Natalie Pigg, a local attorney, recently was named the Jefferson College Faculty Senate 2023 Alumna of the Year Award.
“I feel very privileged,” said Pigg, 35, of Festus. “I am truly humbled to be given the award.”
Pigg is an associate attorney with the Thurman Law Firm in Hillsboro, working in its family law division. She also is the Crystal City Municipal Court prosecuting attorney.
She received the award May 4 in a ceremony at the Field House on the college’s Hillsboro campus.
Pigg graduated with an associate degree from Jefferson College in 2007. She went on to receive a bachelor’s degree from Webster University in 2009 and a law degree from Western Michigan University’s Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2015. She is president of the Jefferson County Bar Association and secretary for the Jefferson County Women’s Bar Association.
She is a board member for A Fighting Chance Foundation and the Mary Daniels Foundation and a member of PEO, an organization focused on providing educational opportunities to female students.
“Jefferson College was my first glimpse into academic freedom,” said Pigg, who grew up in De Soto. “I was finally able to explore beyond the areas that had always been funneled to me up to that point.
“While at Jefferson College, I spent a semester working on the Harbinger school newspaper and that interest in journalism turned me to the bigger world of politics and the law. I credit Professor Dedric Lee for that turn, which led me to get my bachelor’s in political science and, eventually, my law degree.”
Pigg said Jefferson College also helped her enlarge her group of friends.
“I think I recognize it more now, but getting to meet other people from around Jefferson County was a benefit of going to Jefferson College,” she said. “I definitely expanded my social circle. I still have friends I met at Jefferson College.”
Pigg said a friend nominated her for the award.
“Alexis Lowery nominated me, and she made reference to an organization I work with, A Fighting Chance Foundation,” Pigg said. “We work on connecting the community with mental health resources and on educating on suicide prevention.”
Pigg said she has personal reasons for working with A Fighting Chance Foundation.
“I became involved with this group because I lost my dad to suicide when I was 13,” she said.
“Through this group, I have taken the opportunity to help educate the community. I also work with my sister, Laura Williams, to host a cornhole tournament that will take place Oct. 7 (at a site to be determined). We host it in honor of our father, Steven Pigg. It will be our third event. The money raised goes to the foundation.”
Roger Barrentine, the college’s director of marketing and public relations, said Pigg was a good choice for the Alumna of the Year.
“Natalie’s ambition and success exemplify the traits that the Faculty Senate looks for when choosing each Alumnus of the Year honoree,” he said. “Her academic and professional accomplishments, plus community service involvement, all underscore her extraordinary character. The college is extremely proud to have played a significant role in her career trajectory.”
Pigg said she and her husband, Corey Dodson, live in Festus with their three cats.
“We enjoy traveling and dining out together,” she said.
Pigg said she is eager to speak to students about their educational careers or to people seeking mental health resources.
“I look forward to any opportunity they give to me to work with the college and with any students who want to know more about pursuing a career in the law or even getting them more information on the mental health community locally.”
For more information about A Fighting Chance Foundation, go to the organization’s Facebook page or visit afightingchancefoundation.net.