Norene Smith receives "Outstanding Woman in Leadership" Award - WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |

LA CROSSE, Wisconsin (WXOW) -- The Women's Fund of Greater La Crosse has named its newest "Outstanding Woman in Leadership."

Norene Smith was recognized with the honor June 26.

Smith, a retired administrator at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, has served as a role model for women for decades.

Her efforts include helping create UW-L's Organization for Campus Women scholarship, a separate scholarship for female physical education majors, and she donates regularly to the Women's Fund of Greater La Crosse.

Smith has seen a lot of changes in the workforce for women throughout her career, and she has advice for young women now.

"I would say, get as much education as you can and want to, that's important...don't do it because of somebody else...and have an equal number of men friends as women friends," Smith said.

Smith's award includes a $1,000 honorarium, half of which may be used for continuing education and half of which is given to a nonprofit organization of her choosing.