The Betty Whitmire Sumner award recognizes exceptional cumulative work during a member’s League career. Specifically, the award recognizes a member that embodies The Junior League of Midland, Inc.’s mission statement of developing the potential of women, promoting voluntarism, and improving the Midland community. Monica Tucker is most deserving of this award.
From Monica’s earliest days, she was a rockstar. She started competing in swimming and used this sport on the collegiate level. (She was recently inducted into the Midland ISD Hall of Legends, I’m telling you ROCKSTAR!) I’m not sure if you know any collegiate student athletes, but they work HARD! Up early, away often, very competitive and grueling schedules, but Monica continued to be a rockstar. After graduating from Texas A&M (whoop!), Monica moved to Dallas to teach. Monica met her husband Jay, on a blind-date and they married two years later (best blind date ever!). They transitioned back to Midland in 2007. Monica taught elementary school for 10 years and directly impacted at least 200 students. God then led Jay and Monica to start a family through adoption and now have two beautiful children Tess and Titus.
Monica did not just settle for impacting our future by teaching or being a competitive athlete, she joined the Junior League and quickly became a rockstar. Monica’s placements include Advisory Planning Committee Member (Governance Team Leader), Nominating Chairman, Shotguns and Stilletos Co-Chairman, Face the Race – Abell Chairman, Membership Placement Advisor, Tumbleweed Reporter, and Face the Race Mentor – Goddard. In each of these positions Monica excelled. Mary Nava her co-chair and nominating committee member said,
“No matter what the circumstances, Monica always has a cheerful, can-do disposition. Her
positive attitude and work ethic are enviable. She strives for doing the best job possible at all
times and always accomplishes her goals. Her influence and effectiveness as a mentor, leader,
and volunteer are qualities of someone who genuinely cares about a greater good and exhibits a
true servant’s heart. She makes people feel valuable and important and unknowingly motivates
them to be the very best right along with her.”
On one of the award nomination forms, the nominator stated,
“Monica has invested many hours in promoting the League and making sure it is the very best
organization it can be. She has put forth effort to ensure our League members are being looked
after. Her confidentiality and morale are a true treasure. Monica is an avid promoter of the
League and a stand-up community member. Her League career is extensive.”
This year, Monica served on the Advisory Planning Committee and had planned to keep a low profile. Monica was the perfect committee member! Even though she has previously held leadership positions, she never once “lorded” it over me or anyone else. She was the consummate professional. But, she did step up and continued being a rockstar. She took the lead on our Governance Team. Saying she “stepped up” seems like such an understatement. When my third baby decided to come an entire month early, she seamlessly addressed the membership and kept the proverbial ball rolling so that we could accomplish a HUGE change without missing key deadlines.
Always humble, when I asked Monica what were her takeaways from the League, here are her thoughts.
I can do SO much more than I ever thought I could. Certain people believed in me and asked me
to chair various committees or be a certain position…I would have never thought I could
have…but I did! And I’m so thankful for being pushed out of my comfort zone.
To see that my way isn’t the only way. Open your mind to see what else or how else you can get
the end result.
To REALLY read the information. It sounds silly but over the years I’ve become a “skim
reader”…quickly glancing over letters, emails, etc… But after chairing certain events or having to
learn / teach on a certain topics, I’ve retaught myself to slow down and read it, thoroughly.
Monica stated she was so very thankful for her time as an active member. Specifically, she was thankful
for the following.
I’ve learned so much about being a leader, finding who I am, and how to combine the two. I’ve
been able to use this training in my current job as Group Fitness Manager at Heroes-Fitness
(organizing people, being strong yet fair).
The AMAZING women that I’ve met throughout my 8 years!!! SO many fun and laughable
moments and a few tearful moments too. It’s what made the journey worthwhile.
I’m excited to take the training I’ve received and apply it to the adventures ahead of me.
As you can see, Monica accomplished rockstar status in high school, but didn’t rest on her laurels.
Monica continued building her skills through college and used this drive to accomplish great things for the League. I’m so proud to know Monica and to have worked with her. There is not a more deserving recipient of the Betty Whitmire Sumner Award. I’m sure someday (you know when we are really old!) there will be the Monica Stroman Tucker Award.
-Charity Rohlfs, Active
