[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 119 (Thursday, September 10, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1693-E1694]
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 10, 1998

  Mr. COYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Carlow College 
``Women of Spirit'' for the past year.
  Founded in 1929, Carlow College has dedicated itself to the spirit of 
involvement and making a difference. The Woman of Spirit award 
highlights the achievements of Pittsburgh area women who exemplify 
competence and compassion in their communities, professions and 
personal lives. The Woman of Spirit Award recipients can be found in 
almost every profession in the region. Both the Woman of Spirit Award 
recipients and Carlow College embody the values that we wish to foster 
in our children, and they provide admirable role models for young women 
in Allegheny County and around the world.
  Each year, an annual gala is held to honor the award recipients of 
the previous year. This year's gala will be held on September 19, 1998. 
I wish to speak about each of these remarkable women today.
  The October 1997 recipient of the ``Woman of Spirit'' award is 
Suzanne Broadhurst. After graduating from Penn State University, Ms. 
Broadhurst became a teacher in the Baldwin-Whitehall school district. 
After giving birth to three sons, Ms. Broadhurst decided to stay home 
to raise her children and devote time to volunteer activities. Much of 
her volunteering deals with education. One of her largest commitments 
is the Allegheny Policy Council, which is dedicated to bringing 
educational reform to the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. She is also a 
broad member of the Phipps Conservatory and a trustee of the University 
of Pittsburgh and the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh.
  November's recipient of the ``Woman of Spirit'' award is Ruth 
Donnelly Egler. Though she is the mother of eleven children, Ms. Egler 
has served on the boards of a number of prestigious Pittsburgh 
institutions. These have ranged from the boards of the Oakland Catholic 
School and Duquesne University to the International Poetry Forum and 
the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Her numerous volunteer 
activities stem from her belief that one term is enough. She believes 
that others, especially the young, can offer new perspectives to such 
boards, and should be given the opportunity to serve.
  The president and CEO of S. W. Jack Drilling company, Ms. Christine 
Toretti, is December 1997's winner of the ``Woman of Spirit'' Award. 
Ms. Toretti's business associations include a position as the director 
of the International Association of Drilling Contractors, among others. 
She has been named to the Pennsylvania Honor Roll of Women and 
Pennsylvania's Best 50 Women in Business. However, she also spends time 
out of the office. She is a strong force in the Republican party, 
having been named the Republican National Committeewoman for the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Ms. Toretti also dedicates her time to 
the Alice Paul House Domestic Violence Shelter.
  Carlow College is honored to give the ``Woman of Spirit'' award for 
January to Sally Wiggin, a WTAE-TV anchorwoman. Ms. Wiggin spends much 
of her off-air time reading to children about things she believes are 
important, like tolerance, family, and conservation. She also 
volunteers at places that promote these beliefs. Ms. Wiggin is involved 
with the Pittsburgh Zoological Society, the Women's Center and Shelter, 
the Grieving Center for Children, the City Theater, and Animal Friends.
  Marva Harris, February's winner of the ``Woman of Spirit'' award, 
uses her position as senior vice president and manager of community 
development for PNC Bank Corporation to help others who are less 
fortunate in Pittsburgh. Her work focuses on community reinvestment and 
the economic revitalization of low- and moderate-income housing. Her 
volunteer activities target these same goals. she helped to found the 
Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development, and has served as 
the vice president and secretary of Pittsburgh Action Housing. She has 
received a number of awards for her dedication to the affordable 
housing cause, including the Cecile M. Springer Award for Womanpower 
1997, a conference for African-American women. In recognition of her 
``Woman of Spirit'' award, PNC Bank has created a scholarship to Hill 
College in Ms. Harris's honor.
  Sister Mary Paul Hickey is the winner of the March, 1998 ``Woman of 
Spirit'' Award. Sister Hickey has made a life of educating both 
children and teachers. She has, in conjunction with Carlow College, 
created an innovative elementary school that benefits from being 
affiliated with a college campus. The college's resources enable 
students to realize their own potential, while creating a nurturing, 
compassionate environment. She has also served as an instructor of 
elementary curriculum and methods and has chaired the Department of 
Education at Carlow College.
  The April, 1998, winner of the ``Woman of Spirit'' award is Dr. 
Joanne White. Dr. White

