The Betty King and Ruby Awards
We provide additional awards to help deserving Women with their education as well as recognizing Women who help other Women.
The Betty King Education Award
The Betty King Education Award, sponsored by the daughter of Charter Member and 13th Club President, Betty King, is given to a woman in recognition and support of her efforts to enhance her career potential. The winner of this award is typically chosen in conjunction with the Live Your Dream Award winners and is given a monetary award to be used for educational needs.
The Soroptimist Ruby Award
Formerly the Soroptimist Making a Difference for Women Award, the Soroptimist Ruby Award: For Women Helping Women recognizes and honors the first federation president, Ruby Lee Minar. A ruby is also a deep red gemstone associated with wisdom, importance, vitality, strength, vivacity, power and love: all words embodying the strong and compassionate women who are our award recipients.
The Soroptimist Ruby Award honors women who have worked to improve the lives of women and girls through their professional and/or volunteer work and whose work inspires and encourages other women and girls. The award is presented annually.
Our 2023 Betty King Winner and 2020 Ruby Award Winner!
Betty King education award winner - Tangela Rich
Tangela Rich is the mother of a six-year-old. She is pursuing an Associate Degree at Montgomery College, with an emphasis on education, and is earning A’s and B’s while working to support her family. After completing her Montgomery College coursework, Tangela plans to transfer to the University of Maryland to complete a degree in Math Education. She also serves as the Vice-President of the Student-Parent Club, which supports parents who are striving for a college degree. The first in her family to attend college, Tangela plans to give back to her community by donating to organizations that have supported her schooling and by teaching math to children in public schools.
Her college professor writes: “Tangela has been candid with me about her financial struggles from her start as a teen mother up to her current time of attending college while caring for her child and working. Add to that the stress of starting college during the pandemic and that makes the A and B grades she has been earning every semester very impressive. She will be a fantastic role model for other young women from diverse backgrounds to inspire them to learn and enjoy math.”
Ruby award winner
Geri Sliffman
We recognized Geri for her Distinguished Service as a College Advisor with Montgomery County Public Schools – Blazing a trail of inspiration and making an extraordinary difference in the lives of high school students and their families!
Geri joined MCPS officially in 1996 as a Media Assistant and then as an Instructional Data Analyst at Wayside ES. In 1995, she began her own college counseling and advising firm, Campus Quest, until 2008 when she joined Gaithersburg High School as the College Career Advisor. In that capacity until her recent retirement, she assists students in all aspects of the college planning process. This includes the application process, testing, financial aid, and scholarships. Geri supports the work of the school counseling program by meeting with students and parents individually and/or in groups on career planning and college entry process. Geri builds and maintains rapport with colleges, career contacts, military representatives, and the business community. She has been the College Advisor for the Montgomery County NACAC College Fair for the past 10 years and has received awards from the City of Gaithersburg, NACAC, MCPS, GHS and the Maryland Congress of Parents and Teachers.