Oct. 15, 2009 (PR Newswire) -- WEST CHESTER, Ohio, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of women who have overcome obstacles to make a difference in the lives of others, the AK Steel Foundation is underwriting the inaugural Steel Magnolia Awards - honoring eight women who reside in the vicinity of the company's corporate headquarters and plant operations. The awards are worth $1,000 each, and will be presented in the form of a grant made to an eligible nonprofit selected by each recipient.

"The 2009 award recipients are courageous women who, despite personal challenges, continue to make a significant difference in the lives of others," said James L. Wainscott, AK Steel chairman, president and CEO. "Through the company's foundation, we are proud to honor these inspirational women by sponsoring the inaugural Steel Magnolia Awards."

The Steel Magnolia Awards are funded by the AK Steel Foundation and recognize women of all ages who have faced personal adversity and shown strength, courage, compassion and leadership through their work in support of their communities.

The Middletown, Ohio Community Foundation administers the program and accepted nominations for the inaugural awards during the Spring of 2009. Recipients were selected by an independent panel through the Middletown Community Foundation. For additional information about the awards program, contact the Middletown Community Foundation at 513-424-7369.

2009 Steel Magnolia Award Recipients:

    --  Eleanor Berry resides in Ashland, Kentucky.  Her Steel Magnolia Award
will benefit the Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital Foundation.

    --  Etta Caver resides in Fairfield, Ohio.  Her Steel Magnolia Award will
benefit Citizens Against Domestic Violence.

    --  Martha Fitts Clark resides in Owensboro, Kentucky.  Her Steel Magnolia
Award will benefit  Impact 100 Owensboro.

    --  Kimberly Rae Fairchild resides in Mansfield, Ohio.  Her Steel Magnolia
Award will benefit the youth choir of Upward Bound Youth.

    --  Jean Hooper resides in Zanesville, Ohio.  Her Steel Magnolia Award will
benefit the Muskingum County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogy Society.

    --  Shelly Reigle resides in West Lafayette, Ohio.  Her Steel Magnolia Award
will benefit her local American Cancer Society Relay for Life team.

    --  Tammy Robert resides in Middletown, Ohio.  Her Steel Magnolia Award will
benefit Hands and Feet, a home repair project administered by Berachah
Baptist Church for Middletown families in need.

    --  Renee Spohn resides in Butler, Pennsylvania.  Her Steel Magnolia Award
will benefit the Butler County Special Olympics.

About AK Steel

AK Steel produces flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steels, primarily for automotive, appliance, construction and electrical power generation and distribution markets. The company employs about 6,000 men and women in Middletown, Mansfield, Coshocton and Zanesville, Ohio; Butler, Pennsylvania; Ashland, Kentucky; Rockport, Indiana; and its corporate headquarters in West Chester, Ohio. Additional information about AK Steel is available on the company's web site at www.aksteel.com.

AK Tube LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of AK Steel, employs about 250 men and women in plants in Walbridge, Ohio and Columbus, Indiana. AK Tube produces carbon and stainless electric resistance welded (ERW) tubular steel products for truck, automotive and other markets. Additional information about AK Tube LLC is available on its web site at www.aktube.com.

SOURCE AK Steel Foundation