AAUW State College Awards & Recipients
The branch Awards Committee meets each winter to select branch awardees from nominations by branch members, for recognition at the spring banquet. Congratulations to all awardees and thank you for your outstanding contributions to AAUW State College. Scroll down to view records of past recipients!
Member Making a Difference
Sherry Lonsdale
Sherry is an integral leader of our branch’s IT team, contributing her technical expertise and informed and systematic approaches to solving our IT challenges. Sherry’s leadership enabled the branch to gain nonprofit status with Google, which led to the creation of generic position-based emails instead of personal emails. She leads our web team to develop the skills needed to update our website ourselves and found a local website company to assist us in solving IT problems.
Outstanding Woman
Michele Crowl
Michele has served as co-chair of the AAUW STEM Committee for more than six years, offering programming that empowers and encourages young women to be leaders in the STEM fields. These AAUW-sponsored programs spark creativity, curiosity, and imagination in the girls and young women who attend them. Michele does an excellent job of running the monthly meetings and making everyone feel welcome, encouraged, and included. In addition, she represents the STEM Committee on the branch board.
Gateway to Equity Award
Strawberry Fields
Empowering People, Enriching Lives – This nonprofit organization enables our fellow citizens with intellectual and mental disabilities to become part of the larger community through its services and advocacy. Through its entrepreneurial initiatives, Strawberry Fields has brought marginalized individuals into the workplace, allowing them to earn a living, enhancing their economic self-sufficiency, and helping them to integrate into the community at large.
CCCHS Volunteer of the Year
Amy Wilson
Amy’s involvement in AAUW began in 2012, and she has been very supportive of branch activities ever since. She has served as a financial reviewer for the branch and was chair of the Nominating and Election committee last year. Amy is a terrific listener and promotes equitable discussions. Last fall, she also stepped in to serve as co-secretary when an opening occurred and is doing a wonderful job in that position.
Member Making a Difference
This award honors a member who made a big difference in something important to AAUW State College within the past year. The recipient exemplifies the spirit of AAUW and need not be a branch officer or committee chair.
2024 – Jackie Esposito
2023 – Mary Ann Blair
2022 – Estelle Call
2021 – Dina Liberatore
2020 – Ann Echols
2019 – Star Campbell
2018 – Michele Crowl
2017 – Cindy Hall
2016 – Connie Schroeder
2015 – Jennifer Karch
2014 – Kristin Dreyer
2013 – Sally Kalin
2012 – Joanne Bennett
Gateway to Equity Award
The Gateway to Equity Award honors an individual, group, or organization that by action and philosophy has promoted AAUW’s mission of advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, or research. The nominator should know the individual, group, or organization and be able to identify several ways in which the award criteria have been met.
2024 – League of Women Voters of Centre County
2023 – Leslie Laing
2022 – Kieran Holland, Ten Thousand Villages State College
2021 – Carol Eicher and the Community Diversity Group
2020 – Fair Districts PA Centre County
2019 – Interfaith Human Services
2018 – Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program
2017 – Penn State University’s Commission for Women
2016 – Mid-State Literacy Council
2015 – State College Area School District’s CSI (Challenging Science Investigations) Program
2014 – Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania
2013 – The Centre County Women’s Resource Center (CCWRC)
2012 – Engineering Ambassadors and their advisor Melissa Marshall
2011 – State College Area School District, Community Education
2009 – Youth Aid Panel, Centre for Alternatives in Community Justice
2008 – Nick Gildow, State College Delta Program
2007 – Storm Break, Youth Services Bureau
2006 – Centre Volunteers in Medicine
Outstanding Woman
The Outstanding Woman Award recipient is an AAUW State College member who has given meritorious service to the branch and to the community over multiple years.
