By Sally Deering

On Wed, March 24^th, Hudson County Executive Thomas DeGise and the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders honored 35 local women, many of whom dared to be first including the first woman Mayor of Hoboken Dawn Zimmer; the first woman president of the Bayonne chapter of the NAACP Dorothy Adams; the first woman Vice President at Saint Peter’s College Dr. Eileen Poiani; and, the first woman elected to the Jersey City Municipal Council Lois Shaw.

 

These women – and the other honorees — made Hudson County history with their commitment and dedication to improve the quality of life in their communities. Hudson County Executive DeGise and the Board of Freeholders traditionally host this event in March, which is Women’s History Month, to recognize women’s contributions and ensure their achievements are recorded in our local history.

 Held on a balmy, spring evening at the historic Brennan Court House in Jersey City, the ceremony’s theme this year was “Writing Women Back into History.” The honorees, their families and friends gathered inside the Theodore Conrad Rotunda where they were greeted by Hudson County Freeholder Doreen DiDomenico who told the packed audience, “The women honored tonight have made their mark in their communities and yet their contribution has been written in invisible ink.”  She continued to say that the 2010 honorees have risen up through the ranks in male-dominated fields, became the owners of their own businesses against all odds and stood up for causes when others turned away.

 The 2010 honorees seemed to have something in common with high-achieving women who came before them, said Dr. Carmela Ascolese Karnoutsos, former Professor of History at New Jersey City University who was the evening’s Keynote Speaker. Ascolese opened the program with the presentation “Hudson County Women Past & Present,” which highlighted the work of several women who helped shape local history. Women like photographer Dorothea Lange of Hoboken, whose photographs of the Great Depression became iconic symbols of that time in our history; Ida Cohen Rosenthal, a Hoboken dressmaker who became the CEO of her own company when she founded Maidenform; and Cornelia Bradford who founded Whittier House in Jersey City and offered much needed social services to immigrant families arriving from Ellis Island.

 These women all became role models to other women in their communities and, it appears, that tradition continues through programs like this evening’s event.

 “I’m happy to be a role model,” Hoboken’s first woman mayor Dawn Zimmer said. “For me, it’s all about giving back to the community. I’m honored to be recognized.”

 Dorothy Adams of Bayonne, the first woman President of the Bayonne Branch of the NAACP was first to receive her Citation and medal as her family and friends from Friendship Baptist Church cheered her on.

 “This is awesome, it really is,” Adams said. “After all these years, I thought this part of my life was behind me. I’m 86 years old!”

 All 35 honorees received Citations and medals and after the ceremony, family and friends gathered for refreshments and posed for pictures with the honorees including Belkys Timeo-Severino, who opened Belkys’ hair salon in Weehawken 26 years ago after immigrating to the US from the Dominican Republic. Severino was joined by her nieces and other family members who showered her with flowers and took lots of photographs.

 “She’s a great woman,” Belkys’ 11 year-old neice, Janelly said. “She’s beautiful.”

 Hudson County’s “Writing Women Back Into History” ceremony at the Brennan Court House on Wed, March 24^th honored Dorothy Adams of Bayonne, Shirley Becker of East Newark, Maureen Bellucci of Jersey City, Sandra Bendor of Weehawken, Bojana Coklyat  of Jersey City, Sister Rosemary Coffey, CSJP, of Jersey City, Fannie D’Elia of Jersey City, Victoria Del Regno of Bayonne, Dr. Vijaya Desai of Jersey City, Alice DeFazio of Jersey City, Paula Frazier of Weehawken, Brigite I. Congalves of East Newark, Pamela Hepburn of Jersey City, Valerie Hufnagel of Hoboken, Judy Kennelly of Secaucus, Michelle Lopez of West New York, Joanne Martin of Guttenberg, Dorothy McNeil of Hoboken, Kathleen O’Keeffe of Bayonne, Eileen L. Poiani, Ph.D. of Jersey City, Lois Shaw of Jersey City, Francine Shelton of Jersey City, Reena Rose Sibayan of Bayonne, Katharine Steffens of Secaucus, Eleanor Tiefenwerth of Bayonne, Belkys Timeo-Severino of Weehawken, Mary Valastro of Hoboken, Julia Valdivia of Union City and the Hon. Dawn Zimmer of Hoboken.  Maryanne Campeotto, SC, Patricia Gerris and Kathy Walsh of Camp Fatima of New Jersey were also honored along with Mary Arrigo, Julia Dreisbach and Nan Spanton of Pathways to Independence, Inc.

