Eleven women were honored last week at the WISE Women of Blair County Tribute Awards dinner at The Casino at Lakemont Park.
WISE stands for Women Involved in Scholarship and Empowerment, and the program is an extension of the YWCA's Tribute to Women.
The recipients included Theodora Leiden (lifetime achievement), Erin Murphy (arts and letters), Maryanne Burger (nonprofit/government), Nancy Devorris (community service volunteer), Barbara Crago (education) and Beverly Green (business/professional).
Five young women who were in grades 10 through 12 when they completed a Gold Award Project through Girl Scout Troop 406 were honored with the Rising Star award.
They include sisters Cristina Flores, 17, a senior at Altoona Area High School, and Julia Flores, 20, a sophomore at Penn State Altoona; Marie Garofoli, 20, a sophomore at the University of Connecticut; Jaclyn Hall, 20, a sophomore at Shippensburg University; and Brigid Kapfhammer, 20, a sophomore at Slippery Rock University. The young women refurbished the basement dressing rooms in the Mishler Theatre, Altoona.
We offer a thumbs-up to these honorees and for the organization for sustaining a vehicle to continue recognizing deserving women.
Others worthy of thumbs-up mention:
Thumbs-up to the latest class of Blair County Sports Hall of Fame inductees - Jill Brumbaugh, Wayne "Buddy" Geis, Bill Huber, Steve Taneyhill and Rick Stonebraker - as well as special award winners Jim Lane (lifetime achievement), Sue Kovensky (community service), the 1984 Bishop Guilfoyle Lady Marauders (team inductee) and scholarship winners Jared Salyards of Central High School and Alli Williams of BG. All were honored at the Blair County Convention Center Saturday night.
Thumbs-up to the Rev. Raymond Crosser, Gerald Milliron and Jana Sidler - the latest inductees into the Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School Ring of Honor April 24.
Thumbs-up, albeit a little belated, to Tyrone Area High School's A.J. Shopp, who won a PIAA wrestling championship last month, and the BG girls, who captured their sixth PIAA Class A title March 27.
Thumbs-up to ageless actress Betty White, who will host Saturday Night Live May 8. White, 88, was selected as host following her appearance in a Super Bowl ad.
