YWCA Women of Excellence
About the Award
The YWCA of Lubbock proudly counts Women of Excellence as one of its annual projects, recognizing and honoring women in our community who have achieved excellence in their careers or professions and whose contributions to business, industry, organizations, and the community are crucial to the success of the same.
Since 1989, Women of Excellence award recipients have been inspiring others in Lubbock not only with their professional achievements but also with the work they do for others. By promoting women as leaders in Lubbock, the YWCA strives to empower women and their families in order to establish strong role models for future generations of young women.
Academy of Recipients
By Award Years
1989
Marilyn Jantz Dickey
Government & Human Services
Kamie Ethridge
Sports/Special Award
Janeen Drew Gilliam
Arts & Culture
Elizabeth G. “Bess” Haley, Ph.D
Education & Religion
Yumi Christina Koh
Youth Leadership
Teddy L. Langford, R.N., Ph.D., C.N.A.A.
Science & Medicine
*Elizabeth Creson Sisco, J.D
Professional
1990
Alicia Boswell
Youth Leadership
Glenna Maxey Goodacre
Art/Special Award
Eileen McAllister Johnson, Ph.D.
Science
Yondell Masten, R.N.C., Ph.D.
Medicine
Ethel M. McLeod
Business
Shirley Anne Naile McManigal, Ph.D
Education & Religion
*Palma Lancaster Smiley
Arts & Culture
1991
Melanie Weed Barnes
Science
Michelle Leslie Erickson
Youth Leadership
Jane F. Goldthorn, M.D
Medicine
Rev. Jo Roberts Mann
Religion
*Sylvia A. Martinez-Flores
Government
*Betty J. Savage Mills
Arts & Culture
*Virginia M. Sowell, Ph.D.
Education
*Helen Wagner Willey
Special Award
1992
Kirsten Storin Doty
Youth Leadership
*Marjorie C. Kastman
Professional
Carolyn Lanier
Government & Human Services
*Elizabeth Skidmore Sasser, Ph.D.
Arts & Culture
Marsha Sharp
Special Award
*Margaret Talkington
Business
Mary Grace Umlauf, R.N., Ph.D.
Science & Medicine
*Sister Maureen Van der Zee, C.S.J.
Education & Religion
1993
*Louise C. Allen
Special Award
Sylvia Ashby
Arts & Culture
*Rita P. Harmon
Government
Susan Singer Hendrick, Ph.D.
Science
Katherine Anne Lucas
Youth Leadership
Mary Tom Riley O’Bar, Ed.D.
Education & Religion
Sandra Sabatini, Ph.D., M.D.
Medicine
*Barbara L. Sommerville
Human Services
1994
Suzanne Aker
Arts & Culture
Monica Baca
Youth Leadership
Lou Dunn Diekemper
Business
Sheryl Swoopes
Special Award
*Nelda Thompson
Professional
Gwendolyn Titus
Government & Human Services
*Irene S. Wilson, R.N., M.Ed.
Science & Medicine
Jane L. Winer, Ph.D.
Education & Religion
1995
Louise Willson Arnold
Professional
*Betty Baker
Business
Louise T. Cummins
Government & Human Services
Tammy D. Barnes Fedynick
Education & Religion
Shaili M. Khandheria
Youth Leadership
Marian K. Solowy Myers, M.D.
Science & Medicine
*Norma E. Porres, M.D.
Special Award
*Billie Wolfe
Arts & Culture
1996
Jane O. Burns, Ph.D.
Education & Religion
Holli Nicole Douglass
Youth Leadership
Cassandra L. Henry
Science
Paulina M. Jacobo, J.D.
Professional
Paula Davis Lanehart, Judge
Government & Human Services
Karin Crider McCay
Arts & Culture
Nancy Jo Patton
Business
Patricia S. Yoder Wise, R.N., Ed.D.
Medicine
1997
Jitra Subpamongkol Anuras, M.D.
Science & Medicine
Christy Michele Badgwell
Youth Leadership
Ruth Jane Holmes, Ph.D.
Arts & Culture
Phyllis Sullivan Jones
Business
Sherry Sancibrian
Education
Marisue Pounders Smith
Religion
Irasema Velasquez
Professional
Kathy Volanty, Ph.D.
