Earlier this month, the Institute for Women's Studies and Services hosted its 17th Annual Outstanding Women Awards to honor women at the college and support the Pamela McIntyre-Marcum Scholarship Fund.

The awards reception honors, promotes and recognizes individuals who support women throughout the college campus. Awards are presented to students, alumni, faculty, staff and administrators because of their leadership and contributions to enhancing women's education, academic excellence or prominence in a particular field.

This year's recipients include:
Skip Crownhart, associate director, Academic Advising - According to the person who nominated her, Crownhart's "commitment to intercultural understanding, to richness of diversity, to access to civil rights and equal opportunity has transcended the many challenges and changes on our campus throughout her years of service."

Sandra Haynes, interim dean, School of Professional Studies - Haynes was recognized for her community work, including the Women's Bean Project and Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains.

Geri Blodgett, accountant, Student Health Center - Her nomination said, "Geri took an active role on behalf of Auraria women and successfully lobbied for (health insurance coverage for women's contraception) regardless of a woman's reasons."

Fernay Bing, junior, Human Services major - Bing was recognized for her leadership in many civic organizations, such as the Denver Head Start Commission, AmeriCorps and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.

David "Nico" Baker, Class of 2004, Social Work major - Baker was the first man to be nominated for and receive an Outstanding Women Award. He was selected because of the "many ways he works to promote a feminist agenda on the Auraria Campus and in the Denver community."

The Outstanding Women Awards reception is a fundraiser for the Pamela McIntyre-Marcum Memorial Scholarship. McIntyre-Marcum was a Metro marketing professor who was killed by her husband in 1987. At the awards banquet, three student survivors of violence received scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,000.