Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas to Celebrate Two Decades of Female Empowerment

The 20th Annual Women of Distinction Luncheon, presented by Verizon, will honor women and young women for their leadership and service

DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / July 23, 2024 / The Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas (GSNETX) will commemorate the 20th anniversary of their prestigious Women of Distinction Luncheon (WDL), celebrating exceptional female leaders from accomplished high school students to influential executives. This milestone event, presented by Verizon, will be held on Friday, October 25, 2024, at the Hilton Anatole, under the esteemed leadership of Event Co-chairs Andrea Weber and Kim Williams.

"Verizon is proud to partner with the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas to present its Women of Distinction Luncheon," said Michelle R. Miller, Senior Vice President and Coastal Plains Market President for Verizon and GSNETX Board Member. "With a commitment to enrich lives every day, Verizon is honored to join together with the North Texas community to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Women of Distinction Luncheon. This amazing event has amplified the contributions of numerous trailblazing future women leaders, along with many established men and women, who have made a positive impact right here where we live, work and play."

This year's honorees include two Women of Distinction, Caren Lock, Regional Vice President & Associate General Counsel, TIAA, and Cassandra McKinney, Executive Vice President, Executive Director of the Retail Bank, Comerica Bank. High school students Rida Ahmed, Dylan George, and Katherine Polimerou will be recognized as the Mary Anne Cree Young Women of Distinction, a prestigious title awarded to Gold Award Girl Scouts whose projects made a sustainable impact on a local challenge linked to national or global issues.

"As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of our Women of Distinction Luncheon, we reflect on two decades of honoring extraordinary leaders who inspire us with their dedication and commitment," said Jennifer Bartkowski, CEO of GSNETX. "These honorees exemplify the highest standards of service in our community. By recognizing their achievements, we not only celebrate their individual successes but also encourage others to strive for excellence and continue their legacy. Together, we can build a community where service and compassion are at the forefront of our values and make Northeast Texas the best place to be a girl."

For two decades, the Women of Distinction Luncheon has celebrated the achievements of women of all ages, acknowledging their service to the community and their investment in girls and women in Northeast Texas. Funds raised during the luncheon help empower over 19,000 girls, providing them with leadership development, mental health support, STEM education, life skills, outdoor leadership activities, and more.

Individuals, corporations, and community organizations are invited to join this momentous occasion and support the future leaders of our community. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.gsnetx.org/WDL.

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We Are Girl Scouts

Whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges. Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas serves girls and adult volunteers across 32 counties. To change the workforce pipeline in STEM and meet the urgent need for female voices, engagement, and leadership in the fastest-growing sector of the U.S. economy, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas opened the STEM Center of Excellence. Learn more at gsnetx.org or call 972-349-2400.

Honoree Biographies

*All headshots courtesy of Gittings Photography

Women of Distinction:

Caren Lock
As the Regional Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Government Relations at TIAA, Caren Lock has been instrumental in shaping the company's policy advocacy legal and regulatory strategies in her region. Her robust educational background, including a JD from Baylor University School of Law and a BA in Government & Politics from the University of Texas, has been the foundation of her extensive career in legal and governmental affairs. Significant accomplishments mark her professional journey. She has held a position on the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas since 2024, which allows her to contribute to the governance and strategic direction of the legal profession in Texas. Additionally, she demonstrated her leadership and commitment to women's empowerment by serving as the President of the Texas Women's Foundation Board from 2017 to 2019. In this capacity, she championed initiatives that support and uplift women across Texas. Her expertise in government relations, combined with her legal acumen, has positioned her as a respected leader in her field. She is a co-founder of The Orchid Giving Circle, a group of Asian women committed to supporting social and economic change through collaborative giving. Since 2015, the group has granted close to $2M into the Greater DFW community. She continues to advocate for policies and practices that benefit her organization and the broader community, ensuring that TIAA remains compliant with evolving regulations while also advancing its mission to serve clients effectively.

