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To celebrate Women's History Month, Maryland.com sponsored a statewide
contest as an opportunity to recognize some of Maryland's own unsung heroes.
People responded and nominated extraordinary women from across the state.
An independent panel of judges reviewed the nominations, and picked four
to be recognized as "Maryland.com's 2001 Women of Achievement."
The Awards Reception was held on Wednesday, April 4th in the Governor's
Reception Room at the State House in Annapolis. Lt. Governor Kathleen
Kennedy Townsend joined with Maryland.com and our four co-sponsoring radio
stations to introduce the winners. Each winner received a special prize
package from their sponsoring radio station, an overnight stay for two
at Annapolis' only waterfront hotel, The
Annapolis Marriott Waterfront, and a two-hour Chesapeake Bay schooner
cruise courtesy of Nautical
Destinations.
You can read the biographies of our winners by clicking on their names
below.
Margaret Schmidt — D.C. Metro/Southern Maryland
Woman of Achievement
Mikhel Kushner — Baltimore Region Woman of Achievement
DeAnna Leech — Greater Annapolis Region Woman of
Achievement
Josephine McDonald — Western Maryland Woman of
Achievement
Margaret Schmidt — D.C. Metro/Southern
Maryland Woman of Achievement
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Margaret
Schmidt with Lt. Gov. Townsend
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A resident of Waldorf in Charles County, Margaret Schmidt is a woman
of many hats. She is employed as a Nurse Anesthetist at Providence Hospital.
She is also a Major and Flight Nurse in the Air Force Reserve, serving
in the 459th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base.
She is an instructor in Chemical, Biological and Nuclear warfare, and
recently was a panelist representing the Air Force on a worldwide satellite
broadcast conference on medical management of biological weapons casualties.
Margaret uses her ability as an anesthetist to help people all over the
world. This past December, she spent three weeks on the Anastasis Mercy
Ship off the coast of West Africa. This was her fifth trip to the region,
assisting with 122 operations, most of which were life-saving procedures.
Margaret pays her own travel to and from the ship, and receives no compensation
for her work there.
Married with two children, Margaret recently achieved a personal milestone
in completing the Marine Corps Marathon four years in a row. Not one to
seek recognition, her achievements are those of a person who has dedicated
her life to helping others. She brags to everyone that she is from Southern
Maryland.
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Mikhel Kushner — Baltimore Region Woman
of Achievement
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WZBA's
Jack Ratzsch with Lt. Gov Townsend and Mikhel Kushner.
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As the director of the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC)
Women's Center for little more than a year, Mikhel Kushner has changed
the dynamic in which the student body regards the Women's Center.
Today, the Center is one of the safest and most welcoming places on campus,
and most of the credit is due to Mikhel. The Center's motto is, "All
Are Welcome, So Long As They Respect Women's Experiences, Stories, And
Potential." Mikhel helps keep this promise by ensuring that all individuals
are welcome and cared for in the center. Mikhel's leadership has set the
tone, and people have responded. In any given day, many students and members
of the college community come to her for conversation and guidance about
their problems, issues and concerns.
Mikhel focuses her efforts and time on empowering individuals, whether
they be students or faculty, male or female. Her support for the student
body has been an influential factor in the rise of pro-feminist organizations
on campus, such as Feminist Majority and ChoiceUSA. Her encouragement
and hard work are the primary reasons why the Women's History Month 2001
at UMBC has become is a great success.
Put simply, Mikhel Kushner is a person who brightens ones' day, and takes
the time to help others. She is a great resource, ally, mentor and friend,
and one of the treasures of UMBC's community.
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DeAnna Leech — Greater Annapolis Region
Woman of Achievement
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WRNR's
Scott James, Lt. Gov. Townsend, DeAnna Leech, and WRNR's Judy Buddensick.
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A resident of Dunkirk in Calvert County, DeAnna Leech has experienced
tragic personal loss. Rather than let her grief break her spirit, she
has emerged as a strong, focused person who utilizes her experiences to
benefit others.
In May of 2000, DeAnna's daughter Jen was involved in a severe automobile
accident that left her with serious head trauma. After several weeks in
the hospital, Jen was ultimately pronounced brain dead and disconnected
from life support.
Throughout this difficult time, DeAnna suffered an abusive husband and
was forced to file for divorce. Her ex-husband then threatened DeAnna,
and violated a restraining order. After serving time in jail, her husband
returned to DeAnna's home. There, he was involved in a police altercation
that ended in his death on the family driveway.
DeAnna has chosen to seek the positive in all her experiences. She has
established a scholarship fund in her late daughter's name. She is active
in educating others on spousal abuse. She serves as a grief counselor,
helping others deal with the loss of a child. DeAnna has remained a strong,
religious, and focused person. Her remaining three children have flourished
under her care.
DeAnna Leech is an inspiration to her friends, and a blessing to those
whose lives she has touched.
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Josephine McDonald — Western Maryland
Woman of Achievement
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Josephine
McDonald and Lt. Gov. Townsend share a light moment.
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Josephine McDonald was born into a large family in Cumberland. Like many
rural children in the late 1940s, she left grammar school in order to
assist her parents with the chores and raising her younger siblings. She
later got married, and bore four children of her own.
In the early 1970s, Josephine had to overcome the barriers of domestic
violence, and separated from her husband in order to raise her four children
without violence. To make ends meet, she struggled to work three jobs.
Working on a General Electric assembly line during the day, making pizza
during the evening, and cleaning restaurants after midnight, she still
managed to find time for her children.
After 15 years of employment she found herself laid off from General
Electric. She returned to school in her mid-30s to acquire her GED, and
then attended college for four years. Today Josephine is employed as a
Biomedical Engineer at Washington Hospital Center where she trains new
employees.
Josephine McDonald's life gave her many reasons to lose hope and stop
trying. Rather than give in, she has persevered. Josephine has set an
example to other women that no matter what life may have in store, each
individual has the power to change their circumstances. She is a living
testament to the triumph of the human spirit.
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