A Notre Dame High School senior received an award from the Zonta Club of Cape Girardeau Tuesday night in part for her commitment to the advancement of the status of women.

Nicole Passini, 18, of Cape Girardeau, received the organization's Young Woman in Public Affairs award. She plans to attend the University of Missouri at Columbia and pursue a career as a chiropractor.

She is a member of her school's varsity soccer team, the student council, Future Business Leaders of America and the National Honor Society.

Passini also is a member of St. Vincent de Paul church, and she volunteers at the Lutheran Home, Meralac Movables, Maxine's Sharable Wearables and the American Red Cross.

In addition, Passini works with Cape Girardeau's youth summer camps.

"I find it fun and rewarding because the kids are so cute and show so much love in return," she said. "I feel so good that they look up to me."

Passini said she believes it is important that women continue to strive for gender equality.

"We lead by example," she said. "When we are successful, we show our younger sisters the way to success. We must teach and mentor young girls to help prepare them for the future."

The Young Women in Public Affairs award program is meant to encourage women students to enter careers in public affairs, public police and community organizations.

The Zonta Club also presented its Woman of Achievement award to U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, the first woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives by Missouri's Eighth Congressional District.