From the very beginning to the very end, love for what one does and determination to do it the best way possible was the obvious theme of the 13th annual Woman of Distinction awards luncheon on Thursday at the Parkway Plaza Hotel.

"Ella Fitzgerald once said, 'Where there is love and determination, you can't go wrong,'" said mistress of ceremonies Shauna VanderLinden from the Wyoming Medical Center as she began the festivities.

"When you love what you do, you are going to be able to do great things," said Roosevelt High School social studies teacher Susan Griffith, minutes after being named the 2008 Woman of Distinction.

She appeared absolutely stunned that she won, as she accepted congratulations from those in attendance and planned to get back to school for the afternoon session.

She joked that someone had said, "You know if you win, you have to give a speech."

"I said I'd talk about the Gulf of Tonkin, and then I'd sing, because that's what we did this morning in class," she laughed.

Griffith has taught at Roosevelt since 1988 and was named the American Legion teacher of the year in 2007.

"I tell my kids, when you find what you like, it's going to mean something," she said. "I tell them you have to give back or you're not going to get anything."

Mike Pickett, principal at Roosevelt, wasn't stunned that Griffith received the award.

"Here, we call her the lady of excellent distinction," he said. "What a great award for someone who has put so much energy and time into her students, her school and her community."

The awards luncheon was sponsored by a number of different Casper groups, including Soroptimist International of Central Wyoming, the American Association of University Women, Alumnae Panhellenic and The American Society of Women Accountants.

Other finalists this year were Mary Ann Budenske, executive director of Poverty Resistance and the Poverty Law Center; Laura Burback, investment specialist at First Interstate Bank; Erica Costello, full-time student at UW/CC; Kenyne Schlager, work force development training coordinator at Casper College and City of Casper vice-mayor; and Marta Stroock, longtime advocate and community volunteer.

As is the custom, last year's winner, Marcia Patton, gave the keynote address, relying on her 34 years in the classroom to present "Woman of Distinction 101," which included an assignment and homework for each of the 115 in attendance.

Patton said that every adult probably only has had "two or three" really great teachers in their lives, "that magical person in the front of the room who could speak to you deep down."

She said her first great teacher was her grandmother, who cut an apple, showed her the star pattern in the middle where the seeds are, and told her "each of us has a star inside of us."

Sponsoring groups will accept nominations for the 2009 Woman of Distinction beginning in January. And yes, Griffith will have to give a speech at next year's luncheon.

Reach Community News editor Sally Ann Shurmur at (307) 266-0520; sallyann.shurmur@trib.com or see her profile and blog at my.trib.com/Sal/blog

Susan Griffith 101

*Raised and educated in Texas; graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in education;

*Still has tendency to say "y'all" on occasion;

*Moved to Casper in 1979;

*Serves as chairman of Rotary Youth Leadership Program for junior high students;

*Is driver for Meals on Wheels and coordinates Roosevelt's MOW student program;

*Member of Casper Meth Awareness Committee;

*Lay leader at United Methodist Church;

*Board member at Central Wyoming Counseling Center.