Awards

The Junior League of Columbus bestows 6 awards each year to people and organizations that uphold the ideals and values of the JLC.

Community Award Recipients

Since 1982, the Junior League of Columbus has presented an annual/bi-annual Community Award to outstanding women in the community who, through their volunteer involvement and support of voluntarism, have made a significant impact in our community.  The purposes of the awards are to acknowledge the meaningful accomplishments of women in our community and to motivate and inspire Junior League Members by presenting outstanding role models of community service.

Our past recipients include:

1982 – Mary Bishop, Dorothy Burchfield, Cecilia Cullman, and Dorothy Reynolds

1983 – Mary Lowder, Ruth Mount, Sara Neikirk, Nancy Strause, and Les Wright

1984 – Mimi Chenfeld, Myrna Kobre, and Diane Poulton

1985 – Phyllis Green, Judith Kitchen, Carole Williams, and Grayce Williams

1986 – Lou Briggs, Loretta Heard, Ann Lowder, and Jean Riley

1987 – Margaret Frost, and Bonnie Parish

1988 – Susan Roy, Paula Spence, and Gertrude Tyree

1989 – Elsie Blount, Edith Poling, and Catherine Willis

1990 – Teresa Dowd, Mary Evans, and Judith Fountain

1991 – Suzanne Fahey, Janet Fenholti, Dr. JoAnne Milburn, and Floradelle Pfahl

1992 – Patricia Cash and Sally Ann Davidson

1996 – Hope Taft

1998 – JoAnn Davis

1999 – Yvette McGee Brown

2000 – Heather Hague

2001 – Janet Jackson

2002 – Yvonne Bell

2003 – Cathy Nelson

2004 – Kathy Espy

2005 – Sherry Lyons

2006 – Ann Pizzuti

2007 – Marcia White

2008 – Charleta Tavares

2009 – Betsy Owen

2010 – Nancy Heller

2012 – Maria Durant

2013 – Rachel Muha

2016 – SON Ministries

2017 – AEP

2018 – Amy Kavelaras

2019 – Katrina de los Santos

2020 – Peggy Hedden

2022 – Dirty Franks Hot Dog Place and Keith Shannon

2023 – Kim Eckhart

2024 – Lisa Dickson, Action Ohio

2025 – Deric Cobb, Franklin County Children’s Services

Sustainer Honoree

Since 1993, the Junior League of Columbus has honored a sustaining member who exemplifies the commitment to volunteerism and community spirit that is integral to the mission of the League. The community involvement and accomplishments of each honoree are celebrated at an annual gathering hosted by the League.

Our past honorees include:

1993-1994 Jeanne Schoedinger

1994-1995 Thekla Reese Shackelford

1995-1996 Elizabeth McKeever Ross

1996-1997 Nancy Kittredge Jeffrey

1997-1998 Babette Feibel

1998-1999 Priscilla Mead

1999-2000 Molly Caren Fisher

2000-2001 Lisa Carlin and Diane Keeler

2001-2002 Katherine Born McClure

2002-2003 Janet Halliday

2003-2004 Shirle Westwater

2004-2005 Jody Galbreath Phillips

2005-2006 Georgeanne Reuter

2006-2007 Kitty Morton Epler

2007-2008 JoAnn Rohyans, M.D.

2008-2009 Roberta Deyo

2009-2010 Bev Soult

2010-2011 Kathy Cordray

2011-2012 Connie Jump

2012-2013 Diane Selby

2013-2014 Ida Copenhaver

2014-2015 Ginny Barney

2015-2016 Mary Oellermann

2016-2017 Laurie Schmidt-Moats

2017-2018 Marilee Chinnici-Zuercher

2018-2019 Sonya Lin Thesing

2022-2023 Jennifer Peterson

2025-2026 Chrissie Masdea Landolfi

Presidents’ Award Recipients

The Junior League of Columbus Presidents’ Award is designed to recognize Junior League Members who have done outstanding work and volunteerism while demonstrating our JLC values. These awards have a threefold purpose to recognize members for their voluntary contributions, to make individual members’ contributions more visible to the membership and community, and to emphasize the importance that the JLC places upon its values of collaboration, community, empowerment, leadership, respect, and service. Nominations are sought by and selected by the Awards Committee, composed of the three (3) immediate Past JLC Presidents.

