Four receive Women of Distinction honors at WSUV

Four women were honored for making a difference in the lives of others at Washington State University’s seventh annual Women of Distinction celebration Thursday night. The recipients are a high school student, a WSU Vancouver student and two community members.

• WSU Vancouver student: Kia Calderon plans to teach social studies when she completes her WSU degree. She promotes children’s well-being to legislators and volunteers with the PTA. Last summer, she donated a kidney to a man she met on Facebook. Now she counsels other potential donors and helps them navigate the process.

• High school student: Brittany Curtiss, a senior at River Homelink in Battle Ground, also is a Running Start student at Clark College. She is a preschool teacher’s aide and volunteers at an assisted living facility with her church group and other community service projects.

For the first time, two nominees were honored as Women of Distinction in the community category.

• Jennifer Cullison, a science teacher at Woodland High School, created a science, technology, engineering, math and health sciences program at her school. She volunteers with Free the Children and has created a similar local charity. She is one of the top urban adventure racers in the nation.

• Amy Holmes is the founding principal of Hayes Freedom High School in Camas. She makes sure her students have support in finding their life path and continues advocating for her students long after graduation.

Since 2009, the Women of Distinction event during Women’s History Month recognizes women in Southwest Washington for inspiring, mentoring and empowering others. Distinguished Woman of the Year award recipients are chosen by a committee of WSU Vancouver staff, faculty, students and community members.