FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                        February 23, 2007

NORTHWESTERN TO CELEBRATE WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

Northwestern Oklahoma State University has three events scheduled in March to celebrate “Women’s History Month.” In addition, special women’s history displays will be located in the libraries on the Alva and Enid campuses and in the commons area at the Woodward campus.

First up is a brown bag lunch/lecture about “Kate Barnard—Oklahoma’s First Elected Woman” presented by Dr. Deena Fisher at noon on Friday, March 9. Fisher is dean of Northwestern-Woodward and a board member of the Oklahoma Historical Society.

Barnard was elected as commissioner of charities and corrections in 1907 in Oklahoma’s first election after attaining statehood. Although women were not allowed to vote at that time, she received more votes in her election than did Oklahoma’s first governor Charles Haskell. She served for seven years and died as a recluse in 1930.

The lecture will be available in Room 221 in Enid, Room 209 in the Struckle Education Center in Alva and Studio D in Woodward. All students, employees and members of the community are invited to bring their lunches for the free event.

On Tuesday, March 13, the American Association of University Women will hold its fifth annual Women’s Recognition Dinner at 7 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom at Northwestern-Alva.

Five women from northwest Oklahoma will be recognized and honored for their accomplishments and contributions to their communities, churches, businesses and families.  Recipients include Karen Koehn, guidance counselor at Northwest Technology Center in Alva, educational development award; Jane McDermott of McDermott Insurance in Alva, economic development award;  Angelia Case, instructional media technician at Northwestern, cultural development award; and Rev. Judye Pistole, pastor of Alva’s First Presbyterian Church, community development award. 

The final award of “Woman of the Year” will remain secret until the awards ceremony. 

Tickets for the event are $15 and must be purchased by March 2 from any AAUW member or by calling Audra Qualls at (580) 327-8178.

Dr. Janet Cunningham, Northwestern president, will be the emcee for the event, and music faculty member Ling-Yu Kan will provide entertainment.

The guest speaker for the evening will be Cindy Dougherty, dean of students at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

Christy Arnold of the Enid YWCA will discuss “Domestic Violence and Stalking” from 5 to 6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 15. Her talk will be available in Room 210 in Enid, Room 108 of the Education Center in Alva and Studio C in Woodward. The event is sponsored by the Enid Psychology Club.

Interested students can enroll through March 1 in a one-hour credit class in humanities covering women’s history. Requirements for the arranged course include reading the text prior to class, complete a report, complete a reflection paper and journal, contribute to class discussions, participate in class activities, attend all women’s history events and discuss readings with instructor.

To enroll, students should contact Dr. Cheryl Evans, dean of Northwestern-Enid, at (580) 213-3105 or clevans@nwosu.edu.

The National Women's History Project (WHP), founded in 1980, is an educational nonprofit organization. Its mission is to recognize and celebrate the diverse and historic accomplishments of women by providing information and educational materials and programs.

The theme for the 2007 National Women’s History Month is “Generations of Women Moving History Forward.” 

More information about WHP can be found at http://www.nwhp.org/.

-NW-

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