TUPELO - A student who can't stop volunteering, a cook who ministers to the dying and a health care leader were honored for their contributions Tuesday.

Lindsey Foley of Blue Springs, Lenton Smith of Tupelo and Laura McClung of Tishomingo received the regional Spirit of Women Awards for their work. The women now will be considered for national Spirit of Women awards.

"These awards honor ordinary women who do extraordinary things," said Liz Dawson, director of North Mississippi Medical Center Community Health and person who oversees the NMMC Spirit of Women Initiative.

Foley, 18, a New Albany High School senior who has logged more than 500 volunteer hours over the past two years, received the Young Person Role Model Award.

She helped organized more than 1,000 shoe boxes filled with gifts for Operation Christmas Child and has received a presidential volunteer award.

"We do a lot of community service through the church," said Foley, who plans to study nursing at the University of Mississippi. "That's what keeps me going."

Smith, who serves as the cook and a volunteer chaplain at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo, received the community hero award. Her nomination form described her as the heart of the hospice house.

"Our vision each day is to ascribe to be the hands and feet of Jesus," said Smith, who is inspired by her co-workers.

McClung, who serves as the director of quality at North Mississippi Medical Center-Iuka, received the health care hero. As part of her job, she juggles seven other significant roles, including Joint Commission accreditation, patient satisfaction, infection control and corporate compliance.

"The team effort at the hospital is tremendous," McClung said. "Without them, it would be impossible."

Contact Michaela Gibson Morris at (662) 678-1599 or michaela.morris@djournal.com.