San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame: Honoring the City’s Most Powerful Change-Makers of 2025

In a city celebrated for its rich culture, historic resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit, few honors carry the weight and prestige of the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame (SAWHOF). For more than three decades, this organization has celebrated women whose leadership has left an enduring mark on the community — across business, education, health, public service, the arts, and beyond.

Each year, SAWHOF inducts a new class of trailblazers, creating a living legacy of excellence, mentorship, and inspiration. The 2025 class stands as one of the most diverse and impactful in recent memory — a roster of 15 remarkable women whose influence ripples far beyond San Antonio’s city limits.

Who’s Being Honored in 2025?

This year’s honorees represent excellence across a sweeping range of sectors:

• Civic Leadership: Kim Jefferies (President & CEO, Haven for Hope) and Roxana V. Vargas (Retired Air Force Civil Service, GS-15)
• Communications: Norma Reyes (Businesswoman and Fundraiser)
• Creative Arts: Shelly Lares (Award-winning Tejano Singer-Songwriter)
• Education (PK–12): Yvette Reyna (Executive Director, Boerne Education Foundation) and Dr. Claudia L. Walker (Educator, St. Philip’s College and NEISD)
• Health Professions: Dr. Cheryl E. Davis (Family Dentistry), Dr. Monika Kapur (President & CEO, University Medicine Associates), and Dr. Nichole J. Van de Putte (Director of Women’s Health, CommuniCare Health Centers)
• Higher Education: Dr. Maria Danet Lapiz Bluhm (Professor & Director of International Programs, UT Health San Antonio)
• Law: Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez (Bexar County Court at Law No. 13)
• Military: Colonel Eileen Collins (Retired U.S. Air Force and NASA Astronaut)
• Public Service: Renee Watson (Director, Bexar County Small Business & Entrepreneurship Department)
• Volunteerism: Velma Willoughby Kemp (Grants Chairman, San Antonio Area African American Community Fund) and Dr. Keely Holland Petty (Reverend & Founder/CEO, Kick Start Your Life)

Notably, Dr. Nichole J. Van de Putte makes history as the first third-generation inductee — following her mother, former State Representative Leticia Van de Putte (Class of 1992), and grandmother Belle San Miguel Ortiz (Creative Arts, 2002).

Spotlight on Three Standouts

Among the most recognizable names are three inductees whose influence reaches deep into the public eye and social media:

🌟 Renee Watson — As Director of Bexar County’s Small Business & Entrepreneurship Department, Watson has spent over two decades building a thriving ecosystem for minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses. Her recent recognition as the 2025 SBA San Antonio District Small Business Champion cements her place as a statewide economic leader. Watson is a tireless advocate for equity, diversity, and opportunity — reshaping not only policy but people’s lives. See River Walk Magazine's recent feature story on Renee Watson.

🌟 Dr. Keely Petty — A force in both faith and mental health spaces, Dr. Petty is the founder and CEO of Kick Start Your Life™, a global wellness consulting firm. She is known for her groundbreaking work destigmatizing mental health care in communities of color, as well as her leadership roles with the San Antonio Global Chamber of Commerce and the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Dr. Petty’s combination of faith-based leadership and trauma-informed expertise has positioned her as one of the city’s most influential wellness voices.

🌟 Shelly Lares — Affectionately known as “Little Miss Dynamite,” Shelly Lares is a Tejano music icon with more than 30 years of success in the music industry. She has won countless awards, cultivated a fiercely loyal fan base, and used her platform to champion cultural preservation, women’s empowerment, and community uplift. Few artists have combined longevity, artistry, and advocacy as powerfully as Lares.

A Night to Celebrate Excellence

The 2025 San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Gala will take place on Saturday, May 31, 2025 — an evening dedicated to honoring these extraordinary women while raising critical funds for scholarships that support the next generation of women leaders. The gala not only recognizes past achievements but also builds future opportunities, ensuring that young women across San Antonio can pursue their dreams with the same tenacity and vision as the honorees.

For event details or to purchase tickets, visit the official SAWHOF website at sawomenshalloffame.org.

Why This Matters

In a time when women’s contributions to society, business, culture, and public life are under renewed scrutiny and celebration, the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame offers more than just a yearly accolade. It serves as a permanent reminder that leadership takes many forms — and that the city’s strength lies in the diversity, resilience, and brilliance of its women.

As we applaud the 2025 inductees, we also honor a larger truth: that the work of building a more just, creative, and prosperous community is never finished — and it is women like these who will keep pushing the mission forward.

Pictured on the cover shot: San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
Seated L-R: Rosalinda “Chayito” Champion, La Juana Chambers Lawson, Teresa Niño, SA City Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda, Dr. Norma Elia Martinez Rogers, Anita Uribe Martin, Marcie Ince; Standing: JoAnn Browning, Rebecca Helterbrand, Dr. Teresa Ann Silva, Dr. Barbara Taylor, M.D., M.S., Anne Parker Krause, Morgan McMahon, Dr. Kelly Nash, Judge Yolanda Huff.

About the Author
Teresa Chavarria, Editor-in-Chief, River Walk Magazine

Teresa Chavarria is San Antonio’s renowned Beauty Guru and the visionary behind The Beauty Spot and Evolve TX Med. With over 27 years of experience as a licensed esthetician, educator, and innovator, Teresa leads the conversation on skincare, noninvasive beauty, and wellness. As Editor-in-Chief of River Walk Magazine, she brings her passion for beauty, empowerment, and transformation to every page.

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