Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas CEO Jennifer Bartkowski has been busy during the pandemic lining up an All-Star lineup for the 16th Annual Women of Distinction on Friday, October 30. She started off by having Plano’s “First Lady” Tracy LaRosiliere and AT&T Assistant VP of Compliance Michelle Thomas come on board as co-chairs for the fundraiser.
This trio has arranged for some top-tier types who are synonymous with the Girl Scouts’ mission of helping girls develop the confidence to know they can do anything they put their minds to.”
Receiving the Woman of Distinction Award will be AT&T Business Services CEO Anne H. Chow and JPMorgan Chase and Co. Consumer Bank Senior Advisor Alice Rodriguez. Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall will be presented the Lifetime Achievement Award.
But this event is not a girls-only celebration. TXU Chairman Emeritus Erle Nye will be honored with the Man Enough To Be A Girl Scout Award for “his work mentoring women throughout his life.”
The Young Woman of Distinction Awards will be presented to
- Carroll Senior High School’s Elina Dickens, who “developed a conversational chat program for English learners to supplement formal ESL instruction through Keller ISD for her Gold Award project. She and her volunteers provided one-on-one sessions for students to practice concepts to help them navigate day-to-day real-life situations. After receiving her Gold Award, Elina highlighted ESL resource needs by building a website through Girls Who Code.”
- Coppell High School Senior Abigail Simon, who through her workshops, “created ‘Everybody Has A Story’ and started conversations meant to bridge divisiveness in the world. Her topics included discrimination due to skin color in the classroom, economic disparity and struggles, homophobia, sexism, anti-Semitism, and Islamophobia. By talking about differences and similarities, her workshops helped connect the gap and create a more understanding society. Abigail also created a video using footage and interviews from the events that can be used to replicate the workshops.”
According to Jennifer, “I am proud to recognize this year’s honorees for their exemplary leadership and lifelong commitment to girls and young women. Especially in this environment, our girls – and our community – need admirable and ethical leaders to look up to and emulate. These individuals exemplify the leadership, resilience and sense of self that we teach our girls through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, and we are honored to recognize them.”
Instead of a guest speaker, “attendees will have the opportunity to experience a candid conversation about leading with resilience during difficult times and will receive a digital swag bag, which includes special offers and coupons.”
Since the event will be virtual, there will two ways to attend. For table sponsors, there will be “individual virtual table rooms to chat, interact and watch the event together with their guests.” On the other hand, general admission guests will “have access to the main program.”
Proceed from the event will support “crucial leadership development; socio-emotional skill cultivation; and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), entrepreneurship, life skills, and outdoor leadership programs to more than 25,000 girls in Northeast Texas.”
* Photo credit: Gittings