[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 153 (Thursday, September 28, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1863-E1864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE CARLOW COLLEGE WOMEN OF SPIRIT
______
HON. WILLIAM J. COYNE
of pennsylvania
in the house of representatives
Thursday, September 28, 1995
Mr. COYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor some very special
women--the Carlow College Women of Spirit for the year 1994-95. Carlow
College is a private Catholic college for women in Pittsburgh. The
college, founded in 1929, created its Women of Spirit Award to call
attention to women in the Pittsburgh area who exemplify the college's
ideals of competent and compassionate service in both their personal
and professional lives. The college presents a Woman of Spirit Award
every month, and it holds a gala event each year to pay tribute to the
previous year's recipients.
This year's Women of Spirit Award recipients include prominent
members of the area's business community, several leading educators,
and women who are active in many local charities. In fact, many Women
of Spirit have accomplishments in more than one of these fields, as
well as in their personal and spiritual lives. I would like to mention
each award recipient personally.
Ellie Wynard, Ph.D., is a respected professor of English and lecturer
at Carlow College. She has been influential in developing the women's
studies curriculum at Carlow College. She is also the author of two
books about the effects of divorce.
Carol Neyland, a vice president at Mellon Bank, has a distinguished
professional career in the fields of banking and finance. She has also
been active in community service, especially in her involvement with
youth organizations. She is a bona fide scholar as well, with a
graduate degree in Greek and Latin as well as an M.B.A.
Marie Lowry is a retired businesswoman with a remarkable record of
public service. She has been a member of the steering committee for
Pittsburgh's Walk for the Cure for the last 2 years and a board member
for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation in Pittsburgh. She has been a
volunteer for Catholic Charities as well.
Ceci Sommers, now retired from the position of vice president of
community relations at WQED-FM, was the executive producer of a number
of award-winning broadcasts. She is the winner of 10 Golden Quill
Awards, and she is widely credited with developing the industry
standard for classical music stations. She has been a leading supporter
of the arts in Pittsburgh for more than 20 years.
[[Page E 1864]]
Linda Dickerson is the publisher of Executive Report, Pittsburgh's
respected business magazine. She has also been active in the city's
corporate and civic life. She has been responsible for much of the
success of the Junior Achievement Program, and she has made
significant contributions to efforts to stimulate economic growth in
this region. She recently received the Vision Award from the Pittsburgh
Guild for the Blind.
Audree Connelly Wirginis is a businesswomen of exceptional skill who
was also honored for her ability to incorporate her dedication to her
family and her faith into her demanding professional life. She is
currently involved in the construction of a hotel in the Vatican to
house visiting clergy and, during papal elections, the College of
Cardinals.
Cecile Springer is the president of a consulting firm that
specializes in corporate and philanthropic programs and institutional
development. Ms. Springer serves on the Pittsburgh Diocese Task Force
on Unemployment, the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania,
Housing Opportunities, Inc., the Women's Center and Shelter Advisory
Committee, and the Allegheny County Year 2000 Economic Development Task
Force. She is also a board member for City Theater.
Marilyn Donnelly--poet, wife, and mother--has published more than 80
poems. She is a member of the board of directors for Pittsburgh Public
Theater, Beginning with Books, and the Chimbote Foundation. She also
serves on the advisory council for the International Poetry Forum and
the women's committee for the Carnegie Museum of Art.
Dr. Corrine Barnes is an internationally recognized pediatric nurse
educator, clinical specialist, author, and researcher whose studies
have included childhood cardiac conditions and organ transplants. She
has served on a number of boards and commissions concerned with
children's health and welfare.
Dolores Wilden was responsible for developing the Nation's first
primary health care plan designed exclusively for children. Now retired
from a career in banking, finance, and community affairs
administration, she is actively involved in local and regional
community concerns.
Frieda Shapira, vice chair of the Pittsburgh Foundation, serves on
the boards of more than 20 service and arts organizations, including
the United Way of Allegheny County, the Forbes Fund, WQED, the
Community College of Allegheny County, the YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh,
the Pittsburgh Public Theater, the Pittsburgh Opera, the Historical
Society of Western Pennsylvania, Forbes Hospice Founders Society, the
American Jewish Committee, the Pittsburgh Section of the National
Council of Jewish Women, the Jewish Healthcare Foundation of
Pittsburgh, the Jewish National Fund, the United Jewish Federation,
Beginning with Books, the Center for Victims of Violent Crime, the
Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Project 90, and the board of visitors for
the School of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh. Her life is
an outstanding example of philanthropy and civic leadership.
Sister Jane Scully is the president emeritus of Carlow College. As a
director of the Gulf Oil Corporation, she was the first women to serve
on the board of a top-ten multinational corporation. She has also
served on the boards of Carlow College, Holy Cross Hospital Foundation,
and the Sisters of Mercy Ministry Corporation. In the 1960's, she was
active in the national women's movement. She spoke eloquently in favor
of women's rights to increased educational and economic opportunity, as
well as expanded roles for women in politics and business. In honoring
Sister Jane, Carlow College celebrates her remarkable success in
translating her religious convictions into worldly accomplishments.
Dr. Rosemarie E. Cibik, now retired, was the Secretary of Education
and superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Pittsburgh
for a number of years. Prior to that, she served as the superintendent
of the Baldwin-Whitehall School District for 8 years. She has received
numerous other awards for her professional achievements, including the
Distinguished Service Award from the National Council of Administrative
Women in Education, Pittsburgh Woman of the Year in Education, the
Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania Award, and designation as
Outstanding Woman in Education by the Pittsburgh chapter of the
American Association of University Women.
Mr. Speaker, all of these women have a number of shared
characteristics--energy, enthusiasm, intelligence, compassion,
competence, and commitment to their community. Carlow College has
chosen well in selecting them as its Women of Spirit for this year.
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