WomEn of Distinction
Established in 1974, the Women of Distinction honor has recognized nearly 300 extraordinary women who embody the heart of YWCA Madison’s mission to eliminate racism and empower women, promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
2026 hONOREES
Vanessa McDowell-Atlas, Jael Currie, Colleen Butler, Nancy Wrenn Bauch, & Monica Mims
In this milestone year, as YWCA Madison celebrates 50 years of Women of Distinction alongside 25 years of the Racial Justice Summit and 20 years of the Downtown Block Party, we turn inward to honor women from within YWCA Madison’s community whose leadership, care, and commitment have shaped who we are today, continue to guide where we are going, and reach across the broader Madison community and beyond.
YWCA Madison will celebrate Women of Distinction at the first-ever YWCA Madison Solidarity Sunset Soirée on Friday, May 8, 2026 at Marriott Madison West, beginning at 5:30 PM.
Deadline to register is April 30, 2026.
Using a mobile device? Tap the images Above to Learn More About eACH honoree!
Celebrating 50 Years of Women of Distinction
For 50 years, Women of Distinction has honored the leadership, courage, and care of women who have shaped our community in lasting ways. What began in 1974 as a celebration of extraordinary women has grown into a living legacy, carried forward by generations who continue to embody YWCA Madison’s mission and fuel our movement for justice.
This milestone is not only a reflection of the past, but a recognition of the relationships, contributions, and collective commitment that have built who we are today and influence the possibilities just beyond the horizon. We honor all who have been part of this journey, those who have yet to rise, and the generations who will carry this tradition forward for the next 50 years.
1974
Louise Marston Conklin
Constance A. Elvehjem
Velma Hamilton
Jessie McCanse
Margaret Russell
1975
1977
Shirley Abrahamson
Marlene Cummings
Helen Matheson Rupp
Midge Miller
Betty Vaughn
Milele Chikasa Anana
Kay Clarenbach
Beth Heiden Reid
Rosalie Mayer
Leslie Spense
1979
1980
Veatrice Baugh
Gladys Bronson
Beth Emshoff
Mary Lou Munts
Annetta Rosser
Agnes Cammer
Bea Kabler
Marsha Lindsay
Pam Moore
Rebecca Young
1981
Morlynn Frankey
Donna Jones
Fayth Kail
Elaine Marks
Barbara Nichols
1982
Peg Geisler
Rosalie Rohl
Marian Thompson
Rita Wlodarczyk
1983
1984
Roberta Gassman
Lucille Kimball
Beverly McCord
Verona Morgan
Carol Toussaint
Joyce Erdman
Mary M. Graye
Carla Hagermann
Mardi O’Brien
Helen Vukelich
1985
Marian Bolz
Sue Driscoll
Katherine Lyall
Kit Saunders Nordeen
Sue Wiskowski
1986
Jacqueline Cochran
Gayle Langer
Gail Selk
Maureen Torphy
Rosemary Troia Baker
1987
1988
Mary Breunig
Lenore Landry
Judie Pfiefer
Petie Rudy
Linda Weimer
Susan Hobart
Eunice Meske
Mary K. Rouse
Betty Smith
Emma Zitzer
1989
Jean Manchester Biddick
Dolores Buchler
I. Lorraine Davis
Mary McKenzie Mohs
Elizabeth Spencer
Diane Young Kaav
1990
Mary Ellen Beach-Ela
Jane Coleman
Ida Gear
Virginia Henderson
Sue Herbst
Toya Nelson
1991
Betty Bamforth
Ellen Buck
Sandra Dutch
Fannie Hicklin
Edith Hilliard
Norma Madsen
Margaret Monroe
1992
1993
Alma Baron
Joann Elder
Gloria Jones-Bey
Carla Smith
1994
Marla Ahlgrimm
Friedie Carey
Shelley Peterman Schwarz
Fannie Taylor
