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2021 Woman of the Year Awards April 26, 2021 Presented by a virtual event 1

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Welcome & Awards Executive Ilene Shapiro Summit County Dr. Theresa S. Beyerle Host Leianne Neff Heppner Summit County Historical Society, President & CEO Recipients Dr. Shanu Agarwal - Special Pandemic Health Lisa Aurilio - Special Pandemic Health Olive Beason (Husk) - Posthumous Nealie D’Abate - Special Pandemic Health Greater Akron Hindu Sewa Samittee - Perseverance Josy Jones - Creativity Rev. Nanette Pitt - Faith Christy Rohm - Special Pandemic Health Donna Skoda - Integrity Presenting Sponsor: Sponsors: Women’s History Project Sponsor - Kitty Endres, Ph.D. Local History Patron Sponsor - Sophie Albrecht Donna Skoda Recipient Sponsor - Rosemary Reymann 3

Dr. Amy Acton - Could not join us due to a family emergency. Dr. Amy Acton, director of the Ohio Department of Health from 2019–2020, has been praised for her steady approach to the novel corona virus, COVID-19, in guiding the state at the onset of the pandemic. Now living in a suburb of Columbus, Dr. Acton is a northeast Ohio native hailing from Youngstown. Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes, an Akron and Summit County native and resident, has referred to Dr. Acton as \"the real MVP of Ohio’s coronavirus response.\" As the top health adviser to Gov. Mike DeWine during the COVID-19 pandemic, she combined scientific facts with an empathetic nature to guide the people of Ohio during an unprecedented crisis. Dr. Acton is a licensed physician in Preventive Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Acton completed her internship in pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She completed her residency in preventive medicine at The Ohio State University. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from The Ohio State University. 2021 Women’s History Project Committee Co-Chairs: Kitty Endres, Ph.D. & Theresa S. Beyerle, Ph. D Leianne Neff Heppner Judy James Willette Riley Special thanks to Jamie Newhall, event videographer and editor, and Marlo Schmidt, Sue Hobson, Bernett Williams and Kathy Romito from our local health care institutions for their assistance. Woman of the Year Award Donors: Marie Covington Jenn Kidd Elizabeth Brainard Sandwick Sarah Vrandenburg Blake Binion-Holliday Elbridge Locklear Louise Kuhns Harvey Terry Lueck Ted Sikora Marisa Warrix Leianne Neff Heppner Carrie Snyder Becky Woodruff The Summit County Historical Society of Akron, OH Board of Directors and Staff Officers Directors Tom Clark - Chair Theresa S. Beyerle, Ph.D. Dave Lieberth Jason Petrik Chas Schreckenberger Elizabeth C. Campbell - V. Chair Theresa S. Boware Deborah Loughborough Tim Tober Jeff Walters Karen Hackenberry -Secretary Carrie Burrier GinaKaye Maddox Patrick Weschler Virginia Wojno-Forney Brad Schoenfelt - Treasurer Keith Collett Joshua Moore Kitty Endres, Ph.D. Adam Motter Gary Hartman Woodrow Nash Bob Hutchison Rev. David Nelson President, CEO Education Team Curatorial Leianne Neff Heppner Mary Conley Renee Hennemmann Dave Gates Membership Reva Golden Mary Conley Janet McCaulley Accountant and Gift Shop Facilities Denise Remark Lundell Christopher Steiner SummitHistory.org 550 Copley Road, Akron, OH 44320 4

Executive Ilene Shapiro In 2016, at large council member Ilene Shapiro was serving as president of Summit County Council when she was appointed to the position of County Executive. In ac- cepting the position, she became the first female County Executive in the State of Ohio. In November of that year, county residents voted to keep her in this role. Shapiro again made history by being the first female elected County Executive in the State. In planning for the Suffrage Centennial in 2020, Executive Shapiro convened a commit- tee of women in organizations across the county with a focused effort on recognizing Sojourner Truth’s presence and speech here in Akron for the 1851 Ohio Women’s Convention. The campaign to place a statue made by artist Woodrow Nash is currently active in the community. Theresa S. Beyerle, Ph.D. Dr. Theresa S. Beyerle, was previously served as associate director of the Institute for Teaching and Learning, directing the service learning program for the University of Akron; and as the director of institutional research for a local nonprofit. Beyerle earned her bachelor’s in English from UA, a master’s in teaching from Kent State, a master’s in social administration from Case Western Reserve University, and a Ph.D. in public administration and urban studies from UA. Beyerle brings more than 25 years of active involvement in the Akron community with an emphasis in the nonprofit and social service sectors. She currently serves on the board of the Summit County Historical Society. She has served on the boards of Proyecto RAICES, Crown Point Ecology Center, YWCA of Summit County, Project LEARN, Coming Together Project, Women’s History Project, Women’s Network, and Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, as well as other advisory boards. In addition, she is a graduate of Leadership Akron, and has earned numerous awards for her service to the community. Kathleen “Kitty” Endres, Ph.D. Dr. Kathleen L. Endres is distinguished professor emerita of Communication at The University of Akron (Ohio). A trained historian, Endres does research on magazines, journalism history, women’s studies and local history. She is the author or editor of six books, written many scholarly and popular articles and book chapters and presented more than 100 convention papers. In 2017, Dr. Endres was presented with the Sidney Kobre Award for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism History, the highest honor bestowed by the American Journalism Historians Association. She is also an Emmy and Telly-award winning producer of documentaries, including “BLIMP! Sports, Broadcasting and the Goodyear Airship”; “Rebels on Lake Erie: A Pirate, A Prison, A Plot”; and “Akron Women: Another Look at History.” 5

