The Junior Service League of DeLand named its sixth DeLand Woman of the Year March 3, this time choosing one of its own and the founder of the annual recognition program.

The 2023 honoree is Volusia County Court Judge Rachel D. Myers, whose year on the bench and considerable volunteer work in the community are especially impressive considering that she lives with an 80-percent reduction in her vision due to Stargardt disease, which manifested when she was in high school, causing her to lose her vision suddenly over a matter of a few weeks.

Myers has been a Volusia County Teen Court judge, and served with the MainStreet DeLand Association, the Krewe of Amalee, the Domestic Violence Advisory Committee and other organizations. She founded 4SITE, a nonprofit that provides scholarships to low-vision individuals who are seeking education to further their independence.

In addition to the Woman of the Year title, this year the Junior Service League also presented the Heart of the Community Award to Latisha Pasley, an officer with the DeLand Police Department, in recognition of her involvement, especially with young people in the community.

Also nominated this year for the Woman of the Year honor were:

• Dr. Lindsay Brinkmann, a teacher of history in the advanced-placement and international baccalaureate programs at DeLand High School, who was recognized as a leader in her field who missed few opportunities to encourage students and foster their involvement in civic and governmental work.

• Barb Girtman, an award-winning Realtor who represented District 1 on the Volusia County Council 2018-22 and was tapped for her leadership on numerous committees, community groups and boards.

• Sarah Hancock, a Downtown DeLand business owner who has won numerous awards and volunteers with Rotaract of DeLand, as well as the DeLand and Greater West Volusia Chamber of Commerce and the West Volusia and countywide Young Professionals Groups.

• Kelly Lawrence O’Leary, a third-generation DeLandite who has lent her talents to the MainStreet DeLand Association, the Faith, Hope & Charity organization, the Fall Festival of the Arts and Parachutes for Patriots, among others. She is chief operations officer with the DeLand and Greater West Volusia Chamber of Commerce.

• Latisha Pasley, an officer with the DeLand Police Department, who was nominated for her “tireless community outreach,” including with the DARE program, the Drug Take Back Program, the Police Department’s Operation Good Cheer holiday program and DeLand National Night Out, among other efforts.

• Ella Shepherd, a mental-health counselor and owner of Endeavors Counseling, who also owns Community Yoga & Dance, which provides movement classes of all types on a donation basis. Shepherd is an active volunteer with DeLand Pride and the DeLand Counseling Co-op, and at the Chisholm Community Center and Spring Hill Boys & Girls Club.

• April Sniffen, veteran teacher of journalism and English at DeLand High School, who was recognized for her devotion to her students and her untiring work as sponsor of The DeLand Growler student newspaper. Sniffen was DeLand High School’s Teacher of the Year in 2018.

The keynote speaker at the March 3 Woman of the Year luncheon was Linda Ryan, the 2022 Woman of the Year and one of the founders of the ME STRONG charity that supports cancer sufferers and their families.

The Junior Service League also announced at the luncheon that it will present grants on Tuesday, March 28, to the various organizations supported by its fundraisers.

— While Beacon publisher Barb Shepherd is DeLand Woman of the Year candidate Ella Shepherd’s mother, this story was written with no prejudice toward any of the other candidates or winners.