Five local women were honored at the 2010 Women of Distinction Luncheon at Howard Payne University’s Mabee Center on Wednesday.  The Girl Scouts of Central Texas celebrate women who have distinguished themselves as outstanding members of their community through individual excellence and high levels of achievement.  Recipients are role models for Girl Scout members, girls and adults alike, showing them that with hard work and perseverance, anything can be accomplished.

2010 Honorees were Sandra Bradshaw Tucker, LaVay Chambers, Glenda Lemke, Wanda Thacker, and Judith Ozuna.  As Etta Moore, Girl Scouts of Central Texas CEO stated, “These women embody the mission of the organization.  They embody what we want for all girls.”   

“These women ended up in the same place, being a role model, doing the right thing, even when no one is looking”, stated Lynn Humeniuk Director of the Criminal Justice Program at HPU, also the Emcee of the event.

Hillary Stegemoller presented each of the honorees with a letter of congratulations from U.S. Representative Mike Conaway.  In this letter, Conaway stated “It is an honor to represent you.”

The Girl Scout Speaker for the event was Samantha Stephens, a 19-year-old at the Texas Youth Commission facility here in Brownwood that joined Girl Scouts in 2009.  She gave her testimony of how her life has changed, from being an abused child that eventually made a bad decision that led to her stay at TYC.  She believes Girl Scouts has taught her new ways to make a difference in people’s lives.  She also spoke of how this experience has helped her to deal with difficult situations, make goals and know that these goals can happen.  She is now taking college courses and plans to earn a degree in Social Work or Animal Care and possibly adopt children who are from abusive homes.

Eda Ratliff gave closing remarks encouraging luncheon attendees to give a generous donation to the Girl Scouts Program, stating, “We are all connected to Girl Scouts.  Only together can we make Girl Scouts a reality for our girls.  Supporting our girls means supporting our community, our state, our country and our world.”

Currently there are more than 21,000 girls that the Girl Scouts of Central Texas serves.

Photo from left to right: LaVay Chambers, Glenda Lemke, Wanda Thacker, Sandra Bradshaw Tucker,  and Judith Ozuna.