Carson mom wins national honor

Carol Scott was a bit concerned when she received a little green card in her mail informing her there was a certified letter for her at the Carson City Post Office. What confused her though, was the fact the letter was from Glamour magazine.

"I don't even get Glamour. But you always get nervous when you get those things," said Scott. "You never know what it's going to be."

So she asked her husband Jeffrey if he knew what it was for. Jeffrey suggested she call their oldest daughter Tara (Scott-Burke), who lives in Portland, Maine.

"No one would tell me what was going on and I couldn't get the letter until Monday. I got the certified notice on Friday.

"But when I did, and I opened it up and read it, I said 'Wow. Oh my God.' I was just so surprised."

Tara, 24, had entered her mother in the Cover Girl "Women at their Best" contest. Scott was a regional winner and will receive a $500 award Thursday, from Carson City's Wal-Mart manager. Wal-Mart was a co-sponsor of the contest.

The award was established to recognize and appreciate the contributions of women throughout the United States. Tara wrote a 200-word essay describing community, career and personal accomplishments that illustrate the nominee's devotion to being her best and how she has been an inspiration to others.

"Tara's the kind of person that does this stuff - enters contest. And she wins too. But she'll be the first one to tell you she's not a writer. She was probably more surprised that I was to find out that I won. It's nice she stopped to write about... her mother."

Tara's essay touched upon Scott's work at the Brewery Arts Center, her development of the children's theater program, her dedication to teaching AIDS awareness and education to middle and high school students, and making her family a priority in her life.

With more than 500 entries received, Scott was selected as a regional winner. The grand prize, awarded to five from amongst the regional winners, was a trip for two to New York.

"That was Tara's goal for entering. Then we both could both meet there for Thanksgiving. But instead, I'll use the $500 to fly her to Baltimore, Md., where we'll still meet for Thanksgiving, only at her grandmother's house. It will still work out very well."