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.
Nominations are now open for 2025 Women of Excellence
Nominees must be women who have been residents of Lubbock or worked in Lubbock during the past year. A nominee may be resubmitted; however, previous recipients are not eligible. Additionally, nominees may not currently be serving as members of the YWCA Board of Directors or the YWCA Women of Excellence Committee.
The nominee should be a woman who has achieved excellence in her career in at least one category of achievement:
• Arts & Culture
• Government & Human Services
• Business & Professional
• Education & Religion
Selections will be made by the 2025 YWCA Women of Excellence Selection Committee, an anonymous and diverse group appointed from the community.
Nomination forms must be submitted to the YWCA of Lubbock, 6501 University, Lubbock, TX 79413,
on or before 5 p.m. on November 4th, 2024. Contact (806) 724-5582 with questions.
*deceased
Arts & Culture – Janelle Barrington-Spivey
Business – Ruth Robillard
Medicine – Nancy Ruth Neal
Education – Misty Lynn Rieber
Government – Shelia Patterson Harris
Human Services – Pamela Roddy
Professional – Julie Doss
Youth Leadership – Jeye Johnson
Jane O. Burns Award – Amanda Mead
Mary Nell Strong Award – Betsy Bass
Arts & Culture – Emily Wilkinson
Education – Lisa Stane
Government – Olivia Boggs
Human Services – Traci Cheek
Medicine – Jessica Gray, MD
Professional – Murvat Musa
Social Justice – Megan Estrada
Youth Leadership – Gabriella Contreras
Jane O. Burns Award – Nanette Deso
Arts & Culture – Sandra Harris
Business – Beth Bridges
Education – Janice Magness
Education – Comfort Awotwi Pratt, PhD
Government – Katherine Wells
Human Services – Dina Jeffries
Social Justice – Elizabeth Sharp, PhD
Youth Leadership – Ashby Whitaker
Jane O. Burns Award – Lynn Sanderson
Mary Nell Strong Award – Melinda Pharies
Arts & Culture – Elizabeth Regner Grigsby
Business – Stephanie Massengale
Education – Dr. Patricia Frances Johnson
Government – Norma Ritz Johnson
Human Services – Katelynn Thompson
Medical – Dr. Amy Thompson
Professional – Laura Monroe
Religion – Glenda Grigson
Youth Leadership – Grace Feist
Education – Wendy-Adele Humphrey
Human Services – Jaime Wheeler
Government – Judge Kara Darnell
Medicine – Shirley McReynolds
Professional – Michelle McCord
Religion – Paige Allen
Social Justice – Sellie Shine
Youth Leadership – Sophie Goforth
Mary Nell Strong Award – Latrelle Bright Joy
Business – Melissa Collier
Education – JoAnn Long, PhD
Education – Karen Thornton
Government – Annette Sobel, MD
Medicine – Rebecca Geist
Religion – Brandi Cantrell
Science – Lisaann Gittner
Social Justice – Melinda Garcia Schalow, MD
Youth Leadership – Gabriella Ghandour
Mary Nell Strong Award – Terri Duncan
Arts & Culture – Jean Caslin
Business – Linda Ferguson
Education – Linda Donahue, PhD
Government – Rebecca (Becky) Garza
Medicine – Lindsay Penrose, PhD
Professional – Carolyn F. Moore
Religion – Shanna Hargrave
Science – Dr. Katharine Hayhoe
Social Justice – Aliza S. Wong, PhD
Youth Leadership – Emilee Acevedo
Mary Nell Strong Award – Kathy Gilbreath
Arts & Culture – Michelle Kraft
Business – Phebe Ellis-Roach
Education – Anna Jackson
Government – Ann-Marie Carruth
Medicine – Sharmila Dissanaike, MD
Professional – Kim Flenniken
Science – Candace Bourland Hicks
Youth Leadership – Madeleine Lipetska
Mary Nell Strong Award – Evelyn Davies
Arts & Culture – Janie Bush
Business – Monica Hightower
Education – Abigail Crawford
Education – Berta Fogerson
Government – Karen Gibson
Professional – Ann Manning
Religion – Emily Lemley
Youth Leadership – Rhosean Asmah
Jane O. Burns Award – Linda Greenstreet
Mary Nell Strong Award – Sandi Turner
Arts & Culture – Amy Faris
Business – Suzanne Blake
Education – Lisa S. Leach
Government – Judge Drue Farmer
Human Services – Lynda Loyce Dutton
Medicine – Mimi Zumwalt MD
Science – Michelle Pantoya, PhD
Youth Leadership – Michelle Suzanne Staley
Jane O. Burns Award – Gail Spivey
Mary Nell Strong Award – Betty Shewbert Dotts
Business – Alona Beesinger
Education – Aretha Marbley PhD
Human Services – Carolyn Simpson
Medicine – Ariwan Rakvit M.D.
