Evangelina Mendez trailblazer awards
By Carolina Guerra | Published by April 13, 2018
Attendees entering the Wilkins Theatre for
the 8th Annual Evangelina Mendez
Trailblazer Awards. Photos by Carolina Guerra.
As part of Women’s History Month, Kean University celebrates women by hosting many events highlighting women empowerment. One of the events included the Annual Evangelina Mendez Trailblazer Awards.
U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) honored six women who have made an impact on their community at the 8th Annual Evangelina Mendez Trailblazer Awards at Wilkins Theatre on March 18. The award was created in honor of the senator’s mother, Evangelina Mendez.
“It is a privilege to fight for priorities informed by my mother’s dreams, her struggles, and her courage,” said Menendez.
The honorees were Amy Andersen, Wilda Diaz, Uyen (Winn) Khuong, Ruth B. Mandel, Audrey Meyers and Rev. Tiffany Williams. Kean president, Dawood Farahi, and Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver, who was a 2010 Trailblazer Award honoree, also attended. After each honoree was called, they received their award and gave a short gratuitous speech.
Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver, who
was a 2010 Trailblazer Award honoree,
giving her keynote speech. Photos by Carolina Guerra.
Each honoree was awarded due to their achievements in their community. Amy Andersen was honored due to her work in teaching her students American Sign Language (ASL), creating the ASL program in Ocean City High school, and celebrating diversity. Wilda Diaz was honored for being the first female mayor of the city of Perth Amboy, and her constant fight for issues such as expansion of programs for youth and job creation. Uyen Winn Khuong was honored for co-founding Action Together New Jersey, a grassroot organization that has 20 county chapters, which currently has 18,000 members. Ruth B. Mandel was honored for her work with the Eagleton Institute of Politics and the Eagleton Institute for American Women and Politics (CAWP). Audrey Meyers was honored for her work and several high positions with the Valley Health System, including being the CEO and president. Last, Rev. Tiffany Williams was honored for her work with the Esther Project, an organization she founded that aims to empower women and help them find their life purpose.
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