Thank you for joining us on Thursday, September 25, for the 2025 Women of Distinction Awards!
We had a wonderful time celebrating our honorees! You can view each honoree's video below:
Honoring Leaders. Inspiring Girls. Building the Future.
Since 1993, the Women of Distinction event has recognized extraordinary women across the Midlands who lead with courage, confidence, and character—the very values we strive to build in every Girl Scout.
This uplifting evening is a celebration of those who light the way for others through their professional accomplishments, community impact, and unwavering commitment to service. Held annually in Columbia, this event brings together community leaders, businesses, and changemakers for an evening of connection, storytelling, and inspiration—all in support of local Girl Scouts.
Past Honorees
Our Women of Distinction continue our founder's century-old tradition of championing girls and demonstrating that women can succeed in any endeavor they choose. See our past honorees below:
1993
Ellen Cooper*
Bobbie Hagins*
Justice Jean H. Toal
1994
Anna Mae Dickson*
Dr. Patricia Moody
Barbara Rackes
Nelle Harmon Taylor*
1995
Lynette Allston
Barbara Moxon*
Dottie Owen*
June Shissias
Rose Wilkins
1996
Betty Broom
Robin Gorman
Lillian Martin*
Johnnie Neese*
Doris Trezevant
Sarah Nash Wilson
1997
Valerie Allen
Ellen Hayden
Alice Wyche Hurley
Sue Porter
Ada Thomas*
1998
Susan Aude
Laura Fleming*
Cathy Novinger*
Martha Scott Smith
1999
Pam Dwinnells
Norma Ferguson*
Gracie Simons House*
Louise McFarland*
Inez M. Tenenbaum
2000
Paula Harper Bethea
Gilda Cobb-Hunter
Toni Elkins
Elaine Gillespie
Joyce Martin Hill
Elizabeth Mabry
2001
Dr. Traci Young Cooper
Claire Fort*
Rachel Hodges
Marie-Louise Ramsdale
Kit Smith
Marjorie Stands
2003
Charlotte Berry
Patricia Caldwell
Susan DeVenny
Lilly S. Filler, MD
Dr. Anne L. Matthews
Lynn M. Williams
2004
Susan Benesh
Sharon Bryant
Dr. Sharon Buddin
Tameika Isaac Devine
Dr. Felicia Goins
2005
Dr. Suzan D. Boyd*
Dr. Bambi Gaddist
Anne M. Sinclair
Dr. Linda Rochell Lane*
Dr. Caroline Whitson
2006
Henri Etta Baskins
Karen Brosius*
Sarah Leverette*
Kim Wilkerson
2007
Florence Belser
The Honorable Mary Y. Clark
Libby Anne Inabinet
Martha Kneece*
Gina McCuen*
Louise Slater
Tiffany Sullivan
2008
Chief Patty Patterson
Sarah Shuptrine*
Donna Sorensen
Linda C. Stern
Ann Marie Taylor
2009
The Honorable Alfred Mae Drakeford
Bluma Goldberg*
Shirley Henderson
Mary Mazzola Spivey
Dr. Susie VanHuss
Captain Estelle Young
2010
Reba Hull Campbell
Judith M. Davis*
Lynn Stokes-Murray
S. Anne Walker
2011
Bridget Bennon-Lytton
Mickey E. Layden
Donita Todd
2012
Carolyn Cason Matthews
Patricia Moore Pastides
Kay Thigpen*
JoAnn M. Turnquist
Genevieve N. Waller
2013
Cynthia B. Cooper
Sara B. Fisher
Liz McMillan
Elise Partin
Barbara Willm*
2014
Sarena Burch
Elizabeth Dinndorf
Dawn Staley
Ann Marie Stieritz
2015
Jan C. Burt
Dr. Debra W. Hamm
Pamela P. Lackey
Laurie Parks
Dawndy Mercer Plank
Mary Kennemur*
2016
Barbara Blau
Adrienne Gist
Lou Kennedy
Terry Peace
2017
Emily E. Clyburn*
Therese A. Griffin
Sharon Brown Harriott
Amy W. McCulloch
Xiaolan Michelle Wang Cao
2018
Kathleen Lawson Gibson
Melanie Huggins
Erin McCaskill
Molly Spearman
2019
Jill Davis
Bronwyn McElveen
Lessie Price
Suzanne Pucci
2020
Dr. Roslyn Artis
Representative Beth Bernstein
Meghan Hickman
Nikole Mergo
Dr. Aubrey Sejuit
A’ja Wilson
2022
Col. Katherine Brown, USAF Retired
Judge J. Michelle Childs
Lt. Governor Pamela Evette
Dr. Penelope Martin-Knox
Ms. Virginia Peterkin
Senator Katrina Shealy
Ms. Kim Wellman
2023
Janice M. Smith
Dr. Ashlye V. Wilkerson
2024
The Honorable DeAndrea Gist Benjamin
Meredith Manning
Georgia Mjartan
Robin Waites
Teresa Wilson
Micah Cook (Young Professional Honoree)
*deceased
