Women of Achievement honors mark 25th year

Eight Women of Achievement and three Young Women of Achievement will be honored March 23 in an awards ceremony at the Hilton Vancouver Washington.

This is the 25th year that Clark College and YWCA Clark County will present the awards.

The 2009 Women of Achievement are:

-- Bobbi Casanova, program manager for the Human Services Council’s Retired and Senior Volunteer program.

-- Jane Cote, academic director and associate professor of accounting at Washington State University Vancouver’s business school.

-- Jeanne Firstenburg, executive vice president and chief operating officer of First Independent Bank.

-- Addison Jacobs, director of public affairs for the Port of Vancouver.

-- Debra Jenkins, professor of early childhood education and psychology at Clark College.

-- Terry Murphy, interior designer and co-owner of Design Showroom.

-- Deb Wallace, member of the state House of Representatives.

-- Carol Parker Walsh, CEO of ParkerWalsh Consulting.

The 2009 Young Women of Achievement are:

-- Sarah Cole, Battle Ground High School senior.

-- Stephanie Nicholson, Camas High School senior.

-- Alexa Ortiz, Skyview High School senior.

The Women of Achievement Celebration was founded in 1984 by Pat Watne, director of women’s programs at Clark College, to honor local women for outstanding community contributions.

The awards program marks National Women’s History Month — March — and International Women’s Day — March 8.

The ceremony is Southwest Washington’s largest honoring women. In its 25 years, 200 women have been recognized.

The ceremony will began at noon.

Tickets cost $35 per person. For more information, call 360-906-4301.