Beacons of Light

BEACONS OF LIGHT YWCA Y Women in Careers celebrates 40 years of recognizing outstanding professional women in the Coastal Bend. By: BEVERLY RANDOLPH

ince 1946, YWCA Corpus Christi has empowered women. For 40 years, YWCA Y Women in Careers has recognized the community’s professional women who have achieved prominence in their professions. The event nurtures young women and girls, demonstrating what women can accomplish. In 1979, a group of women saw a need to recognize the professional women in the Coastal Bend since there were not very many women in the professions at that time. So the Y Women in Careers Award was born. Since the beginning, this award has honored the women in Corpus Christi who broke the mold and blazed trails for women of the future. These women are our success stories, our role models and our leaders.

While the “glass ceiling” still exists and the wage gap still burdens the workforce, women continue to overcome these barriers and succeed in their chosen fields. It is YWCA’s privilege to recognize and celebrate these successful women. They become beacons and role models for young girls to emulate. They influence the next generation of young women to achieve their goals.

This telling of their stories is especially important for the young girls in YWCA’s YWTeen Program. YWTeens serves fifth- and sixth-grade girls, teaching them the importance of education, wise decisions and strong relationships. Many YWTeens attend the Y Women in Careers event. They have the opportunity to hear the honorees relate their experiences. The honorees help them recognize that no one is born successful. Success takes work, focus, strong decisions and education. The honorees’ stories help the girls visualize themselves as successful professional women, bringing the whole process full circle.

The event is held each March, known as Women’s History Month – a fitting time to celebrate women who have achieved special recognition in their areas of expertise. YWCA has celebrated 291 such women. Each year, professional women are nominated from the community. A rigorous review process by an anonymous selection committee results in eight successful professional women being honored. They act as shining examples of women’s abilities to overcome obstacles their lives may have placed before them.

These women join the ranks of the Y Women Hall of Fame. Women of the Hall of Fame are professionals in numerous fields, including medicine, public relations, law, environmental conservation, education, oil and gas, architecture, philanthropy, music, human resources, marine science, law enforcement, interior design, banking and finance, marketing and retail, nonprofit and many others.

Women can and do excel in every field. YWCA is honored to recognize and celebrate these women and their accomplishments. S

THE 40TH ANNUAL YWCA Y WOMEN IN CAREERS AWARDS BANQUET HONOREES ARE:

• Gracie G. Flores, pension plan administrator, Corpus Christi Firefighters’ Retirement System

• Sally Munroe Gill, vice president & co-owner, Gill Garden Center & Landscape Nursery

• Diana K. Ivy, Ph.D., professor of communication, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

• Gracie Garcia Martin, president/CEO, Ensemble Group

• Lynette Chastain Navar, nursing director, Mission of Mercy Medical Center

• Melody Nixon-Bice, general manager, ZJZ Hospitality/Embassy Suites by Hilton

• Constance P. Sanchez, CPA, chief financial officer, City of Corpus Christi

• Dana L. Sisk, CPA, executive vice president, Navy Army Community Credit Union

WOMEN CAN AND DO EXCEL IN EVERY FIELD.

RESTORE.

EXPLORE.

Make your stay in Corpus Christi more enlightening with a visit to the Texas State Aquarium. You’ll save more than memories - you’ll contribute to rescue and conservation. The largest aquarium in Texas offers an adventure for the whole family. Explore 227,000 sq. ft. of exhibits, and encounter more than 400 species, including dolphins, otters, sea turtles, sharks, flamingos and fish. Our newest experience, Caribbean Journey,immerses you in one of Mexico’s great natural wonders. Pathways wind through jungles where flamingos mingle in a lagoon, birds flutter above and sloths hang out. Peer through an underwater window into the vibrant habitats of the Yucatán Peninsula. A 400,000-gallon shark habitat lets you venture through a tunnel and a shipwreck, just inches from these predators. It’s not just a vacation; it’s a contribution to conservation. Your visit helps support environmental education programs, scientific research, beach cleanups and the rescue of birds and sea turtles. So you’re not just making memories…you’re making a difference.