Sharon Johnson is 2024 Inspirational Woman Award honoree

Julie Buntjer, The Daily Globe, Worthington, Minn.
·2 min read

Apr. 22—WORTHINGTON — Sharon Johnson, a Worthington native, director of ISD 518 Community Education and a local business owner, was recognized Monday evening with the 2024 Inspirational Woman Award. The honor was presented during the annual Salute to Women banquet at the Worthington Event Center.

Johnson is the 26th recipient of the award, which originated with the city's presentation of the first Athena award to Fredi Lowry in 1989. The award is given to an exceptional woman who goes above and beyond in her career and in her community.

Worthington's Mike Woll nominated Johnson for the award, saying she is extremely deserving of the honor and defines what the award is all about.

"She is a bright, informed, compassionate, articulate woman who lacks the ability to complain. If she complains, I don't know where — you never hear it from her," shared Woll. "She has multiple superpowers, including the ability to lift up others around her. This is a power she uses often and well.

"She has the amazing ability to overcome very big obstacles — obstacles that would have stopped many of us," Woll continued. "She somehow wields those superpowers with incredible grace."

Johnson grew up in Worthington and graduated from Worthington High School. She is active in FORWARD Worthington, the Worthington Area Foundation and Noon Kiwanis, serves as a deacon in her church, owns Johnson Jewelry and leads District 518 Community Education.

"This year's recipient has embraced and celebrated the diversity of our community like no other, often providing personal guidance," Woll said. "She has done all this while going through the loss of a soulmate, overcoming extreme health concerns and remodeling a building."

In accepting the award, Johnson encouraged fellow women in the room to be resilient and their authentic self — a message she recently shared with a young woman in her office.

"I certainly didn't think I would be a widow at 50 and taking over a business that my husband had run," she said. "But you do what you gotta do. It's actually been a joy to take on this new role. You learn that you can dig down deep and you have the strength to do a lot of things you didn't know you could do."

Several members of Johnson's family were on hand for the award presentation.