The post Hudson County Salutes Women of Achievement first appeared on River View Observer.

Hudson County Community College President Dr. Glen Gabert said that students were recognized with scholarships and awards at the College’s 2009 Student Achievement & Excellence Awards Ceremony on Monday evening, May 4. The festivities were held in the Banquet Room of the HCCC Culinary Arts Institute/Conference Center.

HCCC Vice President for Student Affairs Paula Adelhoch welcomed the attendees, and Director of Student Activities Ophelia Morgan acted as Ceremonies Master.

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Scholarships were awarded to: Malick Drame for Centenary College; Chad Nathan for Fairleigh Dickinson University; Zahirah Ford, Laicey Ortiz and Noreen Pressley for New Jersey City University; Evgeniya Muzhetskaya for New York University School of Continuing & Professional Studies; and Marisol Merced for St. Peter’s College.

HCCC Professional Association Scholarships were presented to Andreja Buttigieg-Borin and Diana Thompson.

Mayra Londono and Migdalia Maldonado received the College’s Community Service Awards. Ms. Maldonado was also named “Student of the Year.”

Students were also honored for excellence and achievement in Humanities and Social Sciences, Child Development Associate, Student Government Officers, Emerging Leaders, Established Leaders, ESL/Bilingual and Developmental Education, Psi Beta, Educational Opportunity Fund, Student Support Services Program, Women’s History Month, Business and Science, and the Culinary Arts Institute. Additionally, those students named to the Who’s Who in American Junior Colleges were also recognized.

“It’s my pleasure to send hearty congratulations to all of the students who were recognized at this year’s ceremonies. Everyone here at the College applauds the hard work and dedication that they have displayed in pursuing their studies and working for the good of our community,” Dr. Gabert said.

A complete list of the scholarships, awards and honors presented on Monday evening are attached here.
# # #
2009 STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT & EXCELLENCE AWARDS CEREMONY
LIST OF AWARDEES:

PHI THETA KAPPA HONOR SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIPS

CENTENARY COLLEGE     MALICK DRAME

FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON UNIVERSITY       CHAD NATHAN

NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY                  ZAHIRAH FORD
                                                                                       LAICEY ORTIZ
                                                                                    NOREEN PRESSLEY

NYU SCHOOL OF CONTINUING               EVGENIYA MUZHETSKAYA
& PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

SAINT PETER’S COLLEGE                                       MARISOL MERCED

HCCC PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP

ANDREJA BUTTIGIEG-BORIN
DIANA THOMPSON

STUDENT OF THE YEAR

MIGDALIA MALDONADO

HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

ESTELLE J. BULACAN ACHIEVEMENT
PRISCILLA CRESPO ACHIEVEMENT

SHAH HASHMI EXCELLENCE ROLANDO GONZALEZ JOSON EXCELLENCE SAMANTHA KOROL EXCELLENCE RAVIKHA NAYAKRIT EXCELLENCE
BRIDGET OWENS EXCELLENCE
KEVIN P. RAMIREZ EXCELLENCE BENEDDA SABINO EXCELLENCE HARSHAL SHAH EXCELLENCE
MANSI SHARMA EXCELLENCE MUHAMMAD A. SIDDIQI EXCELLENCE

CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE

NACERA AFIR CDA CREDENTIAL
BHARTI BHAGCHANDANI CDA CREDENTIAL LISSETTE G. HOCKENBURY CDA CREDENTIAL
IRUM MALIK CDA CREDENTIAL
FENNY N. ONDIEKI CDA CREDENTIAL MELISSA A. RIVAS CDA CREDENTIAL
ISA M. SANTOS-DEJESUS CDA CREDENTIAL

WHO’S WHO AMONG STUDENTS IN AMERICAN JUNIOR
COLLEGES

Indiana Banegas Migdalia Maldonado
Erin Bonono Marta McManus
Kerri Boyle Evgeniya Muzhetskaya
Estelle J. Bulacan Carla Najarro
Edwin Cardona Patricia Najarro
Shandri Claudio Doris Nicholson
Priscilla Crespo Rodrigo Orderique
Kerwin Cummings Vivian M. Pertuz
Angel Dumencela Jessica Petti
Kenya Edwards Shannon L. Porter
Kenny Fabara Noreen D. Pressley
Patricia Gallegos Marvalene Ralph
Johana Godoy Affan M. Rashidi
Christopher R. Gonzalez Khadeeja Riaz
Kreetika Gupta Shirlene T. Samuels
Sabita Harilall Wesley N. Sanou
Barbara L. Hauser Harshal Shah
Evelyn Hayes Antwanette J. Stokes
Jenny Henriquez Tamiria Tate
Pamela Hernandez Scaria Thomas
Jasmine Jaber-Ramos Diana Thompson
Lori Jones Rosemarie Tobias
Victor Joseph Jovanie Urbina
Samantha Korol Beth Varano
Mayra Londono Romario Villanueva

