The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) today announced that U.S. Navy veteran Joanie Dickerson was named its 2020 Woman Veteran of the Year.
Dickerson, a Bagley resident, dedicated twenty years (1980-2000) to the Navy, achieving the rank of Chief Petty Officer, which provided the opportunity to serve in a variety of leadership positions. Upon her retirement from the military, she continued her service by improving the lives of others in her community.
Created in 2009, the WDVA’s Woman Veteran of the Year Award recognizes women veterans in Wisconsin who have compiled records of exemplary service as military service members, veterans, and outstanding members of their communities.
Twenty-one women veterans from around the state were nominated by their peers for the 2019 award, and each were scored by a five-person panel based on a number of criteria such as contributions to the veterans’ community and the resulting impact.
The WDVA also honored three women veterans with the “Women Veterans Impact Award.” The following recipients were among the highest-scoring nominees through the selection process. Each received certificates commending them for their contributions to Wisconsin’s veterans’ community.
- Julia Atkinson, US Army veteran, Menomonee Falls
- Halli Lannan, US Army veteran, Wauwatosa
- Sandra Schumacher, US Army veteran, MadisoN