Cassandra McKinney
In her role as the Executive Vice President and Executive Director of the Retail Bank at Comerica Bank, Cassandra McKinney is responsible for driving business growth and ensuring an exceptional experience for the bank's Consumer and Small Business Segments. Her strategic vision and leadership have been instrumental in enhancing Comerica's retail banking operations. She also lends her talents as an Independent Director for Lithia & Driveway. Cassandra's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Dillard University. These degrees provided her with a strong foundation in analytical thinking and problem-solving, skills that she has effectively translated into her banking career. Throughout her career, Cassandra has garnered numerous accolades. She has been recognized by American Banker's Most Powerful Women in Banking, highlighting her influence and achievements in the industry, Diversity Woman Elite 100 and, locally, by Dallas Business Journal's Top 100. Her commitment to community service is equally impressive; she is a 25-year member of the United Way Tocqueville Society and a Charter member of the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas' Women of Tocqueville Committee, where she served two terms as Committee Chair. She serves the African American community through her leadership in The Links, Incorporated, and the Executive Leadership Council. Her contributions to the banking industry's future as a Board Member of the Consumer Banker Association, focusing on education initiatives, further demonstrate her dedication beyond her professional role as a distinguished figure in the larger sector and community.

Mary Anne Cree Young Women of Distinction:

Rida Ahmed
Rida Ahmed will graduate from Independence High School in 2025. She holds numerous leadership positions, including President of her school's Action 4 Acculturation Club and a Captain of the Speech and Debate team. Outside of school she is a Girl Scout Media Spokeswoman and Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Alumni. Prior to Independence, Rida was creator of her school's Multicultural Week, Editor-in-Chief of her school's publications and NJHS OAA scholarship winner. Rida's Gold Award project tackled the cultural gap experienced by refugees in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. She created cultural orientation videos, conducted workshops, and established a school chapter to assist refugees in adapting to their new environment while preserving their cultural heritage. Her efforts provided crucial support for their integration into the community. Rida is also a published author, having written two books. In 2022, she published a 200-page fictional book and co-wrote a collection of short stories with several Indian authors. As a passionate writer, Rida draws inspiration from her lineage and hopes to continue her literary endeavors in the future.

Dylan George
Dylan George will graduate from The Hockaday School in 2025. She is an active leader in the school's musical and fine arts performances Dylan's Gold Award project focused on supporting children coping with trauma through social-emotional learning lessons based in the performing arts. She developed and led six sessions at Mosaic Family Services, covering topics such as forgiveness and self-awareness. With the help of volunteers, Dylan's initiative empowered children to express themselves, build confidence, and address the lasting impacts of trauma. She also shared her curriculum and trained staff to ensure continued support in the future. Dylan's passion for musicals, acting, singing, and dancing extends beyond the stage. She enjoys sharing her appreciation for the arts and using them as a force for good in the community. As a leader in TeenAge Communication Theater, Dylan educates teens in the Dallas area on sex education, mental health, dating violence, and other important topics through peer-to-peer education. She is also the President of a club that she and other musicians created called the Music and Creative Expression Organization where they perform around the Dallas area and raise money for local music-oriented causes. 

Katherine Polimerou
Katherine Polimerou is a senior at Plano East Senior High School. She is a founding member and former media manager of the Williams High School Hope Squad, a faculty-nominated position in a peer-to-peer suicide prevention program. Additionally, she has served as a PISD PALS Mentor, helping peers successfully adjust to school life. Katherine's Gold Award Project, the Can-Do Community Cookbook, addresses the issue of underutilized food from food pantries by compiling diverse, economical, and healthy recipes. Collaborating with Minnie's Food Pantry, she engaged peers to test recipes and ensured sustainability with a QR code for online access. She provided Minnie's Food Pantry with over 100 physical cookbooks and a digitally accessible version that empower families to maximize donated food and reduce food fatigue through the wide variety of recipes. Katherine also enjoys golfing and is the Captain of the Plano East Girls Golf Team. She is a member of the Plano East Student Athlete Leadership Team, plays violin in the Plano East orchestra, and is a former Tejas Rider.

SOURCE: Girl Scout of Northeast Texas