A pair of local attorneys are among the nine women selected to be honored at Girls Inc.’s 13th annual UnBought & UnBossed Awards luncheon.

Paige Evatt, pro bono director and staff attorney at Legal Aid of East Tennessee, and Nicole Osborne, government affairs counsel at Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, will be recognized on April 19, 2017.

Named for the phrase coined by Shirley Chisholm during her run for the 1972 Democratic presidential nomination, the UnBought & UnBossed Awards honor local women who, through career achievement and community involvement, have made an impact on the lives of women and girls.

Community members nominate women residing in Hamilton County and then high school-aged girls participating in Girls Inc.’s Women’s History Project choose the honorees.

As part of the Women’s History Project, girls learn about the history of women’s rights in the United States and the traits of leaders. This serves as the foundation for the girls to select an honoree that inspires them.

Aareon Reed, a junior at Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, chose Evatt. Evatt says she is surprised to be a nominee.

“Many of my mentors are past recipients of this award, and to join them in this honor is a humbling experience,” she says. “I never expected to receive such an honor this early in my career, but I’m grateful beyond words and will happily take it and run with it.

“A young woman telling you she sees something in you that inspires her and wants to be like you is the highest compliment I can imagine.”

Komal Patri, a freshman at Girls Preparatory School, chose Osborne.

In addition, the participants hone their interview, research and public speaking skills as they develop presentations to deliver in tribute to the UnBought & UnBossed honorees at the annual awards luncheon in April.

2017 Unbought & Unbossed honorees

Sheila Albritton

Director, career services and counseling, Chattanooga State  Community College

Paige Evatt

Pro bono director and staff attorney, Legal Aid of East Tennessee

Rafielle Boone Freeman

Director of Quality Improvement, BlueCare Tennessee

Tenesha M. Irvin

Regional sales and marketing manager, Horizon Hospitality Management, Inc.

Janice Neal

Youth Services Manager

Public Education Foundation

Dr. Marcia Noe

Professor of English/Director of Women’s Studies, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Nicole Osborne

Government Affairs Counsel, Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel

Christy E. Rashed

Vice president, Jamal M. Rashed Memorial Scholarship Fund

Ronelle Sellers

Henderson Hutcherson & McCullough

Director of marketing

Participating girls

Manaiyah Chatman

Sophomore, Center for Creative Arts

Yarelis Forte

Senior, Ooltewah High School

Jahlah Johnson

Junior, CSAS

Jessica Labone

Junior, CSAS

Komal Patri

Freshman, Girls Preparatory School

Aareon Reed

Junior, Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy

Frida Ulwimana

Senior, Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy

Keana Westfield

Senior, Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy

Terra Wright

Sophomore, STEM School