Woman of Achievement

Joyce Gillespie handing Jolene the 2023 Woman of Achievement Certificate

Each year our branch recognizes a woman for her outstanding contributions to the Independence Community. The recipient of the 2023 Woman of Achievement Award is        Jolene Cerveny.

Woman of Achievement ~ Jolene Cerveny

Jolene became a member of the AAUW Independence Branch in 2015. Using her college education and management administrative skills, Jolene served as Committee chair providing leadership on at least four different committees, Public Policy, Membership, STEM, and Hospitality.  She served admirably as our Branch President beginning in 2019, serving two years during the challenging COVID pandemic.  She was responsible for fundraising activities to build up our Scholarship fund at the Pizza Ranch for almost two years.  As an activist and woman, Jolene provides positive inclusive leadership as she works easily with Branch members encouraging active involvement in branch initiatives and programs benefiting local girls and women.  She is active in her church and other community involvement volunteer service to Independence.  Jolene’s creativity, enthusiasm and boundless energy, plus her desire to succeed make her an outstanding member of our Branch and our 2023 Woman of Achievement.

Jolene graciously accepted the award, followed by laudatory comments from Sue Shineman and Sue Raymond.

We congratulate Jolene as an outstanding member of our community and our                        2023 Independence AAUW Woman of Achievement.