Professional – Laura Vinson
Religion – Holly Betenbough
Science – Carolyn Perry
Youth Leadership – Alejandra Estrada
Mary Nell Strong Award – Lorrie Lushnat Bellair
Arts & Culture – Mary Jones Saathoff, PhD
Business – Nita Kiesling
Education – Karen K. Garza, PhD
Medicine – Marguerite Fallon, DNP, RN
Professional – Nancy Tucker Sharp
Science – Sindee L. Simon, PhD
Special Achievement – Neoka Perez
Youth Leadership – Kristen Michelle Alcorte
Mary Nell Strong Award – Carolyn Taylor*
Arts & Culture – Terri Caldwell
Business – Diannah Tatum
Education – Narissra Maria Punyanunt-Carter, PhD
Human Services – Merinda K. Condra, JD
Medicine – Lori Rice Spearman, PhD, MT, ASCP
Professional – Emily Ratcliff
Science – Louisa Hope-Weeks, PhD
Youth Leadership – Michaela Hardin
Mary Nell Strong Award – Christie Devitt
Arts & Culture – Yvonne Racz Key
Business – Aimee C. Doane
Education – Kitty Harris Wilkes, PhD
Government & Human Services – Beth Lawson
Professional – Kelly Overley, PhD
Science & Medicine – Kamlesh Varma, MD
Youth Leadership – Sarah Jo Lambert
Jane O. Burns Award – Kay Cross
Arts & Culture – Bonnie J. Aycock
Business – Billie J. Caviel
Education & Religion – Grace Hernandez
Government – Judge Nancy M. Koenig
Human Services – Vickie Russell, LMSW
Professional – Mary K. Crites, AIA,
Science & Medicine – Betsy Goebel Jones, EdD
Youth Leadership – Jade C. Shank
Special Achievement – Sharon Hyde Bass
Arts & Culture – Louise Hopkins Underwood*
Business – Margarita Olivárez
Education & Religion – Mitzi Ziegner
Government & Human Services – Catherine Lee Pope
Medicine – Christina Esperat, RN, PhD, FAAN
Professional – Stacie George*
Science – Melinda Corwin, PhD, CCC-SLP
Youth Leadership – Jennifer McGrew
Special Achievement – Sally Kipyego
Arts & Culture – LaWanda Sherrod Murfee*
Business – SuzAnn Moore Kirby
Education – Linda M. Brice, RN, PhD, FNP
Government – Maria Elena Quintanilla
Human Services – Kay Holder Sanford
Medicine – Sharyn Ivory, FACHE, CPHQ
Professional – Melisa Tatum Roberts
Science – Pamela A. Eibeck, PhD
Youth Leadership – Allison Rae Korinek
Arts & Culture – Beth Pratt
Business – Jan Thetford
Education – Kathryn Kinnison Rollo
Government – Adrienne Cozart
Human Services – Kathy Stocco
Professional, Beena Variyam
Science – Cynthia Jumper, MD
Youth Leadership – Nicole Mitchell
Jane O. Burns Award – Mary Nell Strong*
Arts & Culture – Margaret Vugrin
Business – Linda Gaither
Education – Linda Crawford Hoover, PhD
Govt. & Human Services – Vernita Woods-Holmes
Professional – Judith Henry, EdD
Science & Medicine – Karen Baggerly, MSN, RN
Youth Leadership – Marie Pfarr
Jane O. Burns Award, Karen Worley
Special Achievement – Rosa Hernández Sheets, PhD
Arts & Culture – Conny McDonald Martin*
Business – Margaret Williams
Education & Religion – Nettie Edwards
Government & Human Services – Danette Castle
Professional – Renée Bergenheier Underwood
Patti J. Patterson, M.D., Science & Medicine
Youth Leadership – Sara Ellen McCunniff
Special Achievement – Susan Ford Wiltshire, PhD
Arts & Culture – Lugene Lane Pickering
Business – Geneva B. Boren
Education – Marilyn Phelan, JD
Government – Elma S. Moreno
Human Services – Gloria Snell Galey*
Professional – Sara Stalcup McKee
Science – Marianna Shubov, PhD
Katie Megan Akeroyd, Youth Leadership
Art – Toni Arnett
Education – Margaret Brannon-Randle, MEd
Government & Human Services – Trudy Putteet*
Music – Mary Jeanne van Appledorn, PhD*
Professional – Suzanne Adams Beck Liner, MD
Religion – Rev. Stephanie Schreiner Nash
Science & Medicine – Alexia E. Green, RN, PhD, FAAN
Youth Leadership – Ashley Marie Cartwright
Special Achievement – Sharon Young Prather
Arts & Culture – Tina Fuentes
Business – Kay Davis
Education – Lady Falls Brown, PhD
Government & Human Services – Ione Heartsill
Professional – Connie Wharton
Science & Medicine – Donna Bacchi, MD, MPH
Youth Leadership – Alana K. Noble
Special Achievement – Joe Love Stogner Nelson
Arts & Culture – Pat Maines