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Shanu Agarwal, MD Special Pandemic Health Some might call Dr. Shanu Agarwal, Akron’s Dr. Fauci – a familiar, reassuring physician who appeared on television with updates on the coronavirus and how to stay safe during the pandemic. She demonstrated how to wear a mask and discussed the benefits of hand sanitizers. It was the kind of information that Summit County residents needed. Teachers, children, even hospital administrators sent her thank you notes. More than a few prayed for her. She needed those prayers because she was facing a medical tsunami. Before Ohio felt the full brunt of COVID- 19, Dr. Agarwal reached out to colleagues in other states for information about this new virus. She especially focused on Michigan, where numbers were increasing and where she had interned at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. That early information helped Summa prepare for what was coming. Once COVID hit Ohio, Summa Health – thanks to Dr. Agarwal – had plans. But few could predict what would happen. Dr. Agarwal and the other infectious disease doctors and nurses worked non-stop with a heavy case load to help their patients. Dr. Agarwal worked every day for six weeks in a row without a day off, until Summa got needed drugs to fight the infection. An infectious disease specialist and chair of infection control at Summa, Dr. Agawal has been on the frontlines of the fight against the pandemic since the very beginning. She’s seen the young and the old battling this little-understood virus since March. Today, however, Dr. Agarwal and her team at Summa better understand the disease and incorporate new treatments to those hospitalized with COVID. Shanu and her team are also mindful that their patients need more than the new drugs. Isolated from their families, the hospitalized COVID sufferers rely on their health care providers for strength and interpersonal connections. As Shanu told the Beacon Journal in December 2020, “I’ve been treating patients since the beginning of the pandemic, and I think the hardest part of all of this is just not knowing what the course is going to be like. What’s even harder is actually seeing that families are not able to see their loved ones. We, as health care providers, are the families for these patients during their stay here.” Shanu grew up in Northeast Ohio, and currently lives in Solon with her husband, Sheel, and three children. She earned a medical degree from Northeast Ohio Medical University before completing a residency and fellowship at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. 7

Lisa Aurilio, MSN, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE Special Pandemic Health Lisa Aurilio, Chief Operating Officer, is responsible for all the necessary resources at the Akron Children’s Health System consisting of two hospitals, four regional health centers, 80 subspecialty practice locations, a primary care network of 32 offices, a school nursing program and a home care agency. Her job is to make sure that agency caregivers can provide the highest quality of care to their patients with the right staff, equipment and facilities to be successful. As the novel coronavirus reached closer to Ohio, Lisa met with the head of infectious disease and other senior hospital administrators to prepare for impact locally. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she and the Chief Medical Officer have served as Incident Commanders holding daily meetings for implementing the system’s emergency procedures that were then broadcast to the staff often in videos. She even made a safety video for the Summit County Historical Society to share for its “Artifacts with Edie” educational programming. Lisa acquired PPE, prepared for potential surges and then orchestrated the transfer of thousands of staff members to work from home plus the movement of physician and nurse practitioner telehealth visits. Lisa was also involved with the Resiliency Committee at the hospital. It’s work supported the staff in a variety of ways from the positive messages painted on the windows, the distribution of meals donated by local individuals and companies, an employee emergency relief fund and even the concept of setting up a grocery store in the cafeteria for staff to pick up food essentials. She has organized a complex vaccination program for Children’s Hospital employees and the community. Beginning in December, some 6502 Children’s employees (doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, social workers, child life therapists and members of the hospitals environmental services) started to get their COVID inoculations, which meant countless questions for Lisa. In February, Children’s started inoculating K-12 employees in preparation for schools reopening in the Akron area as well as vaccinating those with developmental disabilities and medical conditions. A native of Girard, Ohio, Lisa and her partner Dianne LaCerva live in Twinsburg Township with their cats. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master of Science degrees from Kent State University College of Nursing and a Master’s of Business Administration degree from Kent State’s Executive HealthCare MBA program. 8