Our past recipients include:

1984 – 1985
Ida Copenhaver
Marilee Chinnici-Zuercher
Kitty Epler
1985-1986
Paula Brothers
Peggy Calestro
Meg Flack
Marilyn Tormey
1986-1987
Diane Keeler
Nancy Recchie
Kathy Reed
Jean Sankey
1987-1988
Hannah Dillard
Margaret Pease
Lucy Porter
1988-1989
Dale Brubeck
Susan Rector
Melinda Wolf
1989-1990
Jane Evans
Georgeanne Reuter
Melinda Wolf
1990-1991
Linda Crawford
Suzanne Kull
Susan Quintenz
1991-1992
Lisa Carlin
Ann Early
Cecilia Gerling
Marilyn Marr
1992-1993
Roberta Deyo
Katherine McClure
Patricia Moloney
1993-1994
Anne Hildreth
Bev Soult
Henrietta Stabler
Ann Wolfe
1994-1995
MaryAnne I. Baum
DeLille Jet
Barbara D. Miller
1995-1996
Anne Durrell
Mary Lynn Cusick
Debbie Sheppard
1996-1997
Jenifer Peponis
Lesley Wilson Schaab
Catherine Talda
1997-1998
Nancy Brigner
Deedee Carpenter
Angela Dombrowski
Beth Eck
Martha Merriman-Macklin
1998-1999
Luceille Fleming
Jill Tangeman
Lynn Anderson
1999-2000
Celia Crossley
Dianna Wettrich
Linda McDonald
2000-2001
Bernadette Minton
Kathy Cordray
Amanda Trueman
Mary Oellermann
2001-2002
Lisa Pierce Reisz
Jennifer Richards
Natalie Baur
2002-2003
Kellie Schoedinger Ali
Debbie Mehok
Sarah Roesch
Jane Werum
2003-2004
Babette Jean Abel Feibel
Mary Y. Austin-Palmer
Jennifer Campbell Peterson
2004-2005
Katie Grayem
Linda Lucas
Colleen O’Dell
2005-2006
Sue Pinkerton
Sonya Thesing
Lisa Weaver
2006-2007
Deborah Cummings
M.J. Miller
Kristin Sabgir
Mandy Slack-Baker
2007-2008
Virginia Barney
Paula Gilmour
Becky Keglewitsch
2008-2009
Chris Hune
Laura Lazor
Molly O’Reilly
Angela Parsons
2009-2010
Cortney J. Porter
Amy Deverson Roberts
Diane Selby
Leigh Anne Strahler
Peggy Tidwell
2010-2011
Christine Drab
Chrissie Landolfi
Danielle Milliken
Julie Smerdel
Stephanie Wilson
2011-2012
Maria Illig
Melissa Kruse
Jenny Swain
Sarah Tyler
2012-2013
Ann Dewitt
Gina Ginn
Suzanne Miller
2013-2014
June Doyle
Liz Maag
Jessica Rannow
2014-2015
Jaylyn Corna
Stephanie Dodd
Diana Yahle
2015-2016
Alicia Adams
Valerie Brill
Christin Smith
2016-2017
Megan Keller
Stephanie Casey Pierce
2017-2018
Audree Boggs
Kristen Witchousky
2018-2019
Terry Butterworth
Jaelene Krug
Hayley Roberts
2019-2020
Nicole Bergman
Melissa Flanigan
2020-2021
Veronica Scherbauer
Rochelle Toth
2021-2022
Lauren Stazen
2022-2023
Kristina Ellis
Devin Henry
2023-2024
Katie Persico
Kayla Shawver
2024-2025
Marci Leveillee 
Virginia Reutzel

 

Team Player Award

The Team Player Award Recognizes one outstanding team member who has taken on her placement assignment and exceeded the responsibilities outlined making significant contributions to her team, committee, and/or council.

Our past recipients include:

2017-2018 – Nicole Bergman
2018-2019 – Janice Brockman and Chenee Castruita
2019-2020 – Diana Marshall
2020-2021 – Amber Wozniak
2021-2022 – Kim Burns
2022-2023 – Marci Leveillee
2023-2024 – Betsy Oellermann, Myna Rai, and Nicole Lucas
2024-2025 – Jess Maldonado

Outstanding New Member Award Recipients

The Outstanding New Member Award, formerly the Rising Star Award, recognizes one outstanding member of the year’s New Member Class who has not only met but exceeded their new member class requirements and displayed extraordinary leadership qualities among her fellow new member class.

Our past recipients include:

2013-2014
Megan Keller
Alison Lemle
2014-2015
Alicia Adams
2015-2016
Terry Butterworth
2016-2017
Lauren Amery
2017-2018
Julie Chase
2019-2020
Robyn Floyd
2019-2020
Linda Sabatini
2020-2021
Rian Valentine
2021-2022
Krystal Rose
2022-2023
Virginia Reutzel
2023-2024
Kara Kearns
2024-2025
Melissa Helpman
Julia Marino