News

WCNY announces regional ‘Women Who Make America’ honorees

by Rouhollah Goudarzi

March 16, 2013

WCNY hosted an awards ceremony for the regional “Makers: Women Who Make America” honorees March 1 at the Women’s Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls. Seventeen women from WCNY’s 19-county broadcast area received awards.

Nominees were evaluated on how they impact their communities and shape today’s America in arts, business, community activism, education, communication, medicine, politics, religion, science and technology, sports and volunteerism.

Awardees:

• Megan Rae Bliss, Veterans Crisis Line in Wayne County – Communications
• Marlene Brown, The Children’s Museum of Utica in Oneida County – Volunteerism
• Kimberly Burch, restaurant owner in Lewis County – Community Activism
• Sue Considine, executive director of the Fayetteville Free Library in Onondaga County – Science and Technology
• Renee DeVesty, regional director of Camp Good Days and Special Times in Onondaga County – Community Activism
• Rose Marie Fagan, person-directed long-term care advocate in Ontario County – Community Activism
• Kate Finn, licensed midwife in Tompkins County – Medicine
• Gouverneur Business Women Breast Cancer Walk Fund Executive Committee, Carolyn Pistolesi, Marilyn LaPierre, Judy Bush, Mona Allen, Becky Fiacco and Terry Pistolesi in St. Lawrence County – Volunteerism
• Dr. Rathika Martyn, co-founder and sponsoring physician of The Mary Rose Center in Madison County – Medicine
• Pam Matt, executive director of the Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce in Oneida County – Business
• Agnes McCray, advocate for disability rights in Onondaga County – Community Activism
• Andrea E. Rankin, founder of Aid to Women, Victims of Violence for Women in Cortland County – Community Activism
• Gigi Redmond, manager at CazCares in Madison County – Community Activism
• Karen Y. Richmond, executive director of the Children’s Home of Jefferson County – Community Activism
• Jean Siracusa, biology professor at the Cayuga Community College Community and is part of the Garden in Oswego – Education
• Linda Townsend, J.D., teaches college-level courses at the Port Byron School District in Cayuga County – Education
• Carrie M. Tuttle, engineer in Jefferson County – Science and Technology

For more detailed information about each honoree, visit www.wcny.org/makers.

The awards also represent a local collaboration with the AOL and PBS national documentary, “Makers: Women Who Make America.”

WCNY’s local public affairs show “Insight” featured the honorees March 1 and will also feature the honorees March 8. The show airs at 9 p.m. Fridays on WCNY (24.1) and is available online atwww.wcny.org/insight.