VANCOUVER, Wash. – Four Southwest Washington women were honored with Distinguished Woman of the Year awards for making a difference in the lives of others at Washington State University Vancouver’s 10th-annual Women of Distinction celebration. Held March 29, the event wrapped up Women’s History Month at the university.
2018 awardees include:
Â鶹´«Ã½ students
Maggie Handran is a student ambassador, Psychology Club president and Cougar Pride co-president. She also works with the writing assessment office. Interested in art, soccer and dancing, she plans to become an art therapist for a children’s hospital.
Since 2015, Diana Larson has been developing a music and performance group at Clark County Juvenile Court called The Esther Street Project. A senior majoring in human development, she teaches music, songwriting and performance to young people in detention and on probation.
Â鶹´«Ã½ faculty or staff
Sujatha Shynne is an IT specialist for Â鶹´«Ã½ and a student studying for her master’s degree in business administration. She played a big role in bringing the first Diwali celebration to Â鶹´«Ã½. Sujatha volunteers with the Downtown Camas Association on First Fridays.
An honorable mention in this category was given to Allison Ramsing. As a Â鶹´«Ã½ Academic Coordinator, Ramsing presents workshops for students on success skills such as time management, goal setting, CliftonStrengths assessment and study strategies.
Community member
With a master’s degree in public affairs from Â鶹´«Ã½, Audrey Miller works as the Southwest Washington regional field organizer for Planned Parenthood Votes, mobilizing volunteers for equal access to reproductive health care. She is a founding member of the Fourth Plain Forward Business District Association.
An honorable mention in this category was given to Peggy McNabb. An Evergreen High School teacher, McNabb began the GRADS program in 1988 to support pregnant and parenting students. She works to keep teenaged parents in school, prevent future pregnancies and provide students with resources.
A special Lifetime Achievement award was presented to Michelle McIlvoy, who started the Women of Distinction program at Â鶹´«Ã½ 10 years ago when she served as student involvement manager.
The awards have been given in concordance with Women’s History Month since 2009 to recognize women in Southwest Washington for inspiring, mentoring and empowering others. Nominations are accepted for women in three categories: Â鶹´«Ã½ student, Â鶹´«Ã½ faculty or staff, and community member. Winners are selected by a committee that includes faculty, staff, students and community members.
About Â鶹´«Ã½
As one of six campuses of the Washington State University system, Â鶹´«Ã½ offers big-school resources in a small-school environment. The university provides affordable, high-quality baccalaureate- and graduate-level education to benefit the people and communities it serves. As the only four-year research university in Southwest Washington, Â鶹´«Ã½ helps drive economic growth through relationships with local businesses and industries, schools and nonprofit organizations.
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MEDIA CONTACT(S)
Brenda Alling, Office of Marketing and Communications, 360-546-9601, brenda_alling@wsu.edu