DIXON – The 35th annual Sauk Valley of the YWCA’s Women of Achievement Luncheon brought more than 300 women and men to the Elks Club on Thursday to celebrate powerful women who are happy to loan their strength to others.

New YWCA Executive Director Rebecca Munoz-Ripley kicked off the event, placing emphasis on this year’s theme.

“Here’s to strong women: May we know them; may we be them; may we raise them,” Munoz-Ripley said.

Kathy Cecchetti led the group in a toast to the YWCA’s longtime executive director, the late Carol Fitzgerald, who the community lost last year.

“Here’s a toast to Carol – a woman known for grace and class, and a woman who made equality, peace and justice her life’s mission,” Cecchetti said.

As in years past, the highlight of the event was the presentation of awards in seven categories. Photos and names of the winners, along with their employer or organization, will be displayed in the YWCA lobby until next year’s luncheon.

The Spirit of Achievement Award is given posthumously to deserving women who didn’t win a Women of Achievement award during their lifetime. Joan Hipple, a 34-year employee of Sauk Valley Community College, was recognized this year for her volunteer work for many local organizations. After her death in 2012, the Joanie Hipple Caring Fund was set up at Sauk to help employees and student workers with various needs.

This year there were two winners of the Crete Dillon Bowman Award for community leadership. The Rev. Christina Berry, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Sterling, and Janet Lynch, dean of health professions at Sauk Valley Community College, shared the award.

In addition to programs through her church, Berry is active in Rotary, and donates time to many causes, including the Buddy Bags program for hungry children.

Lynch has been known as an innovator since arriving on the Sauk campus in 1988. She has been listed in “Who’s Who in American Nursing,” and was the LPN Association of Illinois Educator of the Year in 1994. She worked on the Northern Illinois Online Initiative for Nursing that captured the Illinois Council of Community College Administrators Innovation Award in 2010. She is chairwoman of Health Educators of the Rock River Valley, a Home of Hope board member, and sits on the Illinois Workforce Advocacy Commission.

Claudia Garcia was the recipient of the L.L. Ely Award for clerical excellence. Garcia manages dispatchers and support staff for the Sterling Police Department, and in addition to her work skills, was recognized for being a role model for women in law enforcement.

Marcia Widolff won the Jane Reid Keefer Award for professions and education. Widolff is the public health director at Whiteside County Health Department. She was nominated for starting several family and children’s health programs at the health department, and logging many hours volunteering at organizations throughout the community.

The Pearl Woods Award for business and industry went to Deb Trancoso, a BorgWarner employee since 1995. Trancoso was honored for her achievements at the workplace and her volunteer efforts that include Lee County United Way and Habitat for Humanity.

Betsy Stauffer was chosen as the Louise Bittorf Sullivan Award winner for inspiring others. She has worked at McDonald Funeral Home since 1995, for many years as the after care group coordinator and facilitator, helping people deal with grief. Her nominees said Stauffer has overcome a lot in her life, and channels her own pain to help others heal.

Nominees for the Young Woman of Tomorrow Award are between ages 15 and 22. They are recognized for their accomplishments and leadership potential. Kailey Woolard, a junior at Dixon High School, is this year’s winner. Woolard is involved in many school activities, but nominators said her leadership abilities are most evident in her efforts to stop bullying in schools. She single-handedly started a Rachel’s Challenge program at her school.

The Women of Achievement Luncheon, which started in 1982, is the YWCA’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Proceeds are used for its various programs, including domestic violence and sexual assault, anti-bullying work, diversity training, immigrant services, girls empowerment and women’s career services.

AWARD NOMINEES

• Spirit of Achievement Award (posthumous)

Winner – Joan Hipple

Previous winners – Jen Banks (2016), Anita Elgin (2016), Sue Hohlen (2015), Jean McCue (2015), Marion LeBlanc Anderson (2013), Mary Jane Shuell Smith (2013), Marina H. Salazar (2010), Janis C. Card (2009)

• Crete Dillon Bowman Award

Winner – The Rev. Christina Berry and Janet Lynch

Other nominees – Valerie Butcher, Tammy Nelson, Sarah Partington, Ali Sadler

• Jane Reid Keefer Award

Winner – Marcia Widolff

Other nominees – Sara Leisner, Dr. Susan Provow, Amy Springman, Dr. Tami Stringer, Amy West

• L.L. Ely Award

Winner – Claudia Garcia

Other nominee – Christine Byar

• Pearl Woods Award

Winner – Deb Trancoso

Other nominee – Lori Moore

• Louise Bittorf Sullivan Award

Winner – Betsy Stauffer

Other nominees – Dr. Lori Cortez, Mary Ann Johnson, Dorothy Keperling, Barb Quick, Jessica Smith

• Young Woman of Tomorrow Award

Winner – Kailey Woolard, Dixon High School

Other nominees – Emily Ditzler, Abby Nitz, Alexis Rangel