SMC women honor women at annual dinner ceremony
By COLLEEN McCARTHY
Associate News Editor
The Saint Mary's community gathered Sunday evening at the fourth annual "Women Honoring Women Dinner" to celebrate the contributions, hard work and dedication of female faculty and staff members nominated by students.
This College tradition is the culmination of events celebrating National Women's Month.
"This dinner is a time for the women of the College to come together and interact with the women who are inspirations to them and who have touched their lives," said Carolyn Kelley, Student Academic Council representative for Women's Studies and coordinator of events for National Women's Month at the College.
The dinner brought together students and 10 honored women. In attendance were humanistic studies professor Gail Mandell, Jean Mowbry of Campus Ministry, psychology professor Rebecca Stoddart, biology professor Nancy Nekvasil, Spanish professor Isis Quinteros and associate professor of religious studies Phyllis Kaminski.
Absent were business and economics departments' assistant Vivian Vargo, English professor Ann Loux, Justice Education program coordinator Jan Pilarski and assistant professor of nursing Annette Peacock Johnson.
In the past, a "Woman of the Year" was selected from the nominees. That distinction, however, was eliminated this year in an effort keep the dinner community-oriented, and to eliminate the competitive aspect.
"The main goal of [National Women's Month] is to remember those women who have come before us," Kelley said. "This is such a great event because it is
important that a women's college makes an effort to celebrate Women's Month by recognizing the inspirational women on campus who serve as mentors to the younger women on campus."
Many of the women honored expressed surprise upon receiving their invitations.
"When I received the letter informing me that I was nominated, I was really surprised," Kaminski said. "That is why I think it is good women from a variety
of departments and offices in the College were nominated. Naming is very important, especially when we can name our own and ourselves."
Mandell said she was pleased by the diversity of women nominated.
"I was especially pleased to be included in a group that went beyond faculty because too often we forget that a lot of the education of women at Saint Mary's goes on beyond the classroom," Mandell said. "It is nice to see students recognizing that learning is going on beyond the classroom and textbooks."
Others were honored because their nominations came from students.
"I was overwhelmed by the kindness of the students," Nekvasil said. "It's nice to have that recognition."
For Nekvasil, the nomination was a surprise because she is on leave this year and not teaching her regular classes.
"I'm still here almost every day working with my seniors, but I'm not teaching my regular classes so this is even more of a special honor for me," Nekvasil said. "I think my students are just such a special blessing."
Mowbry said she is also appreciative of the students she works with, who make the nomination very special for her.
"The students are such a source of life, inspiration and hope for me," said Mowbry. "They give me far more than I can give them. They are such a renewing principle in my life."
Quinteros agreed.
"I am so grateful for the student or students who nominated me," Quinteros said. "I am very pleased that this comes from the students. I also feel that I am representing all of the women in my department in receiving this award. They are all doing a good job."
Students nominated the women for a variety of reasons. The student who nominated Johnson attested to her ability to bring spirituality into her teaching.
"Professor Johnson does her best to teach us nursing material so one day we'll be able to make a difference in our patients' lives," wrote one student in a nomination form. "She brings the spiritual side of nursing to our education. Even before lecture, she takes time out to pray for any special intentions our class has."
Other nomination forms praised the women for their dedication to students.
"Vivian [Vargo] is our department secretary and she is always available to the students and is always ready to help with any question or project," wrote a student.
Of Loux, one student wrote, "Her dedication to her students is 100 percent and I've never seen anyone involve a classroom in discussion and the learning process as actively as Ann has."
All News Stories for Monday, March 27, 2000