2024 – Carol-Beth Book
2023 – Sally Kalin and Connie Schroeder
2022 – Naana Nti
2021 – Cindy Hall and Sally Kalin
2020 – Mary Dupuis
2019 – Sue Johnston
2018 – Carol Hodes
2017 – Centennial Celebration Committee Members
2016 – Billie S. Willits
2015 – Charlene H. Harrison
2014 – Sue Werner
2013 – Linda Friend
2012 – Candace Davison
2011 – Connie Schroeder
2010 – Sherry Crassweller
2009 – Talat Ahzar
2008 – Alexandra Worzask Broyles
2007 – Chriss Alynda Schultz
2006 – Gert Finley and Anne Heinsohn
2005 – Nancy DeWalle
2004 – Nancy Weinreb
2003 – Jeanne Weber
2002 – Alex Brovey
2001 – Dianne Taylor Gregg
2000 – Louise Malarkey
1999 – Martha Hummel
1998 – Anne K. Nelson
1997 – Iris M. Striedieck
1996 – Janine M. Acee
1995 – Nellie G. Boyle
1994 – Sarah (Sally) Kalin
1993 – Sharon J. Luck
1992 – Suzanne M. Kerlin
1991 – Jean B. Forster
1990 – Helen B. Meahl
1989 – Marian B. Davison
1988 – Trudy Levine
1987 – Helen D. Wise
1986 – Jane McCormick
1985 – Linda Higginson
1984 – Leila Moore
1983 – Sarah Godbey
1982 – Judith Todd
1981 – Louise Tukey
1980 – Marjorie W. Dunaway
1979 – Mary Dupuis
Special Honoree
A Special Honoree is a long-standing member whom AAUW State College nominates for special recognition by AAUW-PA.
2024 – Charlene Harrison
2018 – Billie S. Willits
2015 – Louise Tukey
2014 – Charlene Harrison & Sally Kalin
2013 – Sherry Crassweller & Suzanne Kerlin
CCCHS Volunteer of the Year
This award given annually the Centre County Council for Human Services (CCCHS) recognizes individuals or organizations that have made a significant contribution to further the mission of CCCHS in helping to provide opportunities for the betterment of the community through collaboration, networking, and the promotion of volunteerism.
2024 – Donna Trapp
2023 – Vasundrara Varadan
2022 – Jordan Glover
2020 – Suzanne Kerlin and Sherry Crassweller
2019 – Angie Hay
2018 – Jennifer Karch
2017 – Mike Williams
2016 – Del and Steve Scott
2015 – Donna Trapp
2014 – Connie Wheeler
2013 – Charlene Harrison
2012 – Pat Kephart
2011 – Jeanne Weber
2010 – Talat Ahzar
2009 – Sherry Crassweller
2008 – Connie Schroeder
2007 – Nancy DeWalle
2006 – Chriss Schultz
2005 – Mary Dupuis
2004 – Barbara Haring
2003 – Sue Hiester
2002 – Suzanne Kerlin
2001 – Evelyn Marboe
2000 – Alice McFeatters
1999 – Paul D. Simkins
1998 – Jackie R. Esposito
1997 – Cynthia S. Faries
1996 – Loren D. Tukey
1995 – Janine M. Acee
1994 – Jean W. Moser
1993 – Robert M. Gruver
1992 – Joyce S. Combs
1991 – Nellie Boyle
1990 – Beryl P. Kohler
1989 – Doris Trueblood
1988 – Priscilla Van Horn
1987 – Marion F. Weber
1986 – Helen D. Wise
1985 – (no nominee)
1984 – Jean H. Pellegrin
1983 – Helen B. Meahl
1982 – Marilyn S. Keat
1981 – (no nominee)
1980 – (no nominee)
1979 – Louise Tukey
1978 – Susan Smith
1977 – Nancy L. Strother
1976 – Sarah-Elizabeth Croll
1975 – Myrna Feller
1974 – Felicia S. Lewis
1973 – Rose Cologne
National Awards
AAUW State College has received Five-Star Recognition from AAUW national for the 2024-2025 year. This award recognizes outstanding work in Public Policy and Research; Communications and External Relations; Programs; Advancement; and Governance and Sustainability. AAUW State College is one of a select few nationwide to have received this designation.
Centre Region Awards
In appreciation of our continued leadership supporting literacy for women, the Mid-State Literacy Council Board of Directors voted in February 2020 to award AAUW State College with The Ruth C. Kistler Service Award, the highest award honoring the contributions to literacy in our community. Ruth Kistler founded the Mid-State Literacy Council in 1971 to bring literacy in all forms to adults in Centre and Clearfield Counties.