Four southern Kentucky women were recognized for their efforts in community service this morning at the annual Jefferson Awards program, sponsored by the Daily News and WBKO.Lee Alcott, Norma Luke, Julie Ann Carr Peterson and Alice Gatewood Waddell were chosen as recipients of this years awards, which are based on nominations from citizens in the region. The ceremony included speeches by former WBKO General Manager Clyde Payne and Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge Joseph Huddleston, both of whom filled in for Western Kentucky University football coach David Elson. Elson was forced to leave the event because his wife was involved in a car accident. She was unhurt. The Jefferson Awards are an opportunity to recognize people for giving of themselves without regard to any eventual compensation, Huddleston said. As a judge, I have occasion to see some of the worst elements of our society, he said. So its very refreshing to come here and see people recognized for giving of their time and talents to help others. Alcott, who works as executive director for Barren River Area Safe Space, is also president of the Kentucky Domestic Violence Association and is recognized around the state for her commitment to finding reasonable solutions for abuse-free living. She also works with schools, Family Court, law enforcement agencies and others to help victims of domestic violence through the 10 counties of the Barren River Area Development District. Alcott said she was humbled at being selected for the honor. I appreciate the people who nominated me for this, she said. But this is not only an award for me, but for the women I serve and who also struggle every day against domestic violence. Luke was honored for her work as a tutor with the Barren County Basic Adult Education program, in which she participated for more than 15 years. In 2002, she began another program, Willing Hearts and Hands, a group of women who knit and crochet clothing and afghans for victims of domestic violence. Luke said she became interested in working with victims of domestic violence after taking a course at Western under Alcotts instruction. So I tried to volunteer at a lot of the groups around here, but none of them took me seriously; theyd say they would call but never did, she said. So I decided Id just start my own. Willing Hearts and Hands has grown from its five original members to a current count of 27 and has given time and thousands of dollars worth of materials to help battered women in the region, Luke said. Luke said she was nervous when the ceremony began this morning. Im really overwhelmed, she said. I feel like average people like me dont get awards like this very often. Peterson, the third winner of this years awards, was honored for her work first as a volunteer puppeteer for Kids On The Block and later for starting the New Beginnings Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program, which offers therapy for people with special needs. Peterson began the program in 1995, doing research on the therapy applications, acquiring and training horses, and recruiting volunteers. She said she was honored by the award but wished that some of the other people who help with her program could have received the same recognition. Its not just me who made this happen, she said. It takes many volunteers to make it work, not just one person. The final award winner, Waddell, was recognized for her work as an artist and as program coordinator for the Kentucky Minority AIDS Program of The Lincoln Foundation. The program helps educate minority students across the state about disease prevention, particularly preventing the spread of the AIDS virus. She also does extensive work to encourage young people to participate in the arts. Im excited, Waddell said after receiving her award. But its hard to feel like you deserve it when you know so many other people who do so much for the community. A special half-hour program highlighting the four 2003 Jefferson Awards winners titled Profiles in Giving XIV will air tonight at 6:30 p.m. on WBKO. The program is sponsored by Thornton Furniture. There also is a full-page advertisement in todays Daily News featuring the award winners.