Courtesy of Glenda Raichlen

(San Antonio, TX) – Meet the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Thursday, Dec. 5, at Alamo Colleges District Office, 2222 N. Alamo St.

The inductees include retired astronaut Eileen Collins, the first woman to pilot a space shuttle and the first woman to conduct a space shuttle mission.  The SAWHOF class of 2025 also includes award-winning singer and songwriter Shelly Lares.  For the first time, we have a third-generation inductee.  Incoming SAWHOF member Dr. Nichole Van de Putte, MD, is following the footsteps of her mother and grandmother. Former State Rep. Leticia Van de Putte is a member of the class of 1992.  Nichole’s grandmother, Belle San Miguel Ortiz, was inducted in the category of Creative Arts in 2002.

We congratulate the SAWHOF Class of 2025:

  • CIVIC LEADERSHIP– Kim Jefferies, President and CEO of Haven for Hope
  • CIVIC LEADERSHIP– Roxana V. Vargas, Retired AF Civil Service, GS-15
  • COMMUNICATIONS– Norma Reyes, Businesswoman, Fundraiser
  • CREATIVE ARTS– Shelly Lares, Singer-songwriter, Musician
  • EDUCATION Pk – 12– Yvette Reyna, Executive Director-Boerne Education Foundation & Boerne ISD Community Partnerships
  • EDUCATION Pk – 12– Claudia L. Walker, EdD – Educator – St.Philip’s College and NEISD
  • HEALTH PROFESSIONS–Cheryl E. Davis, DMD – Family Dentistry
  • HEALTH PROFESSIONS– Monika Kapur, MD – President and CEO of University Medicine Associates
  • HEALTH PROFESSIONS– Dr. Nichole J. Van de Putte, MD – Director of Women’s Health for CommuniCare Health Centers.
  • HIGHER EDUCATION– Maria Danet Lapiz Bluhm -PhD, RN, MSCI – Professor and Director of International Programs at UT Health San Antonio
  • LAW –Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez –Bexar County Court at Law No. 13 Judge
  • MILITARY – Eileen Collins – Astronaut, Retired US Air Force Colonel
  • PUBLIC SERVICE– Renee Watson, Director of Bexar County Small Business & Entrepreneurship Department
  • VOLUNTEERISM – Velma Willoughby Kemp-Grants Chairman, San Antonio Area African American Community Fund
  • VOLUNTEERISM – Keely Holland Petty, Phd, Reverend- Founder and CEO of Kick Start Your Life

The induction ceremony March 1 will kick off Women’s History Month.