Government & Human Services
1998
Reagan Elyse Davis
Youth Leadership
Diane Brown Earl
Business
Annette Gary, R.N. Ph.D.
Medicine
Caryl E. Heintz, Ph.D.
Science
Leigh Keeney McPhaul
Government & Human Services
Dorothy Phea-Norville
Education
Francina Johanna Proctor
Religion
Peggy Willis-Aarnio
Arts & Culture
1999
Elizabeth Valentine Abraham
Religion
Beverly Chilton, Ph.D.
Science
Judy Wells Chisholm
Business
Meghan Paige Fleming
Youth Leadership
Burnis Marie Henderson
Special Award
Jan Berry Morris
Education
Patsy Landrum Whipple
Government & Human Services
2000
Brenda J. Becknell
Professional
Brooke Chavez
Youth Leadership
Shari Dorris Flynn
Government & Human Services
Jean Bledsoe Knight
Business
Carolyn R. McDougal
Entrepreneur
Sunanda Mitra, Ph.D.
Science
JoAnn Leavey Shroyer, Ph.D.
Education
2001
Myrna L. Armstrong, Ed.D., R.N., FAAN
Science & Medicine
Lauren Griffin
Youth Leadership
Pat Maines
Arts & Culture
Judy Parker, Judge
Government
Janie Landin Ramirez
Education & Religion
Windy Sitton, Mayor
Special Award
Linda Suzan Lazarin Thomas
Human Services
Maxine Willingham
Business
2002
Donna Bacchi, M.D., M.P.H.
Science & Medicine
Lady Falls Brown, Ph.D.
Education
Kay Davis
Business
Tina Fuentes
Arts & Culture
Ione Heartsill
Government & Human Services
Joe Love Stogner Nelson
Special Award
Alana K. Noble
Youth Leadership
Connie Wharton
Professional
2003
Toni Arnett
Art
Ashley Marie Cartwright
Youth Leadership
Alexia E. Green, R.N., Ph.D., F.A.A.N.
Science & Medicine
Suzanne Adams Beck Liner, M.D.
Professional
Margaret Brannon-Randle, M.Ed.
Education
Sharon Young Prather
Special Award
*Trudy Putteet
Government & Human Services
Rev. Stephanie Schreiner Nash
Religion
2004
Katie Megan Akeroyd
Youth Leadership
Geneva B. Boren
Business
Gloria Snell Galey
Human Services
Sara Stalcup McKee
Professional
Elma S. Moreno
Government
Marilyn Phelan, J.D.
Education
Lugene Lane Pickering
Arts & Culture
Marianna Shubov, Ph.D.
Science
2005
Danette Castle
Government & Human Services
Nettie Edwards
Education & Religion
*Conny McDonald Martin (Mrs. C.B.)
Arts & Culture
Sara Ellen McCunniff
Youth Leadership
Patti J. Patterson, M.D.
Science & Medicine
Renee Bergenheier Underwood
Professional
Margaret Williams
Business
Susan Ford Wiltshire, Ph.D.
Special Award
2006
Karen Baggerly, MSN, R.N.
Science & Medicine
Linda Gaither
Business
Judith Henry, Ed.D.
Professional
Linda Crawford Hoover, Ph.D.
Education
Marie Pfarr
Youth Leadership
Rosa Hernandez Sheets, Ph.D.
Special Award
Margaret Yirka Vugrin
Arts & Culture
Vernita Woods-Holmes
Government & Human Services
2007
Adrienne Cozart
Government
Cindy Jumper, M.D.
Science & Medicine
Nicole Mitchell
Youth Leadership
Beth Pratt
Arts & Culture
Kathryn Kinnison Rollo
Education
Kathy Stocco
Human Services
*Mary Nell Strong
Special Award
Jan Thetford
Business
Beena Variyam
Professional
2008
Linda M. Brice, Ph.D.
