Washington State University Vancouver will celebrate 33 women who inspire, mentor and empower others at the annual Women of Distinction event at 6 p.m. March 26 in the Firstenburg Student Commons, 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave.
The event is free, but guests must register to attend at www.vancouver.wsu.edu/distinction. Free parking will be available to registered guests.
Dr. Allen Gabriel, co-founder of the Pink Lemonade Project, will be the keynote speaker. New or gently used business clothing will be collected for the Dress-A-Coug Clothing Drive.
A Distinguished Woman of the Year award recipient will be chosen in each of three categories: high school student, WSU Vancouver student and community member. Recipients are determined by a committee of WSU Vancouver staff, faculty, students and community members.
High school nominees
• Brittany Curtiss, a senior at River Homelink in Battle Ground, also is a Running Start student at Clark College. She is a preschool teacher’s aide and volunteers with seniors, with her church group and other community service projects.
• Karina Paul, junior, is president of the National Honor Society at Henrietta Lacks Health and Bioscience High School. Last summer, she attended Johns Hopkins University and plans to become a neurosurgeon.
WSU Vancouver student nominees
• Elizabeth Brodie, senior, will graduate in May with degrees in anthropology and public affairs. She is the station manager at KOUG Radio.
• Kia Calderon hopes to teach social studies when she completes her degree. She is married and has three sons.
• Sarah deVincenzi, senior, will graduate in May from the Creative Media and Digital Culture program. She is the director of communications for the Associated Students of WSU Vancouver.
• Kelsey Gingerich, who will graduate in May with a degree in public affairs, is the community service coordinator for ASWSUV and an intern at the National Coalition of Violence Against Women.
• Christi Hamilton, a senator for ASWSUV, will graduate in May with a degree in social science, focusing on personnel psychology/human resource management.
• Christie Isenhart, who will graduate in May with a degree in human resources, has served as the director of corporate relations with the student Human Resource Society and as chair of the Student Media Board.
• Stephanie Leeper, junior, is studying personnel psychology/human resource management. She is programming intern for the Office of Student Involvement and monthly event coordinator for the Student Activities Board.
• Carly Lowder, chair of the Student Activities Board,will graduate in May with a major in personnel psychology/human resource management.
• Chloe Moesch, director of leadership development at ASWSUV, will graduate in August with a degree in personnel psychology/human resource management.
• Sami Reel, junior, is majoring in psychology and English and plans to become a school counselor. She is a senator and secretary with ASWSUV.
• Kirsten Reynolds, a biology major who will graduate next year, chairs the Campus Affairs Committee with the ASWSUV, is a student ambassador and a staff member at the Office of Student Involvement.
• Ashlyn Salzman, director of legislative affairs for WSU Vancouver, will graduate in May with a degree in Public Affairs.
• Cambri Shanahan, a senior studying human development and fine art, is the outdoor recreation intern for the Office of Student Involvement and editor-in-chief of the Salmon Creek Journal.
• Natasha Sharer, a senior accounting major who will graduate in May, is the director of student enrichment for ASWSUV and works at the Office of Student Involvement.
• Amalia Vacca is a recent graduate of the Creative Media and Digital Culture program.
Community member nominees
• Heidi M. Johnson Bixby is principal of Johnson Bixby & Associates, a financial planning firm. She is chair of Columbia Springs; treasurer for H-RoC, a political action committee that advances women leaders in Southwest Washington and co-founder of Global Sojourns Giving Circle.
• Melissa Boles, an academic advisor at Clark College, is an advocate for education and women’s rights, and is involved in Clark County politics.
• Jennifer Cullison, a teacher at Woodland High School, created a science, technology, engineering, math and health sciences program at her school. She volunteers with Free the Children and has created a similar local charity.
• Laura Ellsworth’s works in volunteer management includes organ donation awareness, allocation policy and reproductive health, rights and justice.
• Carla Feltz is family community resource coordinator at Washington Elementary, one of the poorest schools in Clark County. She connects families with basic needs and advocates for students and their families.
• Amy Holmes, founding principal of Hayes Freedom High School in Camas, makes sure her students have support in finding their life path.
• Jennifer McDaniel is a Washougal city councilwoman and parish administrator for her church, St. Anne’s Episcopal. She is a mentor for the Business Growth MAP program at WSU Vancouver and co-leader of her daughter’s Girl Scout troop.
• Erica Nicewonger works in gang intervention and outreach with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington.
• Michelle Opgrande, a guidance counselor at Monticello Middle School in Longview, says she values opportunities to help young people realize their potential.
• Merlinda Sain, a human resource generalist for WSU Vancouver, made 500 fleece hats for Share and 43 for WSU Vancouver’s Facilities Operations crew. Next, she will warm the ears of U.S. troops in Greenland.
• Debra Sanders, a professor of accounting at WSU for 30 years, moved from the Pullman campus to develop a master’s program at WSU Vancouver.
• Sara Scheetz, vice president and cofounder of At Your Place Senior Care, volunteers with Meals on Wheels, Southwest Washington Elder Abuse Prevention Coalition and Northwest Association for Blind Athletes.
• Margarita Topal, operations manager at Home Guard Roofing NW, uses her public relations and leadership skills to engage with the local business community.
• Kathy Young, a lifelong volunteer, is a tutor for the Vancouver School District in the AVID program, a global effort to prepare students for success in school.
• Jessica Zachariasen, a Clark College student who will earn her associate’s degree this spring, works as a stylist and a barista to help pay for college.
• Erica Zutz volunteers with Americorps VISTA with active military families in Billings, Mont.
