Lifetime Achievement awardee Lynn Fitrell
California, MD — The annual St. Mary’s County Commission for Women National Women’s History Month banquet was held March 19 at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center. The theme of this year’s banquet was “Weaving the Stories of Women’s Lives.” The event featured presentations of Life Achievement, Woman of the Year and Tomorrow’s Woman 2015 awards.
Indeed this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient has quite a story to weave. Her marriage to Navy career officer Stu Fitrell took her all over the world and eventually to St. Mary’s County in 1978 where Capt. Fitrell became commanding officer of Patuxent RIver Naval Air Station. Captain Fitrell retired here to take up a second career as an author.
Lynn’s story is one of becoming intricately entwined in the fabric of life in St. Mary’s County. “I feel privileged to be a part of this crazy, wonderful, fun community,” she told the sold-out crowd of 250 attending the banquet.
Her biography as read by Commission on Women member Norma Pipkin was indeed long and impressive. Once in St. Mary’s she continued her education at the University of Maryland where she majored in Government and Politics and Women’s Studies.
According to her biography, “Lynn joined study groups and began seeking solutions. With a rickety card table in a donated space in a trailer park and a small grant, as one of the founding members, Lynn became the first director of the Women’s Center in St. Mary’s County.”
Fitrell’s accomplishments include eight years as executive assistant to the governor and Program Director for the Governor’s Office on Volunteerism. According to her biography, “One of her proudest achievements was overseeing the building of the Maryland Monument to the Veterans of World War II.”
The biography goes on to say, “Early on Lynn learned to form coalitions and work together with others in the field on women’s issues. Recognizing few problems are in isolation, she kept the issues of sexual; assault, homelessness, domestic violence and displaced homemakers front and center in Annapolis. The Maryland Network against Domestic Violence grew out if those cooperative working relationships.”
Fitrell praised the Commission of Women for their leadership in women’s issues. “Tonight isn’t about me but women who have dedicated their lives,” she said. “You are really the best,” she added.
The Commission for Women annual banquet benefits the Jane Hale Sypher Scholarship to the College of Southern Maryland, named after the retired dean of the Leonardtown campus. Sypher (shown above) spoke and bemoaned the increased cost of higher education and reduction of Pell grants. She urged attendees to contribute to the scholarship fund by sending a check to the CSM Foundation, 8730 Mitchell Rd., P.O. Box 9109, La Plata, MD 206467.
Woman of the Year Award went to Connie Pennington, who contributes 40-50 hours a week in volunteer endeavors, including recognition of soldiers in the county. She is a Lead Red Cross volunteer and was awarded Citizen of the Year in 2007 by the Knights of Columbus.
Tomorrow’s Woman 2015 awardee was Abigail Simmerman, president of the Great Mills High School Best Buddies. She has exhibited her leadership in growing the club membership and attending a national conference. Simmerman has also spearheaded an effort to incorporate a new community service effort within her club which led to a scarf, hat, and mitten drive and holiday stocking donations. This summer she will be volunteering at a special needs camp.
Other Woman of the Year nominees were: Leigh Alvey, Denisha Brinkley, Lynn Burton, Alisa Casas, Candice Cummings, Patricia Dunlap. Anne Forrest, Joan Gelrud, Sandi Greene, Tamica Johnson, Linda McClane, Nichole Moneymaker, Sharmella Riggs, Mary Sasscer, Tiffany Smith, Adrienne Somerville, Cynthia Thompson, Myrtle Thompson and Monet Wilson.
Other Tomorrow’s Woman 2015 nominees were Nashante Alexander, Gabrielle Cory, Ashton Frech, Ravyn Hicks and Sarita Lee.
St. Mary’s College of Maryland President Dr. Tuajuanda Jordan was guest speaker.
Entertainment was provided by Mary and Larry Ludwig.
Contact Dick Myers at news@thebaynet.com