Education
Pamela A. Eibeck
Science
Sharyn Ivory
Medicine
SuzAnn Moore Kirby
Business
Allison Rae Korinek
Youth Leadership
*LaWanda Sherrod Murfee
Arts & Culture
Maria Elena Quintanilla
Government
Melisa Tatum Roberts
Professional
Kay Holder Sanford
Human Services
2009
Melinda Corwin
Science
Christina Esperat
Medicine
*Stacie George
Professional
Sally Kipyego
Special Award
Jennifer McGrew
Youth Leadership
Margarita Olivarez
Business
Catherine Pope
Government & Human Services
*Louise Underwood
Arts & Culture
Mitzi Jo Ziegner
Education & Religion
2010
Bonnie J. Aycock
Arts & Culture
Sharon Hyde Bass
Special Award
Billie J. Caviel
Business
Mary K. Crites, AIA
Professional
Grace Hernandez
Education & Religion
Betsy Goebel Jones, Ed.D.
Science & Medicine
Nancy M. Koenig, The Honorable
Government
Vickie Russell, LMSW
Human Services
Jade C. Shank
Youth Leadership
2011
Kay Cross
Special Award
Aimee Doane
Business
Kitty Harris-Wilkes, Ph.D.
Education
Sarah Lambert
Youth Leadership
Beth Lawson
Government & Human Services
Kelly Overley, Ed.D.
Professional
Yvonne Racz-Key
Arts & Culture
Kamlesh Varma, M.D.
Science & Medicine
2012
Terri Caldwell
Arts & Culture
Merinda K. Condra, J.D.
Human Services
*Christie Devitt
Mary Nell Strong Community Service Award
Michaela Hardin
Youth Leadership
Louisa Hope-Weeks, Ph.D.
Science
Narissra Maria Punyanunt-Carter, Ph.D.
Education
Emily Ratcliff
Professional
Diannah Tatum
Business
2013
Kristen Michelle Alcorte
Youth Leadership
Marguerite Fallon, D.N.P.,R.N.
Medicine
Karen K. Garza, Ph.D.
Education
Nita Kiesling
Business
Neoka Perez
Special Award
Mary Jones Saathoff, Ph.D.
Arts & Culture
Nancy Tucker Sharp
Professional
Sindee L. Simon, Ph.D.
Science
*Carolyn Taylor
Mary Nell Strong Community Service Award
2014
Alona Beesinger
Business
Lorrie Lushnat Bellair
Mary Nell Strong Community Service Award
Holly Betenbough
Religion
Alejandra Estrada
Youth Leadership
Aretha Marbley Ph.D.
Education
Carolyn Perry
Science
Ariwan Rakvit, MD
Medicine
Carolyn Simpson
Human Services
Laura Vinson
Professional
2015
Suzanna Blake
Business
Betty Shewbert Dotts
Mary Nell Strong Community Service Award
Lynda Loyce Dutton
Human Services
Amy Faris
Arts & Culture
Drue Farmer
Government
Lisa S. Leach Ed.D.
Education
Michelle Pantoya, Ph.D.
Science
Gail Spivey
Jane Burns Award
Michelle Suzanne Staley
Youth Leadership
Mimi Zumwalt, M.D.
Medicine
2017
Phebe Ellis-Roach
Business
Michelle Kraft
Art
Anna Jackson
Education
Judge Ann-Marie Carruth
Government
Sharmila Dissanaike
Medicine
Kim Flenniken
Professional
Candace Bourland Hicks
Science
Madeleine Lipetska
Youth Leadership
Evelyn Davies
Mary Nell Strong Community Service Award
2019
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2016
Rhosean Asmah
Youth Leadership
Janie Bush
Arts & Culture
Abigail Crawford
Education (Classroom Impact)
Berta Fogerson
Education (Administration)
Karen Gibson
Government
Linda Greenstreet
Jane Burns Award
Monica Hightower
Business
Emily Lemley
Religion
Ann Manning
Professional
Sandi Turner
Mary Nell Strong Community Service Award
2018
Jean Caslin
Art
Linda Ferguson
Business
Linda Donahue
Education
Becky Garza
Government
Lindsay Penrose
Medicine
Carolyn Moore
Professional
Shanna Hargrave
Religion
Katharine Hayhoe
Science
Kathy Gilbreath
Mary Nell Strong Community Service Award
Emilee Acevedo
Youth Leadership
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