Olive Beason (Husk) Posthumous Covid-19 has not been the first nor will it be the last pandemic. In 1918, Akron faced the Spanish Flu epidemic and it found a powerful ally in Olive Beason, a relative newcomer to the city. An RN from Chicago, she came to Akron to set up the nursing corps for the city’s Health Department. Like many women, Beason’s history is not fully known. She was born and educated in Iowa. She spent much of her early professional nursing career in Chicago and came to Akron in either 1916 or 1917 (newspaper accounts differ). Thus, she was an experienced nursing professional in her early 40s when she arrived here. In those first days, she had many responsibilities: recruiting nurses, engaging the community in public health campaigns and starting much needed medical clinics throughout the city. According to all newspaper accounts, Olive was tremendously successful in involving the women’s community in her public health work, recruiting nurses (by the time she left in 1919, there were 32 nurses – “health police women” in the city, the Evening Times said), and creating baby welfare, maternity and TB clinics in the city. She is best known, however, for the work that she, her nursing corps and volunteer nurses aides achieved during the Spanish Flu epidemic in 1918. She and her nurses tended the sick in the “humble homes of Akron” and assumed responsibility for flu patients in the giant Akron Armory, the ancillary facility that cared for influenza sufferers. By all newspaper accounts, Olive, her nurses, and female volunteer aides recruited from the community, performed heroic work. The Beacon Journal praised them for tending to an estimated 1300 flu cases with a “remarkable low percentage of mortality.” In 1919, Olive left her job in Akron to marry Thomas S. Husk. The couple moved to New York where Olive became the director of the Manhattan Health Society, an innovative cooperative program tending to immigrant populations. Many of her programs were modeled on the services she started in Akron. During World War II, Olive, in her 70s, was active in the Red Cross, supervising surgical dressings for six workrooms in Mississippi. Olive Beason Husk died in Gulfport, Mississippi in 1969. She is buried at Evergreen Cemetery . 9

Nealie D’Abate, DHSc, MHSA, C-TAGME Special Pandemic Health Nealie D’Abate, Western Reserve Hospital’s vice president of Organizational Development and Chief Learning Officer, earned an additional title and more responsibilities with the onset of the novel coronavirus. In her role with incident command, Nealie then also became the Logistics Section Chief and COVID Vaccine Logistics Coordinator. Since she was already in charge of formal and cultural procedure development with her team writing and producing all the necessary learning management manuals for interns, residents, nurses and doctors, the new assignment was a natural fit. Nealie’s ability to conquer challenging problems and situations stems from growing up with a father who would often hand a roadmap to the back seat asking his three daughters to figure out the backroads that would take them to their destination. Or maybe it’s the fact that she chose to conquer learning to play the French horn in fifth grade. In the past year, Nealie organized needed supply lists, procured materials through the finance department and also focused on the patient experience where valets even became entrance screeners. When China shut down and supplies could not be purchased, she worked day to day with the supply manager to ration materials and keep patients and employees safe. Nealie also set up a team to sterilize her hospital’s N95 masks, as well as those of local partners, while devising an exchange point and safe retrieval system. At one point, Nealie even planned for a way to turn the grounds of Blossom Music Center into a large scale COVID-19 testing center. Unfortunately, her efforts in collaboration with the Cuyahoga Falls police and fire departments was never enacted due to the lack of testing supplies locally and nationally. In her logistics role, Nealie implemented processes to help support and maintain operations and then delegated this work to various hospital staff who were all willing to assist in any way and as needed. Nealie shared that “It is the best feeling in the world when serving the community.” A native of Athens, Ohio, Nealie is married and has one son. She earned bachelors and masters degrees from Ohio University and a doctoral degree from A.T. Still University in Kirkersville, MO, the first osteopathic school in the nation. 10

Greater Akron Hindu Sewa Samittee Perseverance The COVID pandemic has been only one of the challenges that the Bhutanese refugees in North Hill have faced. Many survived expulsion from their native land, decades in refugee camps in Nepal and endless red tape before they could settle in the United States. With the help of Akron’s International Institute, some 15,000 Bhutanese have settled in Summit and Portage counties. Many of the Bhutanese live in North Hill in multi-generational homes, work in front-line jobs and use group transportation. Those conditions made the Bhutanese especially susceptible to the coronavirus. According to the Summit County Public Health in June 2020, the Asian population in Summit County accounted for only 4 percent of the county’s residents but almost 15 percent of the coronavirus cases. In 2020, learning that face masks were important weapons in the fight against coronavirus, Bhutanese women – Tika Luitel, Purni Magar, Sita Poudel, Sumi Baraily, Maya Bhandari, Hemanta Tirwa, Lachi Dahal, Durga Katel, Phul M. Khati and Anulata Subba as part the Greater Akron Hindu Sewa Samittee -- made face masks for hospitals and the North Hill immigrant community. The Bhutanese women made more than 5000 face masks for nurses, doctors and other health professionals at Summa. In addition, the mask makers, who are primarily women, also sewed and distributed masks free of charge to immigrants who frequented Asian grocery stores in North Hill. The Greater Akron Hindu Sewa Samittee also donated face shields and masks to homeless shelters. Because the North Hill community was vulnerable to coronavirus, the Samittee created a rapid response task force to help families as they dealt with coronavirus and raised funds to help defray the cost of funerals for COVID victims. The group also used its website to educate the immigrant community about COVID, proper use of masks, social distancing and other ways to stay safe during the pandemic. Mahananda Luitel, president of GAHSS, explains, “Providing services to mankind is the only motto for us.” 11

