2009 Women of Distinction Gala

Seventy-three incredible women were nominated in one of nine categories.  This year's honorees were Arts, Chela Jacobo, dancer; Business, Kathleen Hawkins, founder of WOAMTEC (Women on a Mission to Earn a Commission); Education, Dr. Trudie Kibbe Reed, President of Bethune-Cookmen University; Government/Law, Orlando Commissioner Patty Sheehan; Health, Dr. Catherine Lamprecht, Chief Director of the Department of Pediatric Infectious Disease at Nemour's Children's Clinic; Technology, Andrea Wesser, engineer and co-founder of the Office of Women in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Central Florida; Young Woman of Distinction, Kaitlyn Chana, founder of "Love Letters: Random Cards of Kindess, Inc."; and Lifetime Achievement Award, Jerry Buchanan, philanthropist.  A new category was added this year and the recipient of the Visionary Award was Dr. Deborah German, founding Dean of the College of Medicine at UCF.

Joan Lunden, former co-host of ABC-TV's Good Morning America, was the keynote speaker.  Today, she hosts a weekly television show on Lifetime TV called "Health Corner." She is also starting a wellness retreat in Maine.

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