CalVet Woman Veteran of the Year Award Recipients

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Women Veterans Making a Difference in Their Communities
CalVet Woman Veteran of the Year Award Recipients

The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) initiated a Woman Veteran of the year Award in 2009 in conjunction with its annual CalVet Women Veterans Conference. The 2011 award recipients were recognized during the annual conference held on October 7th and 8th at the Ontario Airport Doubletree Hotel. Fifteen outstanding women veterans were nominated by fellow veterans, family members, friends and various legislative offices throughout the state. Women veterans volunteered to serve on the awards selection committee and made the final decision based upon information presented in the nomination packets related to the nominees’ military service and community service supporting women veterans in local communities. The committee selected the following women veterans as the recipients of the 2011 awards: Beth Kane (Northern California) and Jawanna McFadden-Conyers (Southern California).

Northern California Award Recipient Beth Kane, of Monterey, served in the United States Army from 1983 to 2004. During her military career, she received several medals including a Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal. Kane works for the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a staff assistant at the Seaside outpatient clinic. She is the Senior Vice Commander for the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 85 and previously served as the chapter’s treasurer. Kane has continued her tireless efforts as an advocate for women veterans as demonstrated by her position as co-founder of Sisters in Submission Traveling Everywhere Reaching Souls (S. I.S. T.E. R.S), a non-profit organization that provides outreach services to women veterans and military families. She is passionate about assisting and supporting homeless women veterans and works diligently to secure supplies, food, clothing and services to ensure their future success once they have secured HUD-Vash vouchers. Kane was honored earlier this year by the DAV and received the California Disabled Veteran of the Year Award.

Southern California Award Recipient Jawana McFadden-Conyers, of Inglewood, enlisted in the United States Army National Guard in 1997 as a Staff Sergeant and has had several deployments, including Iraq. She has received numerous military awards such as the Army Commendation Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, and Army Achievement Medal. McFadden-Conyers serves as a regular volunteer at local Stand Downs to support the VFW and JAG sections. She works at the Inner City Law Center, which is located on skid-row in downtown Los Angeles, where she actively works on projects serving homeless women veterans and low-income veterans who are in need of assistance with filing claims for benefits, appeals and accessing services. Recently, McFadden-Conyers offered consultative services to women veterans at the first all women veterans Stand Down held in Long Beach. She is a member of VFW Post 2122.

The California Department of Veterans Affairs congratulates the following outstanding women veterans who were also nominated: Valerie Lewis, Mia Guerts, Yesenia Thomas, Irma Cooper, Mildred Lewis, Jennifer Barker, Stephanie Stone, Cheryl Brandt, Deborah Johnson, Valerie Thomas, Teresa Luna, Naomi Chavez and Amanda Wertz. * * * * * *