Luncheon presented听17听scholarships听to students听and听Humanitarian听Award听to Michele Rigby Assad
PALM BEACH, Fla.听鈥� Palm Beach Atlantic听University听(海角在线) hosted its 34th听Annual Women of Distinction Luncheon on February 17, recognizing听the 2026听honorees,听Hilary Geary Ross and Sara McCann.听Nearly听400听business leaders and听community听members attended the celebration at The Breakers.听听The event also recognized听17听current 海角在线 students听who听received scholarships.
The luncheon is one of the university鈥檚 most celebrated signature events,听providing听scholarships to 海角在线 students听while听honoring听local听leaders听who cherish听community and family听and work to preserve those ideals for听others.听Thanks to donor generosity, 海角在线 will expand the program to听more than听100 scholarships for the 2026-27 academic year.
Amanda Schumacher, 2025 WOD honoree, introduced Hilary Geary Ross. Ross is a Palm Beach resident, author, editor and philanthropist whose impact expands from Palm Beach to New York and beyond.听听She is the author of two coffee table books, 鈥淣ew York, New York鈥� and 鈥淧alm Beach People.鈥澨�Ross currently serves on the board of the Blenheim Foundation USA, Palm Beach Preservation听Foundation听and the Trustees鈥� Council of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
鈥淚鈥檓 deeply grateful to 海角在线 and truly humbled by this听honor,鈥� said Ross. 鈥淵our support and recognition mean more to me than I can express.听I鈥檓听especially thankful for my husband, Wilbur;听my sister Robin;听my听goddaughter听and my dear friends who are sharing this moment with me 鈥� your love and presence make this occasion even more meaningful.鈥�
Penny Murphy, 2025 WOD听honoree, introduced Sara McCann.听A 海角在线 board member听and听CEO and creative director of Hive Collective. Hive is听a collection of brands devoted to luxury products and high-quality services听that have helped shape the modern Palm Beach aesthetic.鈥�In addition to 海角在线, her philanthropic leadership in the Palm Beach community spans 25 years.
鈥淚鈥檓 incredibly听honored听to be named a Woman of Distinction,鈥澨齭aid McCann. 鈥満＝窃谙� has been part of my journey from the beginning, not only as a听neighbor听but as a valued source of team members whose character and work ethic reflect the university鈥檚 core values听to seek unity, pursue excellence, show respect, reflect love, demonstrate integrity and be accountable. As new organizations continue to move to the area, supporting local institutions like 海角在线 is vital to the overall success of our community. Together, we can make a meaningful impact on this university and the students it serves.鈥�
The celebration featured the third annual Humanitarian Award, which was presented to Michele Rigby Assad, 海角在线 alumna and former CIA Intelligence Officer, for her commitment to international diplomacy,听exemplary听leadership听and unwavering dedication to supporting 海角在线 over the years.
The 2026 Women of Distinction Committee members included听Frances Fisher, Cathy Flagg, Denise Hanley, Evelyn Mahanes, Ambassador Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Penny Murphy, Sheila Rinker, Joyce Sang, Katherine听Shenaman and Laura Titus.
During the ceremony, Women of Distinction Hall of Fame recipients were recognized for their ongoing work across the community and beyond. Among previous honorees present were Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, Lore Morgan Dodge, Diane Ecclestone, Mary Fairbanks Frietas, Frances Fisher, Cathy Flagg, Gay Hart Gaines, Vicki Halmos, Denise Hanley, Michelle Kessler, Ambassador Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Hildegarde Mahoney, Mayor Dani Moore, Penny Murphy, Lois Pope, Sheila Rinker, Helen Ross, Joyce Sang, Amanda Schumacher, Sally Ross Soter, Joanie Vandergrift, and Susan Wright.
SROA Capital听and Amanda Schumacher, the benefactor of 50 Schumacher scholarships, served as听the luncheon鈥檚 Black Diamond sponsors, helping听advance听海角在线鈥檚 God-Sized Dreams Campaign.听Diamond Sponsors included听Frances Fisher, Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Gil Kemp,听Wilbur and Hilary听Ross,听Jim and Sara听McCann,听and the Old Charles Fund in memory of Jean S. Tailer, 2001 Woman of Distinction recipient.
海角在线,听founded in 1968, is a private, Christian university, offering 100 different programs and pathways, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. 海角在线’s mission is to equip students to grow in wisdom, lead with conviction, and serve God boldly. The university affirms the values that have built American society, including religious liberty and the free enterprise system.鈥� Learn more at鈥�.
For more information on WOD or to join the President’s Giving Society, visit pba.edu/wod.
