2023 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 these years awardees and thank you for your outstanding contributions to AAUW State College.
Member Making a Difference
Mary Ann Blair
After working just one year at the workshop Mary Ann accepted the position of Used Book Sale Co-Chair. She is a dynamic and reliable leader who takes initiative and makes things happen. Mary Ann has a wonderful and welcoming attitude and is a delight to work with. She has really made a difference at the Used Book Workshop and will be terrific at the sale.Â
Outstanding Woman
Sally Kalin
During a challenging officer transition last summer, Sally, Immediate Past Co-President, stepped in to coordinate the board to keep the branch running smoothly. Â She is the prime motivator behind improvements to our website, strongly supports our Marketing & Communications effort, persevered in forming a Nominating Committee, continues pricing for the book sale, and promotes the development of mission-driven programming that the branch is well known for, while also taking on a role at the state level.Â
Outstanding Woman
Connie Schroeder
As VP for Marketing and Communications, Connie’s attention to promoting the branch and keeping the membership informed has been exceptional. Her role has become more critical over the years because of the need to enhance our visibility and spread our mission. Much of our migration to social media and the enhancement of the quality of our postings is due to Connie. Connie can be a force who does not shy away from identifying problems while also suggesting solutions.Â
Gateway to Equity Award
Leslie Laing
Leslie is an exceptionally strong advocate for equity, offering her time selflessly to AAUW State College initiatives, as well as several other community organizations and events, to advance the cause of equity. She can always be counted on to speak her mind, offer constructive ideas, and stand up for diversity, equity, and inclusion. She has been a very active member of the Community Diversity Group, Juneteenth National Freedom Day, Penn State Martin Luther King Jr. Day events, and the local NAACP.Â
CCCHS Volunteer of the Year
Vasundara Varadan
Vasu has served as branch treasurer for two years and has done a wonderful job tending to her duties as treasurer, and most especially, keeping things running at the Used Book Sale. She has helped volunteers adjust to the credit card system used there, cut through a lot of red tape to open a branch Zoom account, and has set up an ACH account that adds flexibility for members to request and receive payments. Vasu is a terrific team player!
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.
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.
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.
Special Honoree
A Special Honoree is a long-standing member whom AAUW State College nominates for special recognition by AAUW-PA.
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.
Emerging Star
The Emerging Star Award (discontinued in 2012) recognized a new member who made significant contributions to AAUW State College.
2011 – Stacie Chandler
2010 – Candace Davison
2009 – Joanne Bennett
2008 – Sherry Crassweller
2007 – Alex Broyles and Harriet Feinstein
2006 – (no nominee)
2005 – Donna Holoviak
2004 – Nancy Weinreb
2003 – Jayne Cawthern
2002 – Barbara Haring
2001 – Beth Christopoulos
2000 – Dianne Taylor Gregg
1999 – Michelle Dzyak
1998 – Louise Malarkey
Pennsylvania Awards
AAUW State College has received the following awards from AAUW-PA in 2019-2020:
- AAUW Pennsylvania Public Policy Award for Notable Advocacy Efforts
- AAUW Pennsylvania Achievement Award in Recognition of Total Giving
- AAUW Pennsylvania Achievement Award in Recognition of Per Capita Giving
- AAUW Pennsylvania Achievement Award for Top Branch in Economic Security Initiatives
- AAUW Pennsylvania Achievement Award for Top Branch in Governance and Sustainability Initiatives
- AAUW-Pennsylvania Award for Top Branch in Giving to the Legal Advocacy Fund
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.Â
National Awards
AAUW State College has received Five-Star Recognition from AAUW national for 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.
Member Making Difference Recipients
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
Special Honoree Recipients
2018 – Billie S. Willits
2015 – Louise Tukey
2014 – Charlene Harrison & Sally Kalin
2013 – Sherry Crassweller & Suzanne Kerlin
Outstanding Woman Recipients
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
CCCHS Volunteer of The Year Recipients
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
Gateway to Equity Recipients
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
Emerging Star Recipients
2011 – Stacie Chandler
2010 – Candace Davison
2009 – Joanne Bennett
2008 – Sherry Crassweller
2007 – Alex Broyles and Harriet Feinstein
2006 – (no nominee)
2005 – Donna Holoviak
2004 – Nancy Weinreb
2003 – Jayne Cawthern
2002 – Barbara Haring
2001 – Beth Christopoulos
2000 – Dianne Taylor Gregg
1999 – Michelle Dzyak
1998 – Louise Malarkey