Every year in the spring we hold our Annual Spring Luncheon which recognizes a woman of distinction. It's an opportunity to be inspired by women around the world who are accomplishing great things.
We welcome recommendations by our members for future women of distinction. The Board of Directors votes on the speaker and spends half of the year working on this popular spring event. Members can volunteer to be a part of our spring planning committee.
Anna Vasquez, Director of Outreach & Education of The Innocence Project of Texas and one of four wrongfully convicted women commonly known as "The San Antonio Four", has been chosen as CBWLA's 2026 "Woman of Distinction". To learn more information about Ms. Vasquez, visit our Annual Spring Luncheon webpage by clicking here: Annual Spring Luncheon.
We welcome recommendations by our members for future women of distinction. The Board of Directors votes on the speaker and spends half of the year working on this popular spring event. Members can volunteer to be a part of our spring planning committee.
Anna Vasquez, Director of Outreach & Education of The Innocence Project of Texas and one of four wrongfully convicted women commonly known as "The San Antonio Four", has been chosen as CBWLA's 2026 "Woman of Distinction". To learn more information about Ms. Vasquez, visit our Annual Spring Luncheon webpage by clicking here: Annual Spring Luncheon.
Former "Women of Distinction" Honorees
2026 | Anna Vasquez, Director of Outreach & Education of The Innocence Project of Texas
2025 | Staci LaToison, Founder of Dream Big Ventures
2024 | Dr. Donna Shaver, Chief Sea Turtle Science and Recovery for National Park Services
2023 | Helen Wan, Author and Attorney
2022 | Cyntoia Brown-Long, Author and Advocate for Justice Reform
2019 | Mimi Donaldson, Speaker coach
2018 | Flora Darpino, First Female Judge Advocate General of the Army
2017 | Mary Lou Retton, Former Gold Medal Olympian Gymnast
2016 | Dr. Jen Welter, First Female Coach in the National Football League
2015 | Tammy Tibbetts, Founder of She's the First
2014 | Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, Founder of Give an Hour
2013 | Nancy Brinker, Founder and CEO of the Susan G. Komen Foundation
2012 | Sister Helen Prejean, Advocate for abolition of the death penalty
2011 | Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Activist and Author
2010 | Mia Farrow, American Actress and Activist
2009 | Sylvia A. Earle, Ph.D. - Marine Biologist
2008 | Janet Reno, Former US Attorney General
2007 | Mavis Leno, Advocate for Women & girls in Afghanistan
2006 | Colleen Barrett, President of Southwest Airlines
2005 | Gloria Allred, Civil Rights/Women Rights Attorney
2004 | Coleen Rowley, FBI Special Agent
2003 | Capt. Paula Hinger, Commander of Naval Air Station Corpus Christi
2002 | Zainab Salbi, Founder of Women for Women International
2001 | Cathy Bonner, President of the Foundation for Women Resources
2000 | Maxine Flournoy, Aviator Pioneer
1999 | Dr. Mary Dale Peterson, Women in Medicine
1998 | Sissy Farenthold, Texas Political Pioneer
1997 | Barbara Aldave, Dean of St. Mary's University School of Law
2025 | Staci LaToison, Founder of Dream Big Ventures
2024 | Dr. Donna Shaver, Chief Sea Turtle Science and Recovery for National Park Services
2023 | Helen Wan, Author and Attorney
2022 | Cyntoia Brown-Long, Author and Advocate for Justice Reform
2019 | Mimi Donaldson, Speaker coach
2018 | Flora Darpino, First Female Judge Advocate General of the Army
2017 | Mary Lou Retton, Former Gold Medal Olympian Gymnast
2016 | Dr. Jen Welter, First Female Coach in the National Football League
2015 | Tammy Tibbetts, Founder of She's the First
2014 | Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, Founder of Give an Hour
2013 | Nancy Brinker, Founder and CEO of the Susan G. Komen Foundation
2012 | Sister Helen Prejean, Advocate for abolition of the death penalty
2011 | Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Activist and Author
2010 | Mia Farrow, American Actress and Activist
2009 | Sylvia A. Earle, Ph.D. - Marine Biologist
2008 | Janet Reno, Former US Attorney General
2007 | Mavis Leno, Advocate for Women & girls in Afghanistan
2006 | Colleen Barrett, President of Southwest Airlines
2005 | Gloria Allred, Civil Rights/Women Rights Attorney
2004 | Coleen Rowley, FBI Special Agent
2003 | Capt. Paula Hinger, Commander of Naval Air Station Corpus Christi
2002 | Zainab Salbi, Founder of Women for Women International
2001 | Cathy Bonner, President of the Foundation for Women Resources
2000 | Maxine Flournoy, Aviator Pioneer
1999 | Dr. Mary Dale Peterson, Women in Medicine
1998 | Sissy Farenthold, Texas Political Pioneer
1997 | Barbara Aldave, Dean of St. Mary's University School of Law
