The Celebrity Luncheon, held each year in April, originated in 1985 and is the original awards ceremony of its type in the Lubbock area. With the annual recognition of Headliners, Gold Medalists and the winner of the prestigious George Mahon Award, the Lubbock Chapter celebrates the positive contributions and achievements of those people who make Lubbock and West Texas a great place to live.
Proceeds from the Celebrity Luncheon support the Bea Zeeck AWC Scholarship for women studying mass communications at Texas Tech University as well as the professional development of members.
Headliner Awards are presented to people or groups of people whose achievements or contributions have received widespread positive recognition through the media.
Gold Medals are awarded to people who, over an extended period of time, have worked to improve the quality of life for a broad spectrum of those living in the Lubbock area.
The Louise Allen Award, established in 1991, is presented to an organization that has exhibited outstanding corporate community service. The award is named for Louise Allen, founder of the Lubbock Professional Chapter of Theta Sigma Phi (now Women in Communications).
Communicator of the Year is the highest award given to a member of the Lubbock Professional Chapter. Voted on by the members, this person is chosen for outstanding personal and professional achievement and support of the local chapter.
The George Mahon Award for Extraordinary Public Service, named in honor of Lubbock’s long-time U.S. Congressman, is presented only when AWC believes a person has dedicated his or her adult life to a broad array of public service efforts. Service must go beyond the demands of any job or office held by the recipient. The award is presented to an individual who “can’t say no” when asked to engage in public service and whose service consistently results in accomplishments.
Judges for Headliner, Louise Allen and Gold Medal Awards are the members of the Celebrity Luncheon Committee, and the names of those winners are announced prior to the luncheon.
Judges for the George Mahon Award are the current president and president-elect, the immediate past president and any member of the organization who may have won the award previously. These are the only people who will know the name of the George Mahon winner prior to the announcement made at the luncheon.