Josy Jones Creativity Josy Jones, just 29, is a playwright, actor, director and community builder. She is the founder of the Chameleon Village Theatre Collective. Her work there focuses on activating under-utilized spaces while building and facilitating community engagement. As part of the Chameleon Collective, Josy was working on interviewing West Hill residents about “HOME,” when the pandemic struck and a summer of unrest followed. As a result, the questions, the process and the responses changed. Josy explained, the question became “what does HOME mean to Black women living in the US?” The process of asking the questions was transformed – to keep everyone safe. Residents were interviewed separately, socially distanced or by phone. Today she and her company are rehearsing, “incorporating socially distanced movement techniques” to create a new piece, one that will chronicle “HOME” during the pandemic from a different perspective. In the summer and fall, when not at home, working on “HOME,” she shared her craft with Akron audiences, assisted New World Performance Laboratory construct their newest work, and performed outside, socially distanced. She offered her interpretation of Sojourner Truth’s historically accurate speech given here in Akron, May of 1851, in relationship to the one written twelve years after the fact know as “Ain’t I a Woman?” In July, she and three other young artists will take over the Center for Applied Theater and Active Culture in Akron. A native of Cleveland who then moved to Georgia, Josy currently lives in Akron with her partner Floco Torres. She holds a B.A. in Theater from Wesleyan College in Macon, Ga. Photo by Autumn Bland. 12

Rev. Nanette Pitt Faith The Rev. Nanette Pitt is the first woman and first immigrant (from South Africa) pastor of the First Congregational Church of Akron, the oldest church in the city. The First Congregational Church, established in 1833, has witnessed much of Akron’s history; it weathered the devastating Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918. But nothing could have prepared its ministers and the congregation for the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many churches in the area, the FCC closed in mid March 2020, shifting to virtual services. As Nanette explains, a church “is not the building but the people.” Although closed, its work continued. Under Nanette’s leadership, the “Feeding Hope Food Pantry,” which supplies the needy in the city, was reconfigured – never closed. The need was too great in the food desert of downtown Akron. Nanette recruited younger volunteers from FCC membership and the community to help run the pantry, pack bags and load cars. The church also continued its involvement in the popular “Let’s Grow Akron” program throughout the COVID pandemic. Of course, that demanded some planning and restructuring. Under Nanette’s guidance, the volunteers within the church continued incubating seeds and starts for “Let’s Grow Akron” and community gardens in the area. Even the church’s “Let’s Grow Akron Plant Sale” continued but had to be reengineered. FCC volunteers welcomed gardeners, who longed for bumper crops of vegetables and flowering yards during the COVID summer, in a safe, contact-free marketplace. The church also kept its commercial kitchen open so that a female-owned start-up business could continue operating. As Nanette explains, “we tried to play our part, serving the community and its needs.” Nanette has continued her usual responsibilities – counseling congregation members during the pandemic, mentoring a female associate pastor through ordination and preparing for the virtual services. Nanette sees her spiritual responsibilities consistent with her community work. “I feel that I would like to empower people to be spiritually connected and be a part of a church that enables ALL people.” A native of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Rev. Nanette lives in Highland Square with her husband Rev. Steven Savides. 13

Christy Rohm, DNP, RN NE-BC Special Pandemic Health When COVID-19 was declared a pandemic and those in the community began getting the virus, Cleveland Clinic Akron General turned to the nurse manager of the Neuroscience Unit and her team to transition the unit into the institution’s first COVID-19 unit. It was a logical decision. The Neuroscience Unit had private rooms making it an ideal location since so little was really understood about the virus. Also, Christy Rohm was an experienced nurse manager and her team was a dedicated, talented group. She remembers coming in to check on the staff the night the very first COVID-19 patient arrived on the unit. That was back in March 2020, and Christy and her team have been caring for patients with COVID- 19 ever since. It has not always been easy. Christy explains that leading a team when you yourself feel so much uncertainty is something that she had never experienced. One of the most difficult and emotional challenges was when patients were at the end of their life and family could not be present. Christy recalls her team using IPADS and even their personal cell phones so that patients could speak to their loved ones before they passed. It was, and is, such an emotional time for everyone. Christy witnessed so much compassion and teamwork during this trying year. “It’s been a roller coaster ride of emotions and challenges, but I could not be more proud of my entire team,” Christy states. She wants to share this honor with her staff on 9100 and with all of the nurses and caregivers of COVID patients everywhere. “They are the ones who have done and continue to do the work, caring for their patients with the utmost compassion. I am so honored to lead such an amazing team. Their strength and resilience is recognized more than they will ever know. I know that we will never forget this past year….the good and the bad. I feel grateful to have played a part in it and only hope that I have been able to provide enough support and motivation to my team as they continue to fight this battle.” Born and educated in Akron graduating from North High School, Christy did not immediately decide to go to nursing school. After her grandmother was diagnosed with cancer and was treated at home by hospice nurses, Christy realized that her passion was in nursing. She attended the University of Akron’s College of Nursing while working at Akron General. Christy obtained her MBNA from Kent State University and most recently a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Waynesburg University. Christy’s free time is spent with her amazing 11-year old daughter Kendall, her fiancé Troy Louis and their sweet mini Goldendoodle Pumpkin. 14

