Girl Scouts San Diego honored 13 “Cool Women” and one “Cool Girl” on Tuesday for their leadership and community service.
“We’re proud to honor these exemplary women for their extraordinary leadership and community service,” said Jo Dee C. Jacob, chief executive officer of the local council. “Our Cool Women’s personal and professional lives make them consummate role models for girls.”
In a surprise presentation, Jacob herself was honored at the luncheon ceremony at Coasterra on Harbor Island. Jacobs is retiring in March. The other women honored include:
- Betty Beyster, a philanthropist and community volunteer
- Mary Ann Beyster, a film producer and president of the Foundation for Enterprise Development
- Darcy C. Bingham, a self-described “philanthropreneur”
- Martha Dennis, Ph.D., a technology entrepreneur
- Anne S. Fege, Ph.D., a forester, educator and nature advocate
- Debra L. Reed, chairman and CEO of Sempra Energy
- Lelya Sampson, a retired teacher who inspired S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera
- Erica Ollmann Saphire, Ph.D., an ebola researcher with The Scripps Research Institute
- Susan Shirk, Ph.D., chair of UC San Diego’s 21st Century China Program
- Ashley Nell Tipton, a fashion designer who won Project Runway
- Debra Turner, a philanthropist and community volunteer
- Vice Adm. Nora Tyson, commander, U.S. Third Fleet
Rancho Buena Vista High School junior Elizabeth Hosie of Vista, a delegate to Girl Scouts’ national convention and member of Girl Scouts San Diego’s Girl Advisory Board, was named Cool Girl of 2016. She will enter the U.S. Naval Academy this summer.
Event proceeds will help support program outreach for girls in schools in low-income neighborhoods, homeless shelters and the Girls Rehabilitation Facility.
Girl Scouts San Diego provides activities for nearly 40,000 girls and adult members, trains volunteers, and maintains two camps near Julian and program/service facilities in Balboa Park, Carlsbad and Escondido.