And the Winners Are…

Meet the 2026 Women to Watch Award winners. 

They were honored at the annual awards ceremony, which was a sold-out event Friday evening at the Wilmington Convention Center. Each woman furthers the community and excels in her field in the categories of arts, business, education, health, nonprofit/volunteer, public sector, and rising star. In a surprise move, this year’s WILMA Icon Award winner, WILMA DANIELS, was also honored with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, which is the state’s highest civilian form of recognition. 

Read below to learn the winners in each section. 

Arts
Jaya Kandasamy 

Director of Youth Development, DREAMS Center for Arts Education 

Kandasamy, who has a background in child and adolescent mental health, worked as a full-time teacher and artist before joining DREAMS, where she started as a volunteer. Her role at DREAMS expanded as she became more involved, eventually becoming the organization’s director of youth development. 

“I champion every DREAMer’s journey – supporting innovative curriculum and empowering our vibrant teaching artists. I work to ignite curiosity, encourage bold creativity, and build a space where young people and artists alike feel fearless to explore, express, and transform challenges into triumphs.” 

Click here to read more about the Arts category finalists. 

Business
Laurie Whalin 

President, Novant Health Coastal Region 

Whalin leads Novant Health’s Coastal Region in the areas of regional strategy, operations, clinical quality, financial performance, workforce engagement, and community partnerships as president. She also works with leaders within the system to deliver excellence in patient care, growth, operations, and improved health outcomes. 

“Leadership is a team sport, and my leadership style is to go all in on the team. My leadership mantra is to build high-performing teams that change the world. After teams win the Super Bowl or World Cup, you look back on them and realize just how special they were to be able to achieve such greatness. And most of the time it was because they had a team-first mentality to achieve one mission. That’s the team I am building.” 

Click here to read more about the Business category finalists. 

Education
Pam Biggs 

Principal, Codington Elementary School 

Biggs has spent the past twenty-nine years in education, with experience spanning from elementary to high school. She taught for eighteen years and has been in school leadership roles for eleven. Biggs was recently named a finalist for New Hanover County Schools Principal of the Year, and she strives for every student to find a sense of belonging and opportunity at school. 

“I’m passionate about creating a school where every child feels seen, supported, and empowered to dream big, no matter where they come from or the challenges they face. Every child deserves to walk through the school doors each morning knowing they are loved, they belong, and their future is full of possibility.” 

Click here to read more about the Education category finalists. 

Health
Charin Hanlon 

VP of Medical Education, Novant Health Coastal Region 

Hanlon was inspired to go into medical education after watching her mother’s painful journey with cancer while having limited access to healthcare. At Novant, she is in charge of 109 physicians in training and the faculty who teach them. She also oversees healthcare training programs and their accreditation.  

“Medicine has historically lacked strong female mentorship. I consider it part of my duty and privilege to also serve as a mentor to women in medicine. Learning to harness your self-confidence and be bold can be challenging. I find it can change a female trainee’s confidence simply by quietly pointing out they should look me in the eye when they share their plan.” 

Click here to read more about the Health category finalists. 

Nonprofit 
Tanya Armour 

Chief Philanthropy Officer, Novant Health Foundation 

Armour leads a team of professionals who are dedicated to working with individuals, corporations, and organizations with the aim of improving healthcare in the area through philanthropy. The work is particularly meaningful to her because she sees firsthand how her team’s efforts help foster innovation and access to healthcare in the region. 

“Like my father, who led a community nonprofit, I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to work in a job that allows me to help make an impact on the lives of others. I am deeply grateful to follow in his legacy of service.” 

Click here to read more about the Nonprofit category finalists. 

Public Sector
Kameko Howell 

Sergeant, Wilmington Police Department 

As an internal affairs investigator, Howell conducts administrative investigations; reviews use-of-force incidents, vehicle pursuits, and citizen complaints; and ensures compliance with department policies and professional standards. She is dedicated to both maintaining public trust and strengthening the Wilmington Police Department. Howell is a member of the Wilmington Police Pipes and Drums and is a first-place winner in the Public Sector Band Category at the Scotland County Highland Games. 

“Giving back to the community has always been one of the most rewarding parts of my career. Through PAL, Cop Camp, Santa Cop, and other community engagement initiatives, I have had the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with the people we serve. One of my greatest passions is serving with Pipes and Drums. Whether honoring a fallen officer, supporting a grieving family, or celebrating a special occasion, I am grateful to use music to bring comfort, pay tribute, and represent my department with pride.”

Click here to read more about the Public Sector category finalists. 

Rising Star
Gabriella de Souza 

Consumer Horticulture Agent & Extension Master Gardener Program Coordinator, N.C. Cooperative Extension 

De Souza wears many hats within the horticulture field: She manages more than 200 volunteers within the state’s largest Extension Master Gardener (EMG) program, runs the Plant Clinic, leads the Nature at Home habitat certification program, co-chairs the Cape Fear Native Plant Festival, and produces WECT’s Cape Fear Gardening segment. Among other accomplishments, she spearheaded the first volunteer association-funded EMG endowment in the state with a $50,000 founding gift. 

“Outside Extension, I own The Plant Ecologist, a science brand that educates the public through art and social media, offering scientifically accurate pins and stickers of native Southeastern U.S. species across the country and in Canada. I hold an M.S. in biology from UNCW and am currently pursuing a postgraduate certificate in horticultural science at NC State.” 

Click here to read more about the Rising Star category finalists. 

To view more of photographer Madeline Gray’s work, go to madelinegrayphoto.com.

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