Muriel Bissell
Inger Kay
Linda McIsaac
Betty Reneau Rowe
Marjorie Singer Tobias
Carolyn Taylor
Cora White
1995
1996
Anne S. Arnesen
Annrita Lardy
Constance Kilmark
Esther Heffernan
Marge Sutinen
Martha Taylor
Nan Cheney
Joan Gillman
Sharyl Kato-Nilson
Mercile Lee
Judith Ward
Hermetta Williams
1997
Tammy Baldwin
Deloris Bell
Amy DeBower
Robin Douthitt
Mary Moen
Donna Marie Robinson
Sister Mary David Walgenbach
1998
1999
Nan Brian
Jean Davis
Joyce Dismuke
Betty Franklin-Hammonds
Kay Lindblade
Hannah Rosenthal
2000
Barbara Arnold
Mary Kay Baum
Linda Farley
Leslie Ann Howard
Helene Nelson
Vicki Washington
Andrea-Teresa Arenas
Holly Cremer Berkenstadt
Doris J. Hanson
Kathleen A. Kelly
Sadie M. Pearson
Judith Wilcox
2001
2002
Betty Barrientos
Molly Carnes
Nancy Christy
Ann Haney
Frances Huntley-Cooper
Sue Ann Thompson
Marion Brown
Hermine Davidson
Louise Root-Robbins
Andrea Potter
Mary Louise Symon
Martha Vukelich-Austin
2003
2004
Marilyn Beach
Michelle Behnke
Charlie Daniel
Gloria Sarto
Kathleen Woit
Florence Zmudzinski
2005
Shiva Bidar-Sielaff
Connie Ferris Bailey
Martha Gaines
Gwedolyn Jones
Lindsay McClernan
Jeanan Yasiri
Elizabeth Barnhill
Nancy Giffey
Jo Handelsman
Sharron Hubbard-Moyer
Carmen Skilton
Barbara Snell
2006
2007
Eve Galanter
Rita Kehl
Gloria Ladson-Billings
Margold S. Melli
Anne E. Ross
Mai Zong Vue
Marcia Anderson
Theola Carter
Mary Breunig
Mary P. Burke
Vera Riley
Cheryl Rosen Weston
2008
2009
Brenda Brown
Sharon Chamberlain
Iris Christenson
Jeanette Schreier
Mary Lang Sollinger
2010
Bettsey Lutz Barhorst
Betty Harris Custer
Annette Miller
Carola Peterson-Gaines
Kathy Price
Fabiola Hamdan
Anne Hartwig
Gloria Hawkins
Lisa Kvistad
Marion Morgan
2011
Frances Bicknell
Fabu Phillis Carter
Naomi Carter
Karen Christianson
Nan Cnare
Sarah Gillmore
2012
Betty Banks
Andreal Davis
Tehmina Islam
Salli Martyniak
Becky Steinhoff
Mona Adams Winston
2013
Sadat Abiri
Emily Auerbach
Dawn Crim
Sally Miley
Laurel Rice
Teresa Téllez-Girón
2014
2015
Hershey Barnett-Bridges
Nia Enemuoh-Trammell
Lilada Gee
Enid Glenn
Beth Kille
Renee Moe
Gina Carter
Deidre Green
Sherry Lucille
Stephanie Nash
Corinda Rainey-Moore
Mary Strickland, CFP
2016
Keetra Burnette
Robin Dalton
JoAnn Gruber-Hagen
Therese Gulbransen
Dr. Joann Pritchett
Angela Russell
2017
2018
Jacquelyn Boggess
Silvia Gomez de Soriano
Lynn Green
Carolyn Morgan
Nichelle Nichols
Rep. Shelia Stubbs
Annie Weatherby-Flowers
Marisela Gomez Castellanos
2019
Barbara Katz
Libby Lee
Kay Simmons
Alondra Quechol
2020
Women of Distinction was not held during the COVID-19 Pandemic. During this time, we celebrated the community and support that was given during the pandemic.
Jannet Arenas-Pineda
Roxie Hentz
Jacquelyn Hunt
Adrian Jones
Jenny Pressman
Nasra Wehelie
2021
2022
Christy Clark-Pujara, Ph.D.
Brenda Gonzalez
Andrea Jones
Candace McDowell
Lucia Nuñez
Dr. Hazel Symonette
Jasmin Banks
Alex Lindenmeyer
Dr. Christina Outlay
Lisa Peyton-Caire
Nancy Saíz
Rosa Thompson
2023
2024
Keena Atkinson
Charlotte Cummins
Kristie Goforth
Efrat Livny
ananda de oliveira mirilli
Jan Miyasaki
Carolyn Stanford Taylor
Prenicia Clifton
Cindy Diaz
Brandi Grayson
Alexis London
Hedi Rudd
Karen Menéndez Coller, PhD
Dr. Martha Stacker
2025
Vanessa McDowell-Atlas
Jael Currie
Colleen Butler
Nancy Wrenn Bauch
Monica Mims