On the Circuit: YWCA’s AWA Honoree Party

Women honoring women. For more than three decades, the YWCA has honored women through its Academy for Women of Achievement awards. Dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting dignity for all, the organization created the awards to recognize women who serve as community role models through their professional accomplishments, leadership and service.

This year, guests gathered at the new Amazon headquarters for the Honoree Party, a preamble to the awards night in October. Co-chairs Missy Eason, Valerie Smith Molette and Cameron Simmons moved through the room, visiting with guests and celebrating the seven women selected for the 2026 class.

The evening gave friends, colleagues and supporters an opportunity to congratulate the honorees ahead of the formal ceremony while learning more about the varied careers and community work that earned each woman a place in the academy. The class represents leadership across business, education, hospitality, athletics, philanthropy and community service — a reflection of the many ways women have shaped Nashville and the region.

The 2026 honorees are Cathy Bender, first vice president and senior financial adviser at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management; Beth DeBauche, retired commissioner of the Ohio Valley Conference; Cherae Farmer-Dixon, dean of Meharry Dental School at Meharry Medical College; Tracey Henry, community volunteer; Edie Carell Johnson, chair of the VUMC Board of Directors and president of Legal Counsel Carell Family LLC; Dee Patel, managing director of The Hermitage Hotel; and Tara Scarlett, president and CEO of the Scarlett Family Foundation.

Dollar General Corp. will receive recognition as the 2026 corporate honoree.

With October’s awards ceremony still to come, the Honoree Party offered a more intimate celebration of this year’s class and the accomplishments that brought them together. It also continued a tradition more than 30 years in the making: women recognizing the leadership, service and influence of other women in their community.