White cloths covered half the round table tops which filled up half of the City College Student Center. The surrounding chairs filled with returning and departing bodies. While it was sunny and bright outside, the City College community gave extra warmth March 23rd to the 29 recipients of Outstanding Women’s Awards.

Among the recipients was Katherine Whitehead, who started City College in the summer of 2010 and is now on her way to career as an aircraft dispatcher. As a member of the honor society Phi Theta Kappa, she received the second-place award as member of the year. Whitehead works in the Learning Resource Center, where she assists students in the computer lab and keeps the work area clean. She’s started tutoring research methods in February and helps students with projects, papers and test preparation.

A recovering addict who has been clean and sober for three years, Whitehead said she lost everyone in her family and is a “poor, struggling college student, who’s survived homelessness.”

She said was confused about the call from the CAC saying she had won the award. She didn’t realize she had been nominated, but after she realized she would be recognized, she became appreciative.

“This award is like a doorway to what life really is because it’s through this school that I’ll become an independent person,” said a smiling Whitehead. “This is definitely a confidence boost. It reaffirms that I’m going in the right direction, doing what I need to do and to just keep doing it.”
For 15 years now, City College’s Cultural Awareness Center has recognized women students for their accomplishments, according to Victoria Henderson, CAC coordinator. Earlier, City College faculty and staff members reviewed five categories on a nomination form before submitting their suggested recipients: outstanding academic achievement, community service, overcoming obstacles, women in non-traditional fields and special achievement scholar athletes.

Whitehead was joined by other awardees who filled the room with their supporting guests, including family, friends and partners. On stage, Henderson, Vice President of Student Services Michael Poindexter, Vice President of Instruction Dr. Mary Turner, Dean of Learning Resources Dr. Rhonda
Rios Kravitz, Professor of Ethnic Theater Angela-Dee Alforque presented the awards. Handshakes and hugs were exchanged as the outstanding women accepted their awards with smiles on their faces.

Another winner, Angelica Garcia, is in her second semester at City College. She said she had a hard time in high school because she used to skip class and ran away from home. After getting involved with the Brown Issues club at her high school, counselors helped her into City College. Garcia mentors
at her former high school and reminds herself that she is one of the women who has achieved success, but still has to make a path for others.

“It’s a push,” said Garcia about her recognition, “[It’s] saying I’m doing things right, and it’s motivation for me to keep going. It makes me proud.”
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Sheila Emaas, an international student since 2006, found out through an email that she was nominated for her award. She confirmed with a co-worker at the International Student Center that it was a legitimate email and was surprised. Emaas is from the Philippines and her current visa restricts her from working.

“My mother is the only breadwinner,” Emaas said of her household. “A small income only helps so much and as an older sister it’s hard to only help so much.”

Emaas’s workload is demanding with 18 units, pressure to maintain her culture in America, and pressure to marry.

“I put my responsibility to school and my goals first,” Emaas said.

The ceremony was closed with Kravitz’s reading of Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise”.
“Still I rise, still I rise, still I rise,” said the crowd in unison.