Donna Skoda, MS, RD, LD Integrity As the Health Commissioner for Summit County Public Health, Donna Skoda is the face of the region’s battle against coronavirus. If there’s a question about opening schools safely, how to apply state mask mandates, or interpreting trends in infections in the area, chances are you’ll be contacting Donna and her staff. When Donna took over as Health Commissioner in 2015, the Health Department saw her as the ideal candidate. “Donna brings to the position her comprehensive leadership experience, deep knowledge of the many communities within Summit County and a forward looking perspective,” stated the board of health. Her past work in maternal child health, lead abatement, community assessment, as well as state and federal grants provided the skills to oversee operations of the health district, such as environmental, clinical and community based programs plus administrative functions. Those qualities have all been tested during this pandemic. Since 2020, Donna’s knowledge of the many Akron and Summit County neighborhoods has helped Summit County Public Health plan effective strategies to begin testing and contact tracing – and to be sure that vaccines are distributed equitably. Donna quips that “The last year has been a ‘historical year’ for public health.” While the agency was working to kick off a 100 year celebration of public health - it was organized after the pandemic of 1918 - she said those plans went up in “pandemic smoke” in March 2020. They switched gears to respond and mitigate the present day pandemic. Since pandemics don’t come with instructions, Donna’s team needed to immediately make adjustments to current operations and programming to respond to the situation. They limited programs in response to the shut downs and then modified work that had previously included face to face, home visits and group efforts. Her staff was diverted to assist with the pandemic response. Donna came to the Summit County Health Department as Director of Community Health Services in 2001. She was appointed deputy health commissioner in 2010 and assistant health commissioner in 2013. Previously, Donna was with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health. A native of Steubenville, Ohio, Donna is a registered, licensed dietitian with degrees from Kent State University, the University of Akron and a Master’s degree in Public Health and Nutrition from Case Western Reserve University. She and her husband live in the area with their pug dogs. 1920-2020 15

Ellie Payne Award Co-Artist With 14 different projects on her bench, Ellie Payne feels at peace. Using experimentation and her nonstop curious mind to drive her work, she is happiest when her hands are busy. She lives her life full of passion, adventure, and the overwhelming urge to create art. Growing up in Cincinnati, Ellie filled her summers with art camps, blacksmithing courses, and Kentucky lake time with her family and friends. Watching her grandpa fix the mangled tractor weekly inspired her to investigate welding and metals more. This drive continued as she moved to college to pursue a BFA in Metalsmithing and Jewelry at the University of Akron, Myers School of Art. Bundled in the love for art compartment in her heart, lie the skills and artwork of welding. While she loves fine arts metalsmithing, she also plans to pursue a welding certificate and start a lucrative career working on a larger, perhaps more industrial scale. During her time in college, her work was shown mainly in Akron, Ohio. Some of the exhibitions include the 83rd and 84th Annual Juried Student Exhibition Show in the Emily Davis Gallery in Akron, the 2020 Student Scholarship Show at Myers School of Art, University of Akron Choirs “Senses” concert (showing sculpture). During her college years, she stays busy selling and repairing jewelry and controlling the social media for Squirrel City Jewelers, a local Kent jewelry and repair store. She also has worked for the Metals studio at Myers School of Art since she was a freshman, collecting knowledge on how to run a studio space and a happy, functioning studio. Her art usually has a funny explanation to it using mixed media and found objects. Her color palette is typically dark with a pop of orange here and there. Payne is in the process of starting her own line and selling her work in Kent as a production line and one of a kind. Driven by her intuition, not much is planned, ever. Mary E. Myers, Ph.D. Award Co-Artist Professor Emeritus of The University of Akron Criminal Justice Program Mary Myers was introduced to the marvels of geodes and petrified wood during a cross-country camping trip with her family in 1966. Her interest in lapidary art then developed as her father made jewelry for the family and friends from the rocks picked up along their travels. Just 13 years later, Mary inherited his stones and equipment but these sat unused for 40 years as Mary pursued her own careers initially as a Spanish and French teacher, then as a Captain of the Akron Police Department, as a Psychologist, and latest as a Professor Emeritus of The University of Akron where her favorite courses were Profiling Serial Killers and Hostage Negotiations. Upon retiring in January 2020 (on the very cusp of Covid), Mary turned her full attention to lapidary and metalsmithing and she is inspired by the patterns found in the natural world. She is a member of the Summit Lapidary Club and sits on the Executive Board as the newsletter editor. Mary has developed her skills in metalsmithing and the art of jewelry under the tutelage and influence of Sherry Simms, M.F.A., at the Myers School of Art at The University of Akron. Mary loves incorporating Ms. Simm’s reviews of her work and is inspired by her encouragement. 16

Woman of the Year Award Each year, University of Akron Metalsmithing Professor Sherry Simms’ students work with the Women’s History Project committee to design and produce a unique award. The 2021 award reflects the many hats that women wear during their lives, and especially during the pandemic. The hat is made of copper and etched with a large symbol in the center representing the recipient with all the other recipient roles featured along the brim. Hanging below the hat is an acrylic mask with the words and symbols representing “Our COVID-19 Heroine.” The back of the pin has a plaque with the year 2021. Each is placed in a shadow box to be hung on a wall or displayed on a shelf. All the awards are wearable. 17

