Twenty-one outstanding young women were nominated for Woman of the Year 2004 at Kettering University. Stephanie Noel Hanes, of West Branch, Mich., was chosen as the Woman of the Year for A Section, and Karley Ah Khyung Schulz, of Jackson, Mich., was chosen Woman of the Year for B section.

Finalists for the award included:

Stacy Boitnott, of South Rockwood, Mich., A Section,
Michelle Susanne Niese, of Ottawa, Ohio, A Section,
Diane Wisniewski, of Flushing, Mich., A Section,
Elsie A. Etienne, of Dover, Del., B Section,
Katherine Haggerty, of Sylvan Lake, Mich., B Section,
Kaitlin Mulligan, of Lockport, N.Y., B Section,
Jessica Rothe, of Grand Haven, Mich., B Section and
Rachel Weber, of Commerce, Mich., B Section.

In addition, 11 women were awarded honorable mention. They were:

Jessica Nordling, of Port Jervis, N.Y., A Section,
Elizabeth Rogal, of Macomb, Mich., A Section,
Ashley Shields, of Flint, Mich., A Section,
Robin Tsukayama, of Southfield, Mich., A Section,
Colleen Bevier, of Elgin, Ill., B Section,
Ursula Dyer, of Denver, Col., B Section,
Roejina Gardner, of Linden, Mich., B Section,
Jamila Goldsmith, of Grand Rapids, Mich., B Section,
Khia Moses, of Youngstown, Ohio, B Section,
Amanda Osborne, of Ray, Mich., B Section and
Erin Spinner, of Oceanside, Calif., B Section.

The Woman of the Year award at Kettering University recognizes senior female students who have made a difference during their college tenure. Academic achievement is only 20 percent of a rating system that includes service, dedication, mentoring, role modeling and leadership.

Nominees must be individuals recognized by students, faculty and staff as someone who "gets things done," and is involved in service on campus, at their place of employment and in their home communities.

First conceptualized by two students, Ann Marie Weitzel-Robinson '99 and Amanda Snyder-Simmons '98, the idea become a reality in 1997 at the first Woman of the Year Recognition banquet.

This year's top awardees embody all the qualities of the Woman of the Year Award.

Stephanie Noel Hanes, A-Section Woman of the Year, is the daughter of Charles and Margaret Hanes of West Branch, Mich. She is majoring in Mechanical Engineering and her co-op employer is General Motors in Warren, Mich.

Hanes is a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority where she held leadership positions including executive board member, vice president of programming, social chair, risk management chair and Greek delegate. In addition to her Greek involvement, Hanes was sophomore representative for Student Senate, Greek Council scholarship chair and secretary, co-chair of the Clara Elizabeth Davidson Women's Resource Center committee, and a COMPASS-freshman orientation volunteer.

Membership in honor societies and professional societies includes: Society of Women Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Institute of Industrial Engineers, Phi Eta Sigma-national freshman honor society, Kappa Mu Epsilon-national mathematics honor society, Order of Omega-Greek leadership recognition.

Hanes' academic and professional awards include: Kettering Dean's List, Tau Beta Pi-national Engineering Society, Robots Society-academic and leadership recognition honor society, Gamma Sigma Alpha and Sigma Phi Iota-service recognition honor society.

Karley Ah Khyung Schulz, B-Section Woman of the Year, is the daughter of James and Susan Schulz of Jackson, Mich. She is majoring in Mechanical Engineering and her co-op employer is Steelcase Inc. in Caledonia, Mich.

Schulz is a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority where she held leadership positions including vice president of recruitment and philanthropy chair. In addition to her Greek involvement, Schulz was a 2002 representative at the International Institute of Women Engineers, chief mentor for the Lives Improved Through Engineering (LITE) program, Student Alumni Council president and logistic chair and Clara Elizabeth Davidson Women's Resource Center chair. In addition, Schulz volunteered with the Old Newsboys of Flint, United Way, Food Bank of East Central Michigan, Junior Achievement, Breast Cancer Awareness drive and for a tutoring program at the Third Avenue Baptist Church in Flint.

Membership in honor societies and professional societies includes: Society of Manufacturing Engineers and the Society of Women Engineers.

Schulz's academic and professional awards include: Alpha Sigma Alpha Scholarship, LITE Scholarship, Michigan Competitive Scholarship, Student Life Scholarship, Provost's List and Robots Society- academic and leadership recognition honor society.

Kettering University is an ABET accredited engineering and technology university in Flint, Michigan, ranked among the top engineering schools in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. Based on the professional cooperative education model, Kettering students attend college year-round, rotating three-month semesters with three month professional work experiences related to their field of study. Founded in 1919, the University provides 2,500 students with career-based education in engineering, applied sciences, mathematics, and business management. To find out more about Kettering, visit our web site at www.news.kettering.edu.

Written by Dawn Hibbard
(810) 762-9865
dhibbard@kettering.edu