Celebrating Service: Girl Scout Women of Distinction Award 2019 Recipients
By Amy Rognlie
“For more than two decades, Girl Scouts of Central Texas has celebrated women who demonstrate outstanding community outreach, volunteerism and civic engagement in the Waco, Temple and Killeen communities through its Women of Distinction awards,” explains Hannah Bruno of Girl Scouts of Central Texas (GSCT). “Honorees exemplify courage, creativity and tenacity, making them key role models to show young women in our organization what it means to be a G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker and Leader).” The 2019 Women of Distinction honorees are Michelle DiGaetano, Jennifer Graham, Rita Kelley and Debbie Nash-King.
The volunteer work done by these honorees ranges from education to healthcare to youth outreach. “The people we honor are the foundation of our cultural, business and society scene,” says Erika Holland, chief development officer for GSCT. “What makes them distinct is not only their professional achievements, but their commitment to serving others. They embody what we want our girls to strive for—they create the path to follow and they inspire us all.”
Michelle DiGaetano
Owner and President of Temple Machine Shop
“It makes sense to share your success in life with others—whether it’s your time, your experience or your treasure,” says Michelle DiGaetano. And share she does. She is the co-chair of the Last Night Gala, an annual fundraising event for the Ralph Wilson Youth Club. In the past four years, the gala has provided over $240,000 in net proceeds to the youth club for general operating expenses, scholarships and field trips.
Michelle also serves on the board of the Temple Independent School District Wildcat Mentor Program, where she has mentored fifth- and sixth-grade girls. Her company, Temple Machine Shop, also partners with Temple ISD in their Wildcat Workforce Program, which inspires students for workforce readiness. In addition to being a past president of the Temple Founder Lions Club, she also volunteers on the McLane Children’s Visionary Committee and the annual Caring Ball fundraiser benefiting the Temple Community Clinic, where she serves as a board member. Michelle is also passionate in her involvement with Altrusa International of Temple, Texas—projects include the annual Taste of the Holiday and Camp Dreamcatcher, a camp for kids with cancer.
“I’m humbled by the recognition of this award and admire the women who’ve been previously honored. It is my good fortune to know many of them personally. I’ll continue to lead by example in my company and in the community. And I’ll smile to myself forever when I see Girl Scouts in uniform.”
Jennifer Graham
Temple College Foundation Executive Director
As executive director of the Temple College Foundation, Jennifer Graham views herself as the chief idea generator, problem solver and fundraiser. “Many of our students are living on the financial edge, and if some event causes them to fall off the cliff, then it’s my job to generate an idea that will provide a safety net. That safety net will not only save those students but, if we make it a system, it will be there for all students,” Jennifer explains.
“Most kinds of ideas and solutions require funding, and it’s in the telling of those stories and connecting those students to resources that we are able to raise money to build as strong and secure a safety net as possible.” She has been instrumental in developing “safety nets” ranging from the zero-interest Leopard Loan to providing students with meal kits and cooking classes.
“I get to go home every day with the satisfaction of having positively touched someone’s life. That reward is immediate and soul-filling.” She adds, “I see this award as a platform to share the joy of doing what you love and the power of helping others.”
Rita Kelley
Director of Bell County Indigent Health Services
Rita Kelley has lived in Bell County for most of her 65 years. “I want to be remembered for being a person who loves my community and the people who live here and that, when I see a need, I don’t wait for someone else to decide to do something about it. I’ve never lived for the purpose of personal recognition, but for the passion within myself to assure that people who want a better life have a clear path toward one.”
In her role as director of Bell County Indigent Health Services, Rita oversees the healthcare access services of county residents in accordance with the County Indigent Health Care Program (CIHCP). “I spend a lot of my time working within the community with other ‘helping organizations’ and healthcare stakeholders to coordinate services, identify gaps and collaboratively work toward filling those gaps,” she says. In addition to her official duties and responsibilities, Rita helped found and also sat on the governing boards of the Heritage House of Central Texas, Body of Christ Community Clinic, Greater Killeen Free Clinic and Christian Women’s Job Corps of Bell County.
Debbie Nash-King
Killeen City Council Member, District 2
Nominated by a group of community leaders from Killeen and Harker Heights, Killeen City Council Member Debbie Nash-King has a passion for service. “I learned from my late grandmother that you should never give to others with an expectation of receiving anything in return. I serve others because it is the fiber of who I am. What motivates me is when I can make a difference in others’ lives when it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel,” she says.
Besides serving on the city council, Debbie volunteers with several veterans’ organizations throughout Central Texas and donates scholarship funds for students living in Killeen and Copperas Cove. She also recently worked with members of her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., to host a citywide teen summit and she participates in ongoing youth-awareness events with the objective of educating and inspiring middle- and high-school students to invest in their own future.
Debbie is thrilled to be nominated for the Women of Distinction Award. “I am very humbled and honored to be among a group of ladies that has made a significant contribution in leadership and volunteerism.”
