park. “Nadine has worked hard to develop her passions,” Hemmer said. “Her enthusiasm for exercise and strength training is contagious and her ability to make it accessible for all is impressive.”

Since moving to Houghton in 2017, Sikora has been active in many health sectors. She joined the staff of CrossFit Hakkapelitta and became the Olympic Weightlifting Coach, Head CrossFit trainer and a personal trainer. She established individualized training programs for people of all ages, including many with physical limitations or injuries.

She was a course instructor at Michigan Tech, establishing training programs for student athletes and developing curriculum for her courses. She was an Intramural Assistant, managing administrative tasks for the program. At Finlandia University, Sikora worked with student athletes as an Assistant Strength Coach.

Nadine also founded and is the head coach for Copper Country Strength. This program trains athletes in Olympic Weightlifting and draws on athletes from the UP and Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. Several of her youth are competing at the state level and have won multiple awards. At least one of her athletes is competing at the National level.

Sikora’s goal is to teach at the college level with a focus on strength and conditioning. She was awarded a Graduate Teaching Assistantship at Northern Michigan, and plans to continue her Olympic weightlifting business.

“I want to extend my gratitude to the women of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. I feel incredibly honored to be nominated and ultimately congratulated for all my hard work. I want to thank each and every one of you for your consideration through this process,” Sikora said. “The PCE award is going to greatly impact my life moving forward.”

The PCE awards are intended to provide one-time, need-based grants to women who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States or Canada for use in completing a degree or certification necessary for improving or gaining skills leading to employment. The P.E.O. Sisterhood (Philanthropic Educational Organization) is a women’s organization with a primary focus on providing educational opportunities for women worldwide.