[[Page E1694]]

helped to improve the education and health care of the world's nurses 
through the creation of the Center for International Nursing at 
Duquesne University in 1992. Her interests stem from a trip to 
Nicaragua, where she helped to develop a ``sister school relationship'' 
with the Polytechnic University School of Nursing. The Roberto Clemente 
Health Center, in Nicaragua, would not have opened without her help. 
Although much of her passion is devoted to Nicaragua, she has interests 
in all Latin American countries, which led to her receiving the ``Pacem 
in Terris'' (Peace on Earth) award from La Roche College.
  Mary Kane Shatlock, the May recipient of the award, is a mother, a 
teacher, and a small businesswoman. She balances these three 
responsibilities very well, and still has time to contribute to her 
church's music program. She has raised four children. She has also been 
able to donate all of the proceeds from her business to charity. Ms. 
Shatlock has been able to teach and run her business even after her 
husband's passing. Her dedication to music and art has undoubtedly been 
passed on to her students, and her strength has been an inspiration to 
her children and grandchildren.
  Even though Lorene Steffes has only lived in Pittsburgh for a year, 
she is certainly a worthy recipient of the June ``Woman of Spirit'' 
award. She is currently the president and CEO of Transarc Corporation, 
an IBM subsidiary. While still living in the Chicago area, Ms. Steffes 
was the executive sponsor of the Society of Women Engineers. Recently, 
she was appointed to the Pittsburgh High Technology Council Board of 
Directors. She also now serves on the Pittsburgh Disability Employment 
Demonstration Project for Freedom. This organization helps disabled 
individuals advance in technology positions. She and her husband are 
the proud parents of two children and have three grandchildren.
  By tradition, there is usually only one recipient a month for the 
``Woman of Spirit'' award. July's recipients are so interconnected, 
though, that it would be unfair to give the award to just one. The 
McGinnis Sisters--Bonnie, Sharon, and Noreen--are the owners of a small 
chain of specialty food stores that bear their name. The two branches 
have grown into one of the nation's top specialty food stores, with 
sales of more than 10 million dollars annually. The sisters began 
working in the stores when they were eight years old, and have since 
taken over the business from their parents. The sisters continue their 
parents' custom of giving, making substantial contributions to the 
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and over 250 other charities. 
Aside from running the family business, the sisters are dedicated 
mothers.
  Lisa Pupo Lenihan has been honored as the August 1998 ``Woman of 
Spirit.'' She is the managing director of the law firm of Burns, White, 
and Hickton. Here, she became the first woman to head a medium-to 
large-sized law firm in Pittsburgh. She also donated her time to 
helping many causes, along with being the mother of three. She chairs a 
fundraising event at the Zoar Home, a treatment center for young women 
who are pregnant or have young children and are addicted to drugs or 
alcohol. She has served as the chair of the Board of Directors for ARCH 
(Artists Raising the Conscience of Humanity) Productions, Inc., which 
helps at-risk youth. She also started the Pro-Bono Legal Committee for 
the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force. She also donates time to promote women 
in her field. Along with all these volunteer efforts, she and her 
husband have three children to raise.
  Carlow College gave Phyllis Moorman Goode the September, 1998, 
``Woman of Spirit'' award. Ms. Goode has been a vibrant member of both 
the arts community and the African-American community, and has tried to 
relate these actions whenever possible. She has chaired the Pittsburgh 
Foundation/Howard Heinz Endowment Multi-Cultural Arts Initiative, and 
is a member of the Junior League of Pittsburgh, the YWCA Liz Prine Fund 
Distribution Committee, and the Pittsburgh Playback Theater, among 
other things. She has also volunteered her time for education and teen 
pregnancy issues. Her commitments have earned her many honors in the 
City of Pittsburgh. She and her husband are currently raising one son.
  Mr. Speaker, the women that named her are all great role models. They 
contribute different qualities, each of which make Pittsburgh a great 
place to live. With the Woman of Spirit award, Carlow College has 
called much-deserved attention to these women. The women I have spoken 
of have energy, enthusiasm, intelligence, compassion, and competence 
that is unmatched. I salute this year's Woman of Spirit award 
recipients and wish them the best at this year's gala and beyond.

                          ____________________