Women’s History Project of the Akron Area Past Honorees 1983-2020 Roberta E. Aber, Courage 1993 Andrea Denton, Faye Dambrot Heroine 2008 Amani Abraham, Woman to Watch 2011 Carla J. Conley Davis, Faith 2007 Susan B. Allen, Pioneer 2009 Emily Deal, Senior 1989 Anne Armao, Creativity 2020 Flora Novella Randall Dees , Faith 2006 Mary Ellen Atwood, Innovation 1996 Mary DiDonato, Faye Dambrot Heroine 2016 Ophelia Averitt, Pioneer 2014 Beverly Dillon, Imagination 2020 Patricia Ayers, Imagination 1991 Fran Doll, Inspiration 1990 Mary Laub Babcox, Pioneer 1991 Joan Dorow, Pioneer 2011 Kathleen Bachmann, Faith 1993 Karla Dotson, Woman to Watch 2004 Jewelene Banks, Creativity 2009 Evangeline Doyle, O.P., Creative Arts 1983 Carol Beland, Creativity 2000 Lisa Drumm, Creativity 2007 Sherri Bevan Walsh, Faye Dambrot Heroine2004 Ann Duff, Professional 1988 Martha Bender, Home 1985 Laraine Duncan, Imagination 2014 Marna Becker, Integrity 2010 Carol Eubank, Innovation 2018 Janet Black, Courage 1998 Ruth Layfield Faux, Senior 1987 Francine E. Blake, Sports 1988 Lashawrida L. Fellows, Perseverance 2018 Judge Jane Bond, Integrity 1993 C. Joyce Finley-Jackson-Johnson, Pioneer 2015 Wilberta Botzman, Home 1985 Flora Flint, Clerical & Secretarial 1983 Mary Helen Bowers, Creative Arts 1988 Judith L. Fowler, Integrity 1991 Madeline Bozzelli, Community Service 1988 Christine D. Freitag, Faye Dambrot Heroine 2009 Rachel Breece, Creativity 2014 Kari Fry, Woman to Watch 2006 Ann Amer Brennan, Initiative 1992 Linda Lowe Fry, Faye Dambrot Heroine 2011 Helen L. Brown, Community Service 1987 Thelma Furry, Pioneering Leadership 1994 Lynn Thompson Bryant, Professional 1984 Carole Garrison, Ph.D., Professional 1985 Lynn Budnick, Courage 2016 Amber Genet, Creativity 2017 Sharon D. Butler, Government & Politics 1988 Judge Joyce George, Government & Politics1983 Judge Mary Caccioppo, Pioneer 2004 Jean Giles, Imagination 1992 Evaughn Cagle, Inspiration 1997 Virginia N. Glenn, Business 1986 Cynthia Capers, Pioneering Leadership 2006 Fran Goldman, Pioneering Leadership 1992 Halle Jones Capers, Courage 2009 Toby Gorant, Integrity 2015 Phyllis Carson-Riehm, Inspiration 1992 Marie Greathouse, Community Service 1983 Tracy L. Carter, Integrity 2008 Susan E. Greathouse, Inspiration 2000 S. Theresa Carter, Faye Dambrot Heroine2020 Wendy Greathouse, Woman to Watch 1990 Gerry Ceravolo, Government & Politics 1987 Janet Gregory, Clerical & Secretarial 1988 Ethel Chambers, Courage 1999 Kim Gustley, Innovation 2007 Sr Carol Joy Cincerelli, Creativity 1996 Jordan Haddad, O.P.,Community Service 1985 Patricia Clayton, Innovation 2017 Danna Hall, Imagination 2006 Helen Cleminshaw, Ph.D., Education 1987 Irene A. Hawes, Homemaker 1988 Samantha Coldwell, Creativity 2019 Terri A. Heckman, Professional 1989 Kelvie C. Comer, Ed.D., Education 1988 Carrie Herman, Faye Dambrot Heroine 2006 Deborah L. Cook, Government & Politics 1989 Esther Hexter, Faith 2020 Teresa Corall, Perseverance 2015 Penelope House Hauser, Homemaker 1983 Phyllis Cottle, Courage 1990 Barbara Hiney, Inspiration 1995 Marie Covington, Innovation 1997 Suzanne Hobson, Integrity 2017 Helen Louise Cullison, Pioneer 1999 Marion Joy Hoffman, Perseverance 2006 Marie Craig, Perseverance 1991 Deborah A. Holmes, Community Service 1985 Eileen Daniel, Clerical & Secretarial 1989 Peggy Holmes, Faith 1994 Evelyn Dannemiller, Home 1984 Susan M. Hoisten, Faith 1991 Faye Dambrot, Inspiration 1991 Jan Housholder, Creativity 2008 Paula Davis, Innovation 2011 18 Mary E. Howard, Sports 1986

