| The Women of Distinction Awards
About the Women of Distinction Awards
Women have always been strong contributors to the state of Alaska and to the city of Fairbanks. While many women have worked in the spotlight to effect change and improve communities, many have contributed behind the scenes. The Farthest North Girl Scout Council designed an award a decade ago that honors women who have made highly visible as well as silent contributions to the Fairbanks community. Each May, the Girl Scout council honors four women at a banquet in their honorWomen of Distinction, who make our city a better place to live and who are positive role models for young girls.
The Women of Distinction Event is an annual fundraiser presented in partnership with BP Exploration. May 2008 will mark the 12th annual opportunity for citizens of Fairbanks to recognize and award outstanding women, while supporting a positive program for Alaska’s girls. Funds from previous years’ events help extend Girl Scouting to previously under-served rural communities and increase services to local troops.
As you read through the names of the 44 women honored since 1997, many noteworthy accomplishments of these women come to mind. However, each woman has a unique basket of stories that lead to her success. Storyteller extraordinaire Gayle Maloy Binkley captures these fascinating life stories and brings them to life at each event. Former honoree and event emcee, Ann Secrest returns to Fairbanks each May to host this event. If you’ve never attended this event, or if you have attended all eleven, every year is special and promises a night to remember.
2008 Women of Distinction (from left to right):
Annie Keep-Barnes, Lorena Hegdal, Cheryl Kilgore and Carol Brice
You're Invited
See you at next year's event May 7, 2009.
Previous Honorees
1997
Martha Harrell, Brenda Holden, Effie Kokrine, and Ann Secrest
1998
Rev. Shellie Brown, Poldine Carlo, Grace Berg Schaible, and Sue Wilken
1999
Vallie Byrdsong, Deborah Honea, Ruth Lister, and Rev. Mable Rasmussen
2000
Virgie M. King, Christine Smith, Coleen Turner, and June Ulz
2001
Annie Bartley, Erma Belz, Ruth Burnett, and June Rogers
2002
Nancy White Carlstrom, Edna Wilder Cryan, Emily Kemak, and Susan Redding
2003
Gloria Fernandez, Nancy Hanson, Dorothy Jones, and Ginger Stock-McKenzie
2004
Jyotsna “Jo” Heckman, Kyong Hollen, Susan Rainey, and Chelsea Walker
2005
Barbara Hall, M. Chris Hayes, Althea St. Martin, and Jo Ryman Scott
2006
Rosalind Kan, Patty Kastelic, Theresa Reed, and Marilyn Romano
2007
Samantha Kirstein, Henrine Gray, Ann Shortt, and Niesje Steinkruger
2008
Carol Brice, Lorena Hegdal, Annie Keep-Barnes, Cheryl Kilgore
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