We are excited for Aug. 6th’s rescheduled private reception at The Cliff House at Pikes Peak, where we will announce this year’s class of the esteemed Women of Distinction as well as our Women to Watch, a new honor for emerging leaders under 40. This event is graciously hosted by The Cliff House at Pikes Peak Executive Chef, Scott Savage.
We understand it has been a tough month for the people in the Pikes Peak region due to the Waldo Canyon Fire. Girl Scouts have been offering their support throughout the rebuilding efforts (Blog 1, Blog 2, Blog 3, Blog 4). In fact, Colorado Springs’ Girl Scout Troops 1947 and 863 will be at the event collecting school supplies from event guests for a drive they are doing for students who have lost their homes in the Waldo Canyon Fire.
The 2012 Girl Scouts of Colorado Women of Distinction, Pikes Peak class is as follows:
- Claire Garcia, Ph.D.: Professor of English, Colorado College; President of the Board, Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival; Board Member, Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame
- Rosemary Harris Lytle: President, NAACP Colorado/Montana/ Wyoming State Conference; President, NAACP Colorado Springs Branch; Colorado Delegate to Vision 20/20
- Dee Vazquez Sabol: Community Engagement and Outreach Officer, Pikes Peak Library District; Co-Founder, Pikes Peak Women’s Coalition; Board Member, Colorado Springs Diversity Forum
- Mary Thurman, Ph.D.: Deputy Superintendent, Colorado Springs School District 11; Board Member, YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region; Former Board Member, Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care
- Linda Weise: Executive Director, Colorado Springs Conservatory; Board Member, Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce; Regional Advisory Council for the Central City Opera Association
Girl Scouts of Colorado also is pleased to announce our first class of Women to Watch honorees:
- Elizabeth (Liz) Denson – Marketing & Public Relations Specialist. In addition to her volunteer work with Girl Scouts, she is involved with multiple committees and boards in Colorado Springs including Festival of Lights, Gazette Charities, Partners in Philanthropy, Peak Vista Breakfast of Champions, Pioneers Museum and The Chamber Rising Professionals.
- Amanda Mountain – Executive Director of the Tim Gill Center for Public Media and Station Manager for Rocky Mountain PBS/KTSC-TV. PBS started a program entitled Women and Girls Lead, a multiyear public media initiative amplifying the voices of women and girl leaders, expanding the understanding of gender equity, and engaging a network of citizens and organizations to tune in and get involved. She has been named one of the nation’s top 20 executives under 40 by PRESSTIME, is a graduate of Leadership Pikes Peak class of 2006 and received the Rising Star award by the national board of directors of American Women in Radio and Television.
Girl Scouts of Colorado honors top women leaders in our community as Girl Scout Women of Distinction or Women to Watch. These women have reached remarkable levels of achievement as business, philanthropic, government, education and community leaders. They are committed to making the world a better place for the girls of today and tomorrow. They donate their time, talents and experience to Girl Scouting and also support Girl Scouts financially. Since 2000, 43 women have been named as Pikes Peak Women of Distinction and raised more than $300,000 for Girl Scouts of Colorado.
The Women of Distinction Thin Mint Dinner to publicly recognize these honorees will take place Sept. 13 at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort. For more information, visit our website.
Media placements highlighting our honorees and/or upcoming event: Artemis Women 7/20/12, Fresh Ink/honorees places of business publications and websites, Colorado Springs Gazette and Colorado Springs Independent.