Accomplishments of students, faculty celebrated at ceremony

The successes of women students and faculty members were lauded at the annual Celebration of Women ceremony, held March 17 in the Kirkhof Center.

Awards and scholarships were presented by the event sponsors: Women's Commission, Women's Center, Positive Black Women and Women and Gender Studies. More than 100 people attended the ceremony.

Kathryn Remlinger, professor of English, received the Barbara Jordan Award. Presented by the WGS program, the award honors an individual who has been a longtime advocate for women, and who has helped bridge the gap between traditional academic fields and women and gender studies.

Remlinger joined the English Department in 1995. She was called a "steady force for women faculty and staff, and students" by Shaily Menon, associate professor and chair of biology, who introduced Remlinger. Remlinger is chair of the Committee on the Status of Women in Linguistics, is active with a refugee resettlement group in the area, and had served as advisor to the student organization FORGE (Focus on Rethinking Gender and Education). She also helped write the proposal to make WGS a major at Grand Valley.

Nancy Giardina, assistant vice president for Academic Affairs, received the Maxine Swanson Award. Presented by the Women's Commission, the award recognizes an individual who contributes to an environment that supports the rights of all women on campus.

Giardina was recognized as a great supporter to both the Women's Center and Women's Commission. She is also active in the American Council on Education, and serves on numerous Grand Valley committees that are geared toward advising and student retention. As former chair of the Movement Science Department, Giardina developed a faculty-mentoring program and increased the number of tenure-track positions from five to 12.

Laurie Witucki, associate professor of chemistry, received the Women's Impact Award, which is presented by the Women's Commission to someone who is committed to improving the lives of women on campus or in the community.

Witucki serves as faculty director for WISE housing. Housed in Koeze-Weed Hall, the WISE program is an academic living and learning community designed for first-year women majoring in science, mathematics, engineering or computer science.

Karen Gibson, associate professor of physics and former Impact recipient, said since Witucki arrived at Grand Valley in 2000, "she hit the ground running in support of women at Grand Valley."

The Women's Center presented Outstanding Female Student awards to Rachel Ahee, Anne Marie Carson, Traci Joseph and Shauntya Simon. Positive Black Women gave scholarships to six students: Patricia Bogard, Latrice Jones, Krashawn Mc Elveen, Clamika Prince, Antoinette Wolf and Jessica Young. Margaret Danenberg received the Jean Enright Scholarship.

Pictured, from left, are Laurie Witucki, Nancy Giardina and Kathryn Remlinger. They were among the people recognized for their advocacy and support for women on campus during the annual Celebration of Women ceremony / Photo by Amanda Pitts