Women’s History Project of the Akron Area Past Honorees 1983-2020 Tyeal Howell, Woman to Watch 2016 Linda Kersker, Imagination 1994 Leslie Hudak, Community Service 1994 Louise Hume, Senior 1988 Nan Harris Klinger, Perseverance 1993 Susan Hunt, Inspiration 2011 Tricia Hunt, Creativity 1991 Beth Knorr, Perserverance 2019 Judith L. Hunter, Government & Politics 1986 Kathryn M. Hunter, Community Service 1994 Jody Miller Konstand, Creativity 2011 Judy Isroff, Community Service 1994 Dr. Nancy Istenes, Rita Dove Award 2004 Getta Kutuchief, Creativity 2015 Dorothy O. Jackson, Other 1983 Jackie Jackson, Initiative 1994 Terry Kyser, Inspiration 2014 Carrie Jacobs, Courage 2019 Mary E. Jacobs, Creative Arts 1987 Helena Larios, Inspiration 2016 Kylie Rose Jacobs, Courage 2019 Judy James, Innovation 2010 Kathryn L. Lee, Clerical & Secretarial 1987 Cheryl Johnson, MD, Integrity 2019 Pattilou Judge, Courage 1992 Dr. Patricia A. Lee, Pioneer 2007 Rose Juriga, Inspiration 1994 Edith Kamrad, Homemaker 1984 Teresa LeGrair, Integrity 2020 Mary M. Kapper, Community Service 1984 Ardith Keck, Perseverance 2007 Deb Lemire, Creativity 2006 Polly Keener, Creative Arts 1989 Martha Leyden, O.P., Ed.D., Professional 1985 Maureen Londergan, Imagination 2007 Andu Trisa Long, Youth 1988 Stella Long, Creativity 1995 Leia’ Love, D.P.C., Inspiration 2019 Dr. Melanie Lynch, Pioneer 2017 Kellie Curtis Malone, Courage 1994 Dorothy Marsh, Faye Dambrot Heroine 2010 Maureen May, Woman to Watch 1992 Christine Amer Mayer, Innovation 2015 Beatrice Knapp McDowell, Integrity 2007 Frances McGovern, Pioneering Leadership 1998 Dodi Meade, Community Service 1989 19

Women’s History Project of the Akron Area Past Honorees 1983-2020 Tina Merlitti, Woman to Watch 1993 Kathleen Schmatz, Initiative 1991 Lynn Metzger, Ph.D., Pioneer 2008 Jane P. Sedmack, Community Service 1985 Julie Miller, Inspiration 2020 Janice Seibel, Non-Traditional 1988 Katy Miller, Courage 2017 Ilene Shapiro, Inspiration 1993 Stephanie Miller, Woman to Watch 1993 Judi Shapiro, Faith 2019 Sue Miller, Innovation 2007 Julie Sickles, Sports 1987 Diane Miller-Dawson, Integrity 2014 Sr. Patrica Marie Sigler, O.P., Faith 2014 Edith Delaney Mitchell, Perseverance 1992 Veronica R. Sims, Courage 2007 Nicole Mullett, Woman to Watch 2014 L. Patricia Simmons, Imagination 1993 Pat Munka, Innovation 2006 Mary Simmons, Home 1984 Elizabeth Corbin Murphy, Integrity 2016 Allyson Smith, Woman to Watch 2019 Claudia Myers, Sports 1989 Daisy Alford Smith, Professional 1986 Mary S. Myers, Faith 1992 Sandra Roe Smith, Perseverance 2010 Martha Nelson, Business 1983 Denise Sobieski, Woman to Watch 1994 Martha Nelson, M.D., Pioneering Leadership 1993 Tracy L. Soulsby, Pioneer 2010 Dianne Newman, Creativity 1994 Becky Spellman, Courage 2006 Judith Nicely, Professional 1983 Mary Spicer, Integrity 1990 Vickie Nighswander, Creativity 1994 Janice Stahl, Inspiration 2018 Marissa Alexandra Norwood, Courage 2010 Edie Steiner, Innovation 2020 Rosalyn M. Norwood, Courage 2010 Mimi Steiner, Initiative 1993 Kathleen Null, Home 1984 Rochelle Lee Stone, Innovation 1995 Katherine D. Oana, Creativity 1992 Judge Elinor Marsh Stormer, Creativity 1997 Karen Oldham, Sports 1983 Allyson Strickland, Woman to Watch 2018 Helen Paige, Inspiration 1996 Kristen Tassone, Woman to Watch 2007 Leslie Parker-Barnes, Minnie Ellet Award 2004 Betty Curtis Taylor, Faye Dambrot Heroine 2007 Sr. Mariellen Phelps, Faith 2010 Kathy Taylor, Perseverance 2011 Alice Phillips, Inspiration 2009 Eileen Thomas, R.N., Inspiration 1998 Kathy Schedley Pingstock, Courage 2018 Susan Tucker, Sojourner Truth 2004 Krista Poe, Other 1986 Cheryl Urban , Pioneer 2006 Janet B. Purnell, Perseverance 2008 Kathryn Vegso, Education 1983 Linda Radwany, Home 1985 Barbara Venesy, Perseverance 1994 Loretta Rafter, Initiative 1990 Leila L.Vespoli, Pioneer 2016 Mary C. Rainey Ph.D., Professional 1984 Erin Victor, Inspiration 2015 Manju Rastogi, Business 1987 Melissa Vigorito-Regallis, Woman to Watch 2000 Joanne C. Ray, Non-Traditional 1987 Diane Vukovich, Ph.D., Education 1989 Tessa Reeves, Woman to Watch 2017 Mary Walker, Homemaker 1986 Gloria Reich, Inspiration 1999 Mayme R. Walker-Stephens, Courage 1991 Barbara Reiter, Integrity 1994 MinnieWalker, Integrity 1992 Elizabeth Remmel, Woman to Watch 2008 Sr. Laura Wallace, O.P., Faith 2009 Rosemary Reymann, Creativity 1998 Laura Wallerstein, Imagination 2015 Norma J. Rist, Business 1989 Lanie Ward, Integrity 2018 Ruth Roberts, Ph.D., Education 1986 Erika Weliczko, Innovation 2009 Phyllis Rogers, Professional 1985 Carla Weiss, Faith 2018 Marcella Kanfer Rolnick, Innovation 2008 Lisa Wendel, Woman to Watch 1991 Joyce F. Rowland, Clerical & Secretarial 1986 Betty L. White, Courage 2000 Isabel E. Rush, Ph.D., Professional 1984 D. Elaine Whiting, Professional 1987 Ada Ruth Sacks, Creativity 1990 Kathleen Whitmer, Creative Arts 1986 Erika Sanders, Woman to Watch 1998 Ruth M. Wieditz. R.N., MSN, Pioneer 2000 Ludel Sauvageot, Pioneer 1990 Mary Ann Wisemann-Mills, P.O., Inspiration 2007 Elizabeth Ann Schaefer, O.P.,Non-Traditional1989 20 Rebecca K. Wilkins, Creativity 1993

