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Girl Scouts to honor 3 Hoover residents

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Photos courtesy of Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama.

Three Hoover residents have been selected to receive 2016 Women of Distinction Awards by the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama.

The three are among 15 women to be recognized at an awards luncheon at the Harbert Center in downtown Birmingham on March 11.

Award winners are nominated based on their civic, academic or professional involvement and contributions to the community. 

The winners also provide a good example for Girl Scouts, said Hannah Wallace, director of communications and marketing for Girls Scouts of North-Central Alabama. These girls are growing up in an online world, and it can be difficult to plug them in with real-world mentors, Wallace said. 

“Our girls need role models,” she said. “They need real inspiration -- role models who lead by example in their specific community.”

Award winners from Hoover include Briana Kinsey, who is receiving the Tomorrow’s Young Woman of Distinction award; Vickie Saxon, who is receiving the Tomorrow’s Leader award; and Linda Sewell, who is receiving the Woman of Distinction award for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Kinsey is president and founder of Daring to Defeat Diabetes Inc., a nonprofit geared toward advocating, educating and fundraising to defeat Type I and Type II diabetes. The American Diabetes Association in 2014 presented her the Champion to Stop Diabetes Award.

She is a senior at the University of Alabama and has participated in the Miss Alabama pageant several times, last year making the top five.

 “Service is important because it allows me to make a positive change in my community by helping others,” Kinsey said. “Throughout my life, many people have helped me along my journey, and I feel that I must give back just as the Bible tells us that, ‘To whom much is given, much is required.’”

Saxon, senior vice president of enterprise resources for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, said she believes service is an important way to make a difference in the community.

“Our service has a positive impact on our communities and can change lives,” Saxon said. “I am committed to making a difference, whether it is in art, wellness, women’s leadership or education.” 

Sewell, vice president of external affairs for Energen Corp., previously has been recognized by the Economic Development Association of Alabama for her role in supporting work to bring industries to Alabama. 

“A valuable lesson I’ve learned is that we may not always recognize our own gifts, but when we share them with others, we see how much we really do have to give,” Sewell said.

Local Girl Scouts have written questions for this year’s award winners, and the winners will provide answers in a short video to be shown at the awards luncheon.

“They’ll really be able to see what makes these women tick, how hard they had to work to get there,” Wallace said.

Some women also remain involved with Girl Scouts by volunteering, participating in fundraisers and speaking with troops in the area.

At the luncheon, each woman will give a short speech regarding her award. Tickets are $60 for general admission and $45 for Girl Scout members. Proceeds from the luncheon support Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama.

“I think the greater importance is that you’re supporting Girl Scouts, and not just a national brand of Girl Scouts, but the [groups] right outside your door,” Wallace said.

For more information about reservations or sponsorships for the luncheon, contact Tonya Mines at 800-734-4541, ext. 1030 or tmines@girlscoutsnca.org.

Women of Distinction Awards Luncheon

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