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The YWCA Academy for Women of Achievement will add six names to its distinguished roster during induction ceremonies Tuesday evening at the Opryland Hotel.
The Academy's ``Class of 1995'' will include Inez Crutchfield, Jane G. Eskind, Betty C. Nixon, Martha Ragsdale Ragland, Peggy Weil Steine and Leah Rose Werthan, who all are being cited as role models for other women and girls.
First American Corp. will be this year's corporate inductee.
The willingness to provide leadership is the primary criteria, according to event organizers.
``We looked for someone who has shown leadership possibly in a variety of charities and organizations,'' says LuAnn Waltemath, co-chair of the event.
``We looked for people who have demonstrated leadership and provided programs in the community and made this a better city.''
The Academy for Women of Achievement was founded four years ago by the YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee.
``We decided we really didn't have a program dedicated to women who have demonstrated leadership and stood out in the community,'' says Waltemath.
``We developed a nomination form that is sent out to every organization, business, club and group, and then we placed an ad inviting others to nominate women who have been strategic leaders in our community,'' says Waltemath. ``A panel of judges then decides who is elected -- sometimes we have as many as 150 nominations.''
Women are selected from a variety of communities and areas of interest. However this year, most of the inductees have had political influence in Nashville.
``Many of this year's inductees have been involved in political activities, and it surprised us that most of the votes turned out that way,''...