Jesten Peters, president of the Lake City Women’s Aglow Community Lighthouse, was named Columbia County Woman of the Year Wednesday at Lake City Community College.

Peters and five other nominees were recognized at the college’s Women’s History Month celebration at the Barney E. McRae Jr. M.D. Medical Technology Auditorium.

The nominees included Dr. Sheri Carder, LCCC professor of marketing and management and Debbie Tunsil, director of financial aid at LCCC. Jennifer Flinn, chairwoman of the Columbia County Board of County Commissioners, and Narragansett Smith, principal of Niblack Elementary, were also nominated. Finally, Frances Ash, president of the local Florida Association of Community Colleges chapter, was also nominated for the award.

The 2004 recipient of the award, Dr. Athena Randolph, introduced the nominees and presented Peters with her award.

Peters was nominated by her son and said she was “very surprised and honored to receive the award.”

She earned a bachelor’s degree in theology from International Seminary in June 2001 and was ordained in August of that year.

Peters has remained active with Aglow International for the past 22 years, with 14 being in Lake City.

She seeks to break down barriers among women of different faiths by holding the organization’s meetings in different churches.

Her many outreaches include collecting blankets for the homeless, food for soup kitchens and school supplies for needy children. Additionally, she has aided women of domestic violence and has thrown baby showers for the Pregnancy Crisis Center.

Peters remains active at Christ Central Ministries as a singles minister, first touch minister, usher and teacher of Logos College classes in Jacksonville. She has also served as the Ministerial Alliance secretary for the past year.