EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE: The GLOWing Journey of Judy: Part 2

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Fate can be magical. Take Judy Girard, who’s retired in New Hanover County. A chance meeting years ago at a women’s conference would lead to her helping an at-risk student practice for a college interview. That young woman left an impact on judy that lives on today. She’s part of a program, an all girls academy, for 1st generation college students in our area.
Here’s Part 2 of the GLOWing Journey of Judy.

We covered Judy Girard’s amazing career in Part 1. “There was a lot of pressure for TV stations to put women in top 4 management categories,” she told us of her lengthy career in TV.

We told you of her move from major tv markets like Chicago, LA, and NYC to cable tv and the Lifetime channel, the Food Network, and HGTV.

Now in retirement, she is still inspiring women. Younger women.

“I think what struck me the most,” Girard said of her role as Chairwoman on the Board of Directors for the Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington(GLOW), “(I know)what struck me the most was choice, that these kids get instilled.”

As fate would have it, Girard would cross paths with a school in new york that moved her. From there, a fascinating chain of events would lead to a trip back there with New Hanover County Leaders.

“It was Mayor Saffo, Ben David, two people from the school board, Don Hayes and Lisa Estep,” Girard said, “it was a remarkable group of people and literally sitting in La Guardia we all looked at each other and said we should do this and that’s how it got birthed.”

Now in its first year, with 100 students, the GLOW Academy in Wilmington is following the lead of the school, in East Harlem, Girard crossed paths with years ago.

“There aren’t a lot of people in their lives,” she said of the students enrolled in schools like this, “in their school system, in their families saying you can do anything you want, you can get it done, we can figure out how to get it done.”

And that’s what this GLOWing journey of Judy continues to do.

“They are amazing group of girls,” she said of the first year students, “and they are already, already you can feel the oh my gosh, I have a choice, I can be a doctor.”

Judy Girard, your career is one of inspiration for women of all ages. Even in retirement, Judy, you are Extraordinary!

To watch Part 1 of the GLOWing Journey of Judy, click here.
For more information on the GLOW Academy, click here.