Women’s History Project of the Akron Area Past Honorees 1983-2020 Carole Winkler, Youth 1987 Posthumous Awards continued 2010 Elaine M. Woloshyn, Imagination 1990 2010 Wilton Workman, Homemaker 1987 Barbara Mathews 2009 Patricia A. Wyatt, Faith 2011 Linda Kersker 2008 Christina K. Young, Perseverance 1990 Helen Yeszin 2007 Connie J. Young, Faith 1990 Susan Deveny Pavloff 2006 Kimberly Young, Inspiration 2017 Jeannetta W. Brown 2004 Dina Younis, Woman to Watch 2015 Carolyn Stokes Reed 2004 Chris Yuhasz, Courage 2014 Jean Hixson 2000 Claudia Zeber-Martell, Creativity 2016 Bertha Moore 1999 Margo S. Prade, M.D. 1998 Special Awards Margaret Scott Boothby 1997 Hattie Larlham 1996 JoAnn M. Arrietta, Women in Sports 1998 Eleanor Aggarwal 1995 Barbara Proctor, R.N. 1994 Dr. Marie D. Ellul, Women in Rubber Industry 1998 Sr. M. Bernard Freiss, O.P. 1993 Ruth Bartlett Lewis 1992 Ellen Freitag Hay, Community Service 1999 Gertrude Penfield Seiberling 1992 Marietta Evaline Atwood 1991 Frances Burke Murphey, Women in Journalism 1996 Blanche Bruot Hower 1991 Salaria Kea O'Reilly 1990 Posthumous Awards 2020 Mary E. Gladwin 1989 Betty Dalton 2017 Helen Donahue Ferguson Judith A. Reed 2015 Mabel Maxine Riedinger Mabel Lena Cramer Kruse 2014 Nellie D. Gillespie Shawl 2011 Ruth Wright Clinefelter The Women’s History Project of the Akron Area, Inc. became a program of the Summit County Historical Society of Akron, OH in 2013. The merger occurred during the 30th anniversary year for the Women’s History Project and in anticipation of the Society’s 90th anniversary in 2014. Thank you for joining us today to celebrate the lives of women who are making a difference in Akron and Summit County. May their stories inspire you to achieve your goals and love yourself. Join us in recognizing other women in our community by nominating someone you know to become a Woman of the Year Award recipient. Go to SummitHistory.org or call 330.535.1120. 21

Summit County Historical Society Upcoming Events May 9 Happy Birthday John Brown and Owen Brown Steiner (the youngest Border Collie turns 2) May 26 Society Annual Meeting On Mutton Hill - herding demo and picnic meal on the lawn June 4 - Sept. 3 Farm Fridays 10:30 a.m. free programming for preschool and elementary students June 2, July 7 & Aug. 4 Working Dog Wednesdays 5:30 p.m. - 1st Wednesday June 19 Juneteenth Community Event & Symposium June 21, July 19 & Aug. 16 Mutton Hill Monday Noon - 3rd Monday June 21 Mutton Hill Book Club 6:30 p.m. The Wright Sister A discussion with the International Women's Air & Space Museum July 10 Family Fun Day Noon - 4 p.m. The Society’s 97th Anniversary August 20 Rudy’s 14th Birthday A Border Collie Celebration 22

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