[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.

                          ____________________