Salute to Outstanding Women: in the spirit of the suffragists
Join us in celebrating our 2020-2021 honorees on April 22, 2021 at noon!
Meet our Class of 2020-2021 Honorees:
Education | Meredith Madden, Ph.D.
sponsored by Kristin's Fund
teachers, administrators, community educators, coaches, mentors, professors, librarians, tutors, etc.
Entrepreneur | Ari Gaeta
sponsored by Staffworks
someone who has started their own business: large or small, storefront or online, etc.
Healthcare | Shannon Cayea
sponsored by Excellus BlueCrossBlueShield
physicians, nurses, healthcare professionals, opticians, dentists, therapists, healthcare aides, pharmacists, etc.
Human & Public Service | Stephanie Dulak-Eghigian
sponsored by Scalzo, Zogby & Wittig, Inc.
law enforcement, fire department, armed forces, EMT, social workers, non-profit employees, etc.
Outstanding Youth | Maria Htoo
sponsored by Adorino Construction, Inc.
girls age 17 and under who deserve recognition for their school-related and academic achievements, and/or volunteer work in their community
Professions/Business & Industry | Laura Powers
sponsored by Bank of Utica
employees of all levels in any profession, business, or industry including, but not limited to, formal education, training, skills; can include attorneys, accountants, construction, marketing, etc.
Social Justice | Dawn Carter Laguerre
sponsored by Fort Schuyler Club
an unsung heroine in the community whose efforts truly embody YWCA MV’s mission to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all
STEAM | Maria Smith
sponsored by Indium Corporation
someone who works to promote science, technology, engineering, art, and/or mathematics in any field
As an agency dedicated to its mission of eliminating racism and empowering women, our staff here at YWCA Mohawk Valley works every day to create and promote equality for all.
In 2020, the nation commemorated the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, which gave some women the right to vote, and the 55th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which expanded critical voting rights and protections for women and people of color.
We thank our suffragist sisters for their fight, but continue their work by picking up where they left off: fighting for true equality and uplifting the voices of all women everywhere.
We work in the brave and dedicated spirit of the suffragists every day and celebrate the women in our community who do the same. That is why, as the first-ever dual-year class of honorees, Salute 2020-2021 will honor eight local women who work to advance our fight for equality, empowerment, and advancement in our own community. They are a reminder of the power women hold.