GAWL and GAWL Foundation AWARDS

In recognition of the incredible leadership, vision and achievements of its members, GAWL gives six awards each year at its Annual Dinner.  Criteria for five of those awards are listed below, and winners are selected by the Awards Committee of the GAWL Board.  The sixth award, the President’s Award, is determined in the discretion of the outgoing GAWL President.  The awards for the 2008-09 GAWL year were awarded on May 5, 2009 at the Annual Dinner, which was held at Maggiano's Buckhead.

The Kathleen Kessler Award

The Kathleen Kessler Award is GAWL’s most important award, and it is given annually to a female attorney who exhibits the highest degree of professionalism and dedication to service in the legal community. 

The criteria for this award include a long term commitment to the practice of law and to the legal community by someone who is held in high esteem by subordinates, peers and superiors.   The GAWL Board gives this award in honor of attorney Kathleen Kessler who was killed in the 1996 Valujet Airline crash. She was considered a pioneer for women as a trial attorney and an unselfish mentor to young lawyers.

Past Recipients of the Kathleen Kessler Award are Elizabeth Appley (1997); Mary Ann Oakley (1998); Judge Dorothy Beasley (1999); Hon. Cathy Cox (2000); Judge Phyllis A. Kravitch (2001); Paula Frederick (2002); Phyllis J. Holmen (2003); Lynn Adam (2004); Jill Pryor (2005); Ruby Crawford (2006); Justice Carol Hunstein (2007); and Shayna Steinfeld (2008).

Sara Turnipseed was the 2009 recipient of this award.

 The Visionary Award

The Visionary Award is presented to a GAWL member who has shown the characteristics of being forward thinking, creative and working for the best interest of GAWL.  The Visionary Award was given for the first time in 2004. 

Past recipients of the Visionary Award are Rebecca Godbey (2004); Annette Idalski (2005); Lee Wallace (2006); Jessica Harper (2007); and Angel Jacobs (2008). 

Toni Castel and Heather Wright are the recipients of the 2009 Visionary Award.

• Stacy Edelstein Hyken (2004);
• Christian Torgrimson (2005);
• Kelly Wilcove (2006); 
• Toni Castel (2007);
• The Communications Committee and It's About Time Committee (2008).

Susan Campbell and Tuwanda Williams are the recipients of the 2009 Spotlight Award.
 

The Committee of the Year Award

This award is presented to the Committee which had outstanding involvement and provided exemplary support to the development, growth and success of GAWL.  The Committee of the Year Award was given for the first time in 2004. 

Past recipients of the Committee of the Year award are:

• Programs Committee (2004);
• Special Events Committee (2005);
• Special Events Committee (2006);
• Programs Committee (2007); 
• Leadership Committee (2008).

The 2009 recipients of the Committee of the Year Award are Programs Committee and Special Events Committee.

The President’s Award

This recognition is determined in the discretion of the GAWL President for the current year.  The President’s Award was given for the first time in 2004.  The 2009 President's Award was given to Jessica Harper and Kelly Wilcove. 

Past recipients of the President's Award are:

• Cindy Spindler (2004);
• Joy A. Gorney (2005);
• Pilar Prinz (2006);
• Lindsay Verity (2007); and
• Toni Castel (2008)

This year, the GAWL Foundation awarded two awards at the Annual Dinner. The Awards and recipients are as follows:

Committee of the Year Award
Art Auction Committee. 

Community Leader Award
Lindsay Verity.

"Committee Stars"

The following individuals were recognized as "Committee Stars" at the May 5, 2009 Annual Dinner:

Shira Adler Laura Anderson Michelle Bailey Katherine Barrett Susan Baucom Millie Baumbusch Emily Bernstein Jodyann Blagrove Dana Borda Jan Bozeman Stayce Burkhart Shiriki Cavitt Kimberly Childs Sarah Crews Kelly Culpin Taylor Daly Loraine DiSalvo Jodi Dixon Jackson Dodsworth Patti Elrod-Hill Belinda Engelmann Allie Fennel Karen Fortune Valerie Fricks

Dena George Dana Grantham Christa Gray Jennifer Guy Jessica Harper Holly Hempel Schuyler Hoynes Jeff Ingram Lucille Jewell LeaAnn Jones Heather Karrh Elisa Kodish Lisa Koebrich Michelle Kraynak Linda Kuryloski Jenny Lambert Cheryl Legare Michelle LeGault Cristina Leon Mary Lewis Anne Lewis Ellen Malow Cindy Manning Rainell McDonald

Tiana Mykkeltvedt Talia Nurse Martha O’Brien Sue Owen Amand Patterson Penn Payne Rachel Platt Amy Quackenboss Lauren Ralls Lisa Schrage Caroly Schwimmer Kathy Simcoe Karen Smiley Focia Laurie Speed-Dalton Kathryn Spencer Sarah Steele Shayna Steinfeld Melissa Strange Judy Watkins Loren West Erin Wetty Tuwanda Williams Jennifer Wolak Ruth Woodling Rona Woodruff