Business – Maxine Willingham
Education & Religion – Janie Landin Ramirez
Government – Judge Judy Parker
Human Services – Linda Suzan Lazarin Thomas
Science & Med. – Myrna L. Armstrong, EdD, RN, FAAN
Youth Leadership – Lauren Griffin
Jane O. Burns Award – Jane O. Burns, PhD
Special Achievement – Windy Sitton
Business – Jean Bledsoe Knight
Education – JoAnn Leavey Shroyer, PhD
Entrepreneur – Carolyn R. McDougal
Government & Human Services – Shari Dorris Flynn
Medicine – Jane Ann Tustin, R.N., MSN, CSN
Professional – Brenda J. Becknell
Science – Sunanda Mitra, PhD
Youth Leadership – Brooke Chavez
Business – Judy Wells Chisholm
Education – Jan Berry Morris
Govt. & Human Services – Patsy Landrum Whipple*
Medicine – Catherine A. Ronaghan, MD, FACS
Religion – Elizabeth Valentine Abraham
Science – Beverly Chilton, PhD
Youth Leadership – Meghan Paige Fleming
Special Achievement – Burnis Marie Henderson
Arts & Culture – Peggy Willis-Aarnio*
Business – Diane Brown Earl
Education – Dorothy Phea-Norville
Govt. & Human Services – Leigh Keeney McPhaul
Medicine – Annette Gary, RN, PhD
Religion – Francina Johanna Proctor
Science – Caryl E. Heintz, PhD
Youth Leadership – Reagan Elyse Davis
Arts & Culture – Ruth Jane Holmes, PhD
Business – Phyllis Sullivan Jones-Beasley
Education – Sherry Sancibrian
Government & Human Services – Kathy Volanty, PhD
Professional – Irasema Velasquez
Religion – Marisue Pounders Smith
Science & Medicine – Jitra Subpamongkol Anuras, MD
Youth Leadership – Christy Michele Badgwell
Arts & Culture – Karin Crider McCay
Business – Nancy Jo Patton
Education – Jane O. Burns, PhD
Govt. & Human Services – Judge Paula Davis Lanehart
Medicine – Patricia Yoder Wise, RN, EdD
Professional – Paulina M. Jacobo, JD
Science – Cassandra L. Henry
Youth Leadership – Holli Nicole Douglass
Arts & Culture – Billie Wolfe*
Business – Betty L. Baker*
Education & Religion – Tammy D. Barnes Fedynich
Government & Human Services – Louise T. Cummins
Professional – Louise Willson Arnold*
Science & Medicine – Marian K. Solowy Myers, MD
Youth Leadership – Shaili M. Khandheria
Special Achievement – Norma E. Porres, MD*
Arts & Culture – Suzanne Aker*
Business – Lou Dunn Diekemper*
Education & Religion – Jane L. Winer, PhD
Government & Human Services – Gwendolyn Titus
Professional – Nelda Thompson*
Science & Medicine – Irene S. Wilson*
Youth Leadership – Monica Baca
Special Achievement – Sheryl Swoopes
Arts & Culture – Sylvia Ashby
Education & Religion – Mary Tom Riley O’Bar, EdD
Government – Rita P. Harmon*
Human Services – Barbara L. Sommerville*
Medicine – Sandra Sabatini, PhD, MD
Science – Susan Singer Hendrick, PhD
Youth Leadership – Katherine Anne Lucas
Special Achievement – Louise C. Allen*
Arts & Culture – Elizabeth Skidmore Sasser, PhD*
Business – Margaret Talkington*
Education & Religion – Sister Maureen Van der Zee, CSJ*
Government & Human Services – Carolyn Lanier
Professional – Marjorie C. Kastman*
Science & Medicine – Mary Grace Umlauf, RN, PhD*
Youth Leadership – Kirsten Storin Doty
Special Achievement – Marsha Sharp
Arts & Culture – Betty J. Savage Mills*
Education – Virginia M. Sowell, PhD*
Government – Sylvia Martinez-Flores*
Jane F. Goldthorn, MD, Medicine
Religion – Reverend Jo Roberts Mann
Science – Melanie Weed Barnes
Youth Leadership – Michelle Leslie Erickson
Special Achievement – Helen Wagner Willey*
Arts & Culture – Palma Lancaster Smiley*
Business – Ethel M. McLeod
Edu. & Religion – Shirley Anne Naile McManigal, PhD*
Medicine – Yondell Masten, RNC, PhD
Science – Eilleen McAllister Johnson, PhD
Youth Leadership – Alicia Boswell
Special Achievement – Glenna Maxey Goodacre*
Arts & Culture – Janeen Holmes Gilliam
Education & Religion – Elizabeth G. Haley, PhD
Government & Politics – Marilyn Jantz Dickey
Professional – Elizabeth Creson Sisco, JD*
Science & Medicine – Teddy L. Langford, RN, PhD, CNAA
Youth Leadership – Yumi Christina Koh
Special Achievement – Kamie Ethridge
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