Three honored by Women’s Center for lifetime achievements
They have served in the role of advocate, mentor and activist in the community. Now, three women will be honored with the USU Women Over 65 Achievement Award this Wednesday.
USU’s Women Center has acknowledged the accomplishments, activities and civic dedication of women over 65 for the past 25 years. In a press release, Michelle Bogdan, director of the Women’s Resource Center, said, “These women have shown us by their actions in the community, academy and business how to create a better world for all women.”
Jeannine Huenemann, an advisory board member, said the women are nominated by their peers and colleagues. Based on the women’s achievement, the Women’s Center then chooses the women it feels best deserve the honor.
“One of the best closing lines from a nominee was, ‘I have been waiting for years for this particular person to turn 65 just so I could nominate her,'” Huenemann said. “It was just a great closing line for a nomination.”
When choosing from the list of nominees, Huenemann said the center looks for women who have a consistent long-term relationship of improving the world around them. These women have participated in multiple activities, held numerous positions and helped many around them, whether it be in the USU community or a broader community. Huenemann said some women even work internationally.
Huenemann said the award has a distinction in the community because it is a recognition of lifetime achievement.
“A lot of times awards will be specific events such as you are a good researcher or you’re good at this or that,” she said. “But this is looking at the whole person. They are giving to their community and a variety of different things all at once.”
The honorees, Carolyn Barcus, JoAn Criddle and Marilynne Glatfelter, are three of more than 100 women who have been awarded, Huenemann said.
Barcus earned both a master’s and a doctor of education degree from USU. She began her career as a mental health specialist for the Indian Health Services and later worked with the same organization as a service unit director.
Barcus returned to USU in the 1980s when she joined the psychology department as an adjunct professor and Navajo Student Advisor. Barcus has been involved with the American Indian Support Project of USU. She became the director of the program in 1991 and still holds the position.
Criddle began her education at USU. She quit school after marriage to provide for her husband’s financial aid. After raising five children, she returned to school for a bachelor’s degree in child and family behavioral science from Sacramento City College. She continued her education in the area of counseling at Sacramento State University.
Criddle’s interest in caring for others led her to author four books. Two of them are about her experiences with a Cambodian refugee family she helped sponsor while living in Davis, Calif.
Glatfelter began her education at Knox College and received a bachelor’s degree in English. She followed this by earning a master’s degree from Indiana University and a doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of Minnesota.
Glatfelter was hired as the first female therapist in the USU Counseling Center. During this time, she became a founding member of the Women’s Center and served on its advisory board for many years.
Huenneman said the event is a reception and a celebration all in one. The evening will consist of a ceremony introducing the three women and each woman will give a five- to eight-minute talk. Afterwards, everyone is invited to stay and talk.
“I think there is a consistency to it that we don’t often look at. We often look at people and say that they are good at their career but we don’t stop and say, ‘What is your lifetime commitment to other women?’ That is what makes this unique,” Huenneman said.
The ceremony will be Wednesday, April 7, at 6:30 p.m. in the Taggart Student Center Ballroom. The event is free and open to the public.
– courtnie.packer@aggiemail.usu.edu