An important feature of each year’s Annual Conference is the presentation of AJLI awards that highlight individual members – the Mary Harriman and Rising Star awards – as well as individual Leagues that are doing impressive work in areas like fund development, marketing and community impact.

But what is also impressive is the work that Junior League members do in their communities outside of their Junior League roles. So here is a list of recent awards, honors and recognitions – selected at random – of members who are clearly doing outstanding things!

  • Longtime member of the Junior League of Palo Alto-Mid Peninsula Melanie Yunk received the San Carlos Chamber of Commerce’s Member of the Year award for her voluntarism with the chamber and community.
  • Jane Thompson, the Junior League of Oklahoma City, was the recipient of the Oklahoma City University’s Kirkpatrick-Petree Music and Performing Arts Society Award.
  • The Junior League of Sarasota’s Tracy Seider won the Sarasota Women’s Council of Realtors’ Humanitarian of the Year Award for 2011.
  • Joanne Adams, Sustaining member of the Junior League of the City of New York, was one of 25 individuals cited by The Kidney and Urology Foundation of America for their work advocating in search of a cure for prostate cancer and/or kidney disease. She was also named Woman of the Year by the Zonta Club of Long Island, one of 1,200 worldwide clubs affiliated with Zonta International, a global organization of executives and professionals working together to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy.
  • Jamika Kirk, chair-elect for the Junior League of Birmingham’s Market fundraiser, was included in the Business Journal of Birmingham’s “Top 40 Under 40” list.
  • Katie Harms, the Junior League of Cedar Rapids, was a recipient of the American Institute of Architects 2012 Young Architects Award.
  • The Junior League of Columbia’s Genevieve Waller was among five women honored for their excellence in service, leadership, community, visibility, and professionalism by the Girl Scouts of South Carolina at its annual Women of Distinction awards.
  • Emily Willeford, the Junior League of San Antonio, has been appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry to the State Board of Dental Examiners.
  • Becky McKinley, the Junior League of Amarillo, and Carmen Pagen, Sustainer with the Junior League of McAllen, were appointed by Governor Rick Perry to the Governor’s Commission for Women.
  • Debbie Hoofman, Sustaining member of the Junior League of North Little Rock, was appointed vice chairwoman of the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission.
  • Liz Marco, the Junior League of Pueblo, was one of 24 women honored with a 2012 Outstanding Women’s Award presented by the Pueblo City-County Library District.
  • Scottie Goodman Summerlin, a Junior League of Chattanooga Sustainer, was selected by Parenting Magazine to represent Tennessee at its Mom Congress on Education and Learning. She was chosen because of her “outstanding contributions and dedication to improving local schools.”
  • The El Paso Commission for Women named the Junior League of El Paso’s Susan Gorman to its El Paso Women’s Hall of Fame for her outstanding voluntarism in the El Paso community.
  • Teri Anulewicz, member of the Junior League of Atlanta, was one of 15 women honored for outstanding community service with a Woman of Achievement Award by the YWCA of North Georgia.
  • The Junior League of Savannah’s Cari Clark Phelps was one of 21 under-40 business leaders named a 2012 Generation NEXT: Rising Star of Business by Business in Savannah and Savannah Magazine for their business success and philanthropic work.
  • Janet Hills, longtime member of the Junior League of Tyler, was among nine women honored at Women in Tyler Day, which honors women who have contributed to the quality of life in the Tyler community.
  • Adrienne Stark, the Junior League of Philadelphia, was recently named the Main Line Media News Volunteer of the Week for her work with the League and other organizations.

And we know that these are just a small sample of the recognition that League members receive for the work they do in their communities!

Do you have stories about how League membership (and training!) lead to other leadership opportunities? Why not post them on the AJLI Facebook page?