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM (SSSP)
Presented By
Syokwaa Mulumba, Director

JUAN P. BARET ACHIEVEMENT JAMES ROAN II ACHIEVEMENT

BARBARA L. HAUSER EXCELLENCE MIGDALIA MALDONADO EXCELLENCE SHIRLENE T. SAMUELS EXCELLENCE

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

ISABEL NIETO FIRST PLACE

STEPHANIE JIMENEZ SECOND PLACE

SCHERLIANI ALMEIDA HONORABLE MENTION
RICHARD CORTEZ HONORABLE MENTION
MELISSA DONATACCI HONORABLE MENTION
FRANCISCA ORTIZ HONORABLE MENTION

BUSINESS AND SCIENCE

ELIZABETH HEMINGWAY ACHIEVEMENT
PAMELA HERNANDEZ ACHIEVEMENT
AMELIA E. REYES ACHIEVEMENT
SCARIA THOMAS ACHIEVEMENT

MONA CALACHE EXCELLENCE
CHRISTOPHER GONZALES EXCELLENCE
KREETIKA GUPTA EXCELLENCE
MAYRA LONDONO EXCELLENCE
MARTHA MCMANUS EXCELLENCE
JOHANN MISTERIO EXCELLENCE
MOUHAMADOU F. NDIAYE EXCELLENCE
WESLEY N SANOU EXCELLENCE
MAKASH SINGH EXCELLENCE
QIAN XIE EXCELLENCE

CULINARY ARTS INSTITUTE

JESSICA A. ENRIQUEZ ACHIEVEMENT
PETER T. HAYNES ACHIEVEMENT

ESL, BILINGUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION

DIANNYS DEARMAS ACHIEVEMENT
ELENA MARIA GARCIA ACHIEVEMENT
JACQUELINE RABELLINO ACHIEVEMENT
NATHALIA RAMIREZ ACHIEVEMENT
LILLIAM C. SANDOVAL ACHIEVEMENT

PSI BETA ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

JENNY HENRIQUEZ

TUTORIAL SERVICES

SHAKAYLA C. DINGLE EXCELLENCE
SASHA L. GUERRERO EXCELLENCE
MARIM IBRAHIM EXCELLENCE
POOJAN A. MEHTA EXCELLENCE
AFFAN M. RASHIDI EXCELLENCE
VIRAL H. SENJALIYA EXCELLENCE

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FUND (E.O.F.)

DAVID F. SHENOUDA DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR

KIESHA FLUDD OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

 MARISOL MERCED

OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
KNIGHT S. AMBUBUYOG

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
SAMUEL H. CASIMIR

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
KIESHA FLUDD

 

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

APPRECIATION & RECOGNITION AWARD
PRESENTED TO STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION
OFFICERS 2008- 2009

IRENE A. CHACON
CHRISTIAN GUTIERREZ
JASMINE JABER-RAMOS
STEPHANIE JIMENEZ
MIGDALIA MALDONADO
MARIA MOUMGE
VANESSA PAGAN
STANLEY M. PARRALES
CHRISTIAN RIVAS
MERI STOJCEVSKA
ROMARIO VILLANUEVA

RECOGNITION OF 2009 EMERGING LEADERS (L.E.G.O.)

NAIMEH BAH
GLORIA A. DERTEANO
MELISSA DONATACCI
MARIM IBRAHIM
STEPHANIE JIMENEZ
MIGDALIA MALDONADO
STEVEN MERCADO
MARIA MOUMGE
STANLEY M. PARRALES
ROMARIO VILLANUEVA

RECOGNITION OF 2009 ESTABLISHED LEADERS (L.E.G.O.)

MICHAEL CASAS
IRENE A. CHACON

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

MAYRA LONDONO
MIGDALIA MALDONADO

OUTSTANDING CLUB/ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR

ART CLUB
ECLETIC PERCEPTION

The post Hudson County Community College Honors Students’ Achievements and Excellence at Annual Awards Ceremony first appeared on River View Observer.