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 (2009).

Rebecca Godbey is the recipient of the 2010 Kathleen Kessler 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 (2009). 

Susan Campbell and Cristina León are the recipients of the 2010 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 (2009) 

Amy Kolczak and Nancy Whaley are the recipients of the 2010 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)
• Programs Committee and Special Events Committee (2009)

The 2010 recipient of the Committee of the Year Award is the Membership 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 2010 President's Award was given to Cynthia Burnside. 

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)
• Jessica Harper and Kelly Wilcove (2009)

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 (2009)
Art Auction Committee (2010) 

Community Leader Award
Lindsay Verity (2009)
Gretchen Wagner (2010)

"Committee Stars"

The following individuals were recognized as "Committee Stars" at the May 12, 2010 Annual Dinner:

 

Committee Stars Recognized by the 2009-2010 GAWL and GAWL Foundation Boards
Shira Adler Audrey Berland Julia Bowen Jan Bozeman Hala Carey Marijane Cauthorn Shiriki Cavitt Kim Charles Sarah Cipperly Veronica Cope Emily Costarides Alexis Downs Lori Duff Barbara Ellenberg Dana Floyd Karen Fortune Ashley Fourtney Valerie Fricks Margaret Geer Lori Gelchion Dana Grantham	Janie Hagood Megan Haley Alyson Harter Currey Hitchens Jennifer Ide Jeff Ingram Brandi Iryshe Louisa Johnson Jennifer Keaton Cassandra Kirk Tracy Klingler Rhonda Kreuziger Jill Kuhn Linda Kuryloski Jenny Lambert Jessica Lawrence Cynthia Lee Kathleen Lentz Anne Lewis Danielle Lewis	Mary Lewis Heather Malick Dara Mann Melinda Marbes Laura Marshall Kelly Morrison Talia Nurse Sue Owen Wendy Owens Amanda Clark Palmer Dotty Pritchett Katrina Quicker Anne-Marie Shipe Rebecca Christian Smith Kathryn Spencer Judy Watkins Victoria Watkins Michelle E. West Amanda Wick Genny Zhu