Woman of the Year
By Becca Edwards | Photography by Ritterbeck Photography
Patti Maurer was at the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce Ball chatting with friends, when she noticed a picture of “My Fair Lady” (a production she had worked on) being displayed on a large monitor.
A moment later, a picture of Maurer photobombing a “Tuck Everlasting” set popped up.
And then her husband, David, nudged her to keep watching the montage. That is when she heard the announcement: Zonta Club of Hilton Head was naming her Woman of the Year.
The Zonta Club of Hilton Head Island is part of a global network of professionals whose mission is to empower women through service and advocacy. The Woman of the Year award recognizes local women who have made significant contributions in their professions and to the community, according to the Zonta website.
“Each year a selection committee is formed which includes current Zonta members, a past Woman of the Year recipient and individuals active in our community,” said Linda Warnock, chair of the Woman of the Year committee. “The committee publicizes the award and requests nominations from the public. After the nomination deadline, all committee members receive and review the nominations. We then meet, discuss and score the individual nominations and make a final selection.”
The fun begins after an individual is selected.
“The fun part is arranging for the recipient to attend the Chamber Ball without knowing that they are receiving the award,” Warnock said. “We want the winner to be completely surprised.”
And Maurer was just that.
“It was a total surprise,” she said. “It was the very first award of the night. I did not know what to do. We were at table 37, and there was a jet runway to the stage. They started playing ‘Dancing Queen.’ I had to make a speech, and in my head, I was like, ‘Wait a minute. Do not say any names because you will leave someone out and there are so many people to thank.’”
A major role in Maurer’s surprise was the fact that she was being acknowledged for something she is simply passionate about — helping our area’s youth experience and benefit from the arts. When she talks about her involvement with Hilton Head Preparatory School’s productions (she’s the school’s artistic and performing arts director) and the Island School Council for the Arts, it is evident. She lights up.
“I am a goofball in order to give the kids an opportunity to try and not be worried someone is going to laugh at them because I have already done something silly. I also think the kids know I care, and I will keep trying until we get it right. I will not give up on them,” said Maurer. “It is so great to see these kids soar not just opening night but all the way through the end of the run. It is also great to be part of a culture where everyone supports each other. The older kids help the younger kids, and it does not matter what school they are from or what art form they do.”
Maurer believes we too can play a role in bettering our community.
“Volunteering here runs strong,” she said. “And if you can enhance and enrich a school or organization, why not do it? It does not have to be financial. It just takes time and using whatever skills you have.”
