Northwood University honored four extraordinary women while celebrating more than five decades of impact during Saturday’s Distinguished Women Awards Gala at The H Hotel in Midland, Michigan.
The event — which celebrated honorees whose accomplishments span journalism, entertainment, energy, community leadership and philanthropy — was the hallmark of a weekend of mentoring and connection between honorees and students.
This year’s Distinguished Women Award honorees are:
• Anne Doyle, Michigan Hall of Fame journalist, author, and change agent
• Eileen Sieff Stroup, Emmy-nominated costume supervisor whose creative leadership has shaped more than 60 film and television credits
• E’Lois Thomas, Ph.D., president of SEEL, LLC (Solutions for Energy Efficient Logistics), a nationally recognized leader in energy-efficient solutions and community impact
• Jennifer (Griffin) Williams, community leader, philanthropist, and dedicated Northwood alumna
Each honoree was introduced by a personally selected student presenter and received a bronze medallion handcrafted by sculptor Giulio Tamassy — a longstanding symbol of induction into the Distinguished Women Gallery. Events throughout the weekend included the Yellow Rose Reception, student roundtable discussions, and campus tours that connected recipients directly with Northwood’s next generation of principled business leaders.
The gala also recognized the 2025 Distinguished Women Endowed Scholarship recipients: Reagan Coffey, Eleanor Nagy, Carlee Scoviac, Gabrielle Helinski, and Cecelia Gibson. Since 1994, the Women in Enterprise Endowed Scholarship Fund has supported students who exemplify the values of ethical leadership and free enterprise.
Among the special guests were two early Distinguished Women whose contributions helped shape the tradition: Nancy L. Barker, a member of the inaugural 1970 class, and Paula Ulmer, inducted in 1971. Their return underscored the enduring legacy of the Distinguished Women Awards and the powerful bonds shared among honorees across the decades. Other Distinguished Women honorees in attendance Saturday included Holly Miller, Alice Sieloff, and former Northwood University first lady Claudia Fry.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Next year’s Distinguished Women Awards weekend is expected to feature the dedication of a new bronze sculpture that will be a replica of one created in honor of Sybil Ludington, a 16-year-old American Revolutionary heroine, by the sculptor who made the Lincoln on the Prairie statue that sits on the Mall Walk at the heart of Northwood University’s campus in Midland, Michigan.
The piece, announced at the 2024 Distinguished Women Awards gala, will serve as a permanent campus tribute to over 500 Distinguished Women Award recipients whose leadership, integrity, and contributions have shaped industries and communities across the globe.
The 2026 Distinguished Women Awards Gala is tentatively set for Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. More information will be posted online at www.northwood.edu/advancement/signature-events/distinguished-women-awards/ as details are finalized.
