Thirty-three students were welcomed Wednesday as Penn College's newest Awesome Women Exemplars during a reception that mirrored the National Women's History Project's commitment to ending discrimination against women and girls. Held in the Mountain Laurel Room of Thompson Professional Development Center, the event included a keynote address by Lisa M. Andrus, dean of business and hospitality, and recognition of the nominees by Katie L. Mackey, director of campus and community engagement, and Sammie L. Davis, coordinator of diversity and cultural life. Andrus – who has more than 20 years' experience in hospitality, government, small business, health care and higher education – spoke about the various forms of discrimination she faced from the earliest days of her career ... as well as the respect gained and success achieved as an entrepreneur, educator and administrator. In addition to the inspiration she imparted from the podium, Andrus invited guests to take a utensil from their tables; each was attached to a "Recipe for a Happy Life" that featured such ingredients as love, friendship, health, patience, positivity and kindness in the everyday pursuit of satisfaction.2018’s Awesome Women Exemplars:
Samar AlQuraish, pre-nursing
Josephina Love Bair, information technology sciences-gaming and simulation
Morgan R. Bloom, pre-physician assistant studies
Rylee A. Butler, engineering design technology
Alanis A. Cervantes, business administration-management concentration
Laura E. Cholko, landscape/horticulture technology: plant production emphasis
Emily K. Conklin, pre-dental hygiene
Candra L. Diggs, information technology: network specialist concentration
Heather C. Fennell, plastics and polymer engineering technology
Amber R. Fleming, legal assistant-paralegal studies
Jody S. Girio, pre-nursing
Taylor C. Gonzales, nursing
Jillian C. Hiestand, nursing
Angela M. Linde, culinary arts technology
Ashley M. Lyons, health information technology
Chyanne N. Mattern, accounting
Leslie M. Medina, dental hygiene: health policy and administration concentration
Katherine L. Mertes, residential construction technology and management: building construction technology concentration
Christina T. Moccia, business administration: banking and finance concentration
Stephanie C. Myers, culinary arts and systems
Sydney O. Powell, graphic design
Emily N. Renninger, pre-dental hygiene
Maepearl E. St. George, pre-physician assistant
Natascha G. Santaella, applied management
Amaris T. Smith, culinary arts and systems
Amelia B. Smith, business administration: marketing concentration
Grace M. Snyder, aviation maintenance technology
Shaylin A. Stranges, dental hygiene
Nina L. Walk, graphic design
Dianna R. Weaver, business administration: management concentration
Tasia A. Werkmeister, pre-practical nursing
Danielle R. Wesneski, applied management
Kassandra D. Winters, health arts: practical nursing emphasis