Rancho Santa Fe resident honored by Girl Scouts San Diego
Girl Scouts San Diego honored San Diego’s 10 Cool Women of 2014 and named its 2014 Cool Girl on May 13 during a luncheon and ceremony aboard Holland America Line’s ms Amsterdam. Event proceeds will help keep Girl Scouting available and affordable for 30,000 local girls.
This is the 14th year Girl Scouts San Diego has spotlighted women whose personal and professional achievements, leadership and service to the community make them consummate role models for girls.
June Shillman of Rancho Santa Fe was among the Cool Women honorees. Born in Shanghai, she began her dance career as a child prodigy with the People’s Liberation Army. Shillman evolved into the lead soloist for its elite troupe, performing throughout Asia. While teaching dance in Tokyo, she met her husband, an American, and moved to Boston. She masterminded the idea of the San Diego Symphony’s 2013 tour of China, where the orchestra played three sold-out concerts. Shillman serves on the San Diego Youth Symphony and La Jolla Music Society boards.
San Diego’s 10 Cool Women of 2014 are:
•Melissa d’Arabian — Celebrity chef and author
•Ann Durst, SHCJ, J.D. — Casa Cornelia Law Center founder
•Zoe Ghahremani — Writer, artist
•Magda Marquet, Ph.D. — Althea Technologies founder/co-chairman
•Patricia McArdle — Author, environmentalist
•Justice Judith McConnell — Presiding Justice, 4th District Court of Appeal
•Pamela Evans Mudd — Musicmatch co-founder, community volunteer
•June Shillman — San Diego-Yantai Friendship Society president
•Nancy Spector — Estate planning attorney, community volunteer
•Deborah Szekely — Spa business pioneer, community activist
The honorees were introduced by Cool Women of prior years: Sahra Abdi, Sandra Brue, Barbara Bry, Dr. Joyce Gattas (who presented Shillman), Jeanne Jones, Karen Keltner, Carol Lam, Carol LeBeau, Fran Styles, Katie Sullivan and Gayle Tauber. Gattas (Cool Women class of 2005) is dean of the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts at San Diego State University.
San Diego Opera resident conductor/Cool Woman Karen Keltner introduced 11-year-old pianist Ursula Hardianto of La Jolla as the Cool Girl of 2014. Ursula, who has performed at Carnegie Hall twice, played a solo during the Cool Women awards ceremony.
“Like Girl Scouts, our 2014 Cool Women make the world a better place,” said Jo Dee C. Jacob, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts San Diego. “We are proud to honor them.”
Visit www.sdgirlscouts.org/cool-women.