The Koser Jewelers Tennis Challenge, held at Hempfield recCenter, again included its annual lunch at Blue Collar Restaurant in Landisville. Sponsored and hosted by Monica Rakoczy of EnterTraining Solutions, this year's event had a turnout of nearly 130 attendees.

Although it has been held for many years during the tournament, 2021 was the first year the event was dedicated to recognizing inspiring women from the community. The honorees at the 2022 lunch were Miriam Witmer and Carrie Johnson.

Witmer, an avid Hempfield recCenter tennis player, is the assistant professor of educational foundations at Millersville University, where she advocates for and mentors students of color with the ultimate goal to create a more diverse teaching workforce. Her local involvement also focuses on creating a socially just community. She is co-founder of the Social Justice Collective at Millersville and is a DEI trainer. Additionally, she serves as president for the Celebration of Life, a fundraising organization supporting local cancer patients and their families. She is also a longtime partner of the School District of Lancaster's Project Teacher Development, which focuses on diverse student and staff initiatives.

Johnson founded the Lancaster branch of Girls on the Run in 2009 and was instrumental in growing this local organization throughout Lancaster and Lebanon counties, impacting the lives of nearly 20,000 girls in grades three through 12. Girls on the Run is a nonprofit, 10-week program aimed at inspiring girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running. Core values taught include confidence, care, connections, competence, and contribution to impact the community and develop compassion. The overall goal is empowering girls to have the self-confidence to achieve their highest potential and ultimately make a difference.

Recently, Johnson founded Carrie Johnson and Associates and Drop Below the Surface Retreats. In her new endeavor, she is working to empower women with strength-based coaching and leadership development to build self-assurance in the workplace as well as in personal life. Johnson was unable to attend the luncheon but was represented by Maine Keith, a Girls on the Run board member who spoke about the mission of the organization.