Two beloved women of GCWM are recognized for outstanding leadership
Heather-Dawn Small and Carolyn Kujawa honored with the GCWM Adventist Woman of the Year Award for 2024.
General Conference Women’s Ministries (GCWM) honored the late Heather-Dawn Small, former director of GCWM, by naming her a recipient of the Adventist Woman of the Year award for 2024 during an evening meeting with women members of the General Conference Executive Committee. Heather-Dawn’s husband, Pastor Joseph Small, the only gentleman in attendance, received the posthumous award on her behalf and commented that he appreciated hearing the tributes of her friends and colleagues.
Carolyn Kujawa also received the Adventist Woman of the Year award for her creative and tireless volunteer work with WM scholarships and fundraising during the past three decades. The fundraising effort, which began under Carolyn's leadership, is called Scholarshipping Our Sisters (SOS). In the first decade, Carolyn still worked full time for GC Vice Presidents Phil Follett and Ted NC Wilson. She claims she retired so that she could devote more time to working with SOS. A former college English professor, she is committed to helping women obtain a college education—and she leads many activities for raising funds.
Galina covered Carolyn with a shawl much like receiving a shawl in an Indian ceremonial blessing. Audrey Andersson, GC vice president and advisor for GCWM department, offered a prayer of thanksgiving and blessing over both Carolyn and Pastor Joe. As a final note of tribute, Lori Williams, director of GC Human Resources, sang “Thank You for Giving to the Lord.”
Galina Stele, GC WM director, welcomes the women of the GC Committee to a dinner meeting, October 14, 2024.
Food in the buffet line included rice and meatballs.
Display of some resources from GC WM.
Lisa Beardsley-Hardy, director of Department of Education, reads Heather-Dawn Small's biographical sketch
Heather-Dawn's husband, Pastor Joe Small, listens to Heather-Dawn's tributes, sitting next to Omobonike Sessou, West-Central Africa's WM director
Elaine Oliver, associate director of Family Ministries, recalls Heather-Dawn's travel advice.
Katia Reinert, associate director of Health Ministries, describes Heather-Dawn's forward-thinking resources for women.
Nilde Itin, former associate director of Women's Ministries, mentions Heather-Dawn's leadership.
Galina Stele, GC WM director, presents Heather-Dawn Small's posthumous award to Pastor Joe Small.
Pastor Joe Small responds with gratitude.
Nancy Wilson reads the biographical sketch for Carolyn Kujawa.
Nancy Wilson was a former student of Carolyn (Luce) Kujawa. Her husband Ted NC Wilson was Carolyn's last supervisor before her retirement.
Carolyn Kujawa listens to her tributes.
Nilde Itin, former associate director of Women's Ministries, tells about Carolyn generating many ideas for fundraising and awareness of WM scholarship program.
Premila Pudapudi, administrative assistant for GC WM, honors Carolyn from an office staff perspective.
Rebecca Turner, editorial assistant for GC WM, recounts escapades from GC Presidential when they began working together 30 years ago.
Galina Stele, GC WM director, presents Carolyn Kujawa, GC WM volunteer leader for Scholarshipping Our Sisters (SOS).
Carolyn Kujawa gives her remarks after being draped with a shawl.
Audrey Andersson, GC vice president and WM advisor, prays a blessing over Carolyn and Joe.
About sixty women attended the dinner meeting during Annual Council 2024.
Lori Williams, director of GC Human resources, sings "Thank You for Giving to the Lord."
Enjoying the “light supper” meeting were forty-five women members of GC Executive Committee, and twelve guests of Annual Council who serve as WM leaders in the Inter-American Division. After guests had served themselves from a buffet dinner, Galina Stele, GCWM director, introduced the women in attendance to WM departmental resources and WM mission statement before bestowing the awards.
The tributes for Heather-Dawn and Carolyn each included a biographical sketch and remarks by friends and colleagues. Speaking about Heather-Dawn were Lisa Beardsly-Hardy (director of the Education department), Elaine Oliver (associate director of Family Ministries), Katia Reinert (associate director of Health Ministries), and Nilde Itin (formerly associate director of Women’s Ministries). Speaking about Carolyn Kujawa were Nancy Wilson (Carolyn’s former student and wife of GC President Ted Wilson), Nilde Itin, and Rebecca Turner and Premila Pedapudi, WM staff members working with Carolyn and SOS.
Heather-Dawn Small herself created the leadership award in 2007 and initiated the custom of giving it during GC Executive Committee’s October Annual Council meetings held at the Adventist World Headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. Because of COVID, it has been five years since the GCWM dinner has been held for women members of the GC Executive Committee and the award bestowed.
Since 1991, more than 1.5 million US dollars has been raised and distributed in 147 countries for 2,838 Adventist women’s college scholarships.
- You may support our GCWM scholarship program with donations made online at give.
- Read the SOS newsletter at sos-newsletter.
