Soroptimists Awards Presented at Notable Women’s Luncheon

Four local women were honored by Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor this week at their Annual Notable Women’s Luncheon. The event highlights the work of the “Best for Women Committee” which begins its process of soliciting applications or nomination in the fall of each year.

The Violet Richardson Award (named for the founder of Soroptimists) goes to a girl aged 14 to 17 for community service. This year’s winner is Lenora Johnson, (shown at left) a student at Spring Street International School, for her work as a volunteer firefighter and her commitment to fire safety education. Lenora received $750 that she said will go into her college fund. She is graduating from high school this year and headed to WSU this fall.

The Ruby Award goes to a woman who gives service to help women and girls. The recipient is Madi McPadden, a 21-year old student at the University of Washington, majoring in Social Welfare. She works at Plymouth House of Healing in Seattle, which provides homeless and mental health services. Madi also worked in New Zealand with the Salvation Army, assisting a group of women with disabilities for ten weeks. Madi’s mother Maureen McNally accepted the $750 award on her behalf.

Heidi Evans (left) is the recipient of the Fellowship Award, a scholarship for post graduate study. Heidi grew up on San Juan Island and worked her way through college by working on the docks at Roche Harbor, obtaining her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington. Her goal is to become a teacher. She recently purchased Alphabet Soup, a child care center in Friday Harbor, and she is now pursuing a second bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Heidi told the Soroptimists that “the scholarships help more than you would ever believe”. She received $3,000 towards her education.

Linda Degnan Cobos received this year’s Women’s Opportunity Award, which is Soroptimist’s signature program. It is a $4,000 financial award to help a woman who is the primary breadwinner of her family with educational expenses. Linda is pursuing an Associate of Technical Arts degree in Marine Technology from Skagit Valley College in Anacortes, and maintaining a 4.0 GPA while also helping with her family’s dry-walling business.

Linda gave an inspiring talk about the variety of jobs she has had, breaking ground for women in several fields. She’s worked as a dump truck driver and commercial fisher, and as a garage supervisor in Yosemite National Park. She recalled as a kid, before Title IX, she was admitted into a drafting class that she wanted to take, and then told that she’d have to give up her seat in the class when a male student wanted it. She encouraged others to go for their dreams and quoted, “You can’t cross oceans unless you stop staring at the shore.”

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