Washington State University Vancouver has honored four women with the university’s Distinguished Woman of the Year awards.
The awards, given every year during Women’s History Month, recognize women who have inspired, mentored and empowered women in Southwest Washington. Nominations are accepted for WSU Vancouver students, faculty or staff, and community members.
This year’s recipients are:
• Maggie Handran, a student ambassador, Psychology Club president and Cougar Pride co-president. She plans to become an art therapist upon finishing school.
• Diana Larson, a human development student who leads a music and performance group at Clark County Juvenile Court called The Esther Street Project.
• Sujatha Shynne, an information technology specialist for WSU Vancouver and student studying for her master’s degree in business administration. She helped organize the first Diwali celebration at WSU Vancouver.
• Audrey Miller, the former Southwest Washington regional field organizer for Planned Parenthood Votes, which organizes volunteers to advocate for reproductive health care. She does similar organizing work as the Oregon grass-roots manager at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
Also recognized with honorable mentions were Peggy McNabb, an Evergreen High School teacher who began the GRADS program to support pregnant and parenting students, and Allison Samsing, a WSU Vancouver academic coordinator who organizes workshops for students on time management and goal setting.
A lifetime achievement award was given to Michelle McIlvoy, who started the Women of Distinction program at WSU Vancouver 10 years ago.
