Sugar Grove – In observance of Women's History Month in March, Waubonsee Community College will host a series of events to acknowledge and recognize women's significant role in American history and their contributions to society. These programs celebrate the achievements of women while recognizing the struggles they have faced throughout history. Admission to all events is free of charge and open to the public.
- “Casting a Historic Vote: Suffrage for Women in Illinois”: Returning Road Scholar Jeanne Schultz Angel, Associate Vice President at Naper Settlement, will enlighten audiences on the history of universal suffrage nationally and across Illinois. The discussion will take place on Thursday, March 21 at 5:30 p.m. in the Academic and Professional Center on the Sugar Grove Campus.
- “BIG Pink Volleyball”: Waubonsee students and employees will face-off against each other at a philanthropic volleyball tournament, played with a four-foot pink volleyball. The tournament will take place on Friday, March 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sugar Grove Campus Field House. Donations raised from the tournament will be given to Mutual Ground.
- “Empowerment and Advancement: A Professional Workshop for Women”: Join us for an empowering event designed to propel your career forward. Dr. Diane Nyhammer, Provost, and Dr. Melinda Tejada, Vice President of Community Engagement and Executive Director of the Foundation, will share their journeys and offer invaluable career navigation tips. Joining Dr. Nyhammer and Dr. Tejada will be Kathy Gilmore, President of the Valley Industrial Association of Illinois. This event will take place on Wednesday, March 27 at 2:30 p.m. at the Sugar Grove Campus Student Center.
- “Reading and Discussion with Author Ling Ma”: Author Ling Ma will read from and discuss stories from her award-winning short story collection “Bliss Montage.” The virtual discussion will take place on Tuesday, April 2 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.
- “EmpowerHer Donation Drive”: Waubonsee community members are invited to support our Women’s Empowerment Hygiene Drive to support Mutual Ground. Give back to the community by donating brand-new, unopened women’s hygiene items. Below are the drop-off locations:
- Sugar Grove Campus – Student Center lobby & Bodie Hall lobby
- Aurora Downtown Campus – Entrance lobby
- Aurora Fox Valley – Entrance lobby
- Plano Campus – Entrance lobby
- “Breaking Barriers: Women in Non-Traditional Careers”: Stop by Waubonsee to see a display showcasing the achievements of women in our college community including students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members-in fields typically dominated by men. Celebrate their pioneering success and be inspired by their stories. Below are the display locations:
- Week of March 4; Sugar Grove Campus – Bodie Hall lobby
- Week of March 11; Plano Campus – Entrance lobby
- Week of March 18; Aurora Fox Valley – Entrance lobby
- Week of March 25; Aurora Downtown Campus – Café lobby
“I would strongly encourage any woman who wants to join automotive or any other male-dominated field, to absolutely go for it! Getting my associate degree at Waubonsee opened up a world of opportunities for me,” said Waubonsee alumnus Stacey Cantrell, Technical Trainer at Stellantis.
Visit waubonsee.edu/WomensHistoryMonth for more information and registration details.
