FLINT, Michigan—The city’s own crusading doctor is one of seven women being inducted into the Genesee Regional Women’s Hall of Fame this year.
The local women are being honored by Zonta International for their notable contributions to girls locally and throughout the world. The list of honorees also includes two nuns who operate a center in Flint, community college president, broadcast journalist, teacher, and Flint native who attempted to become the first woman to fly across the Pacific Ocean.
“The mission of the Zonta is to honor women, to empower women of our country,” said Zonta International local President Stacy Betts. “The inductees have made a difference in women or young women in the area on a professional basis.”
The Hall of Fame program is in its eighth year. There is one historical inductee and six contemporary inductees this year.
Zonta has partnered with the Sloan Museum to display biographies and pictures of the inductees for two years.
The hall of fame award dinner is April 20, 2017, at the Flint Institute of Arts. For more information, contact Zonta Club President Stacy Betts at (810) 922-4010.
Zonta International is a worldwide organization comprised of businesses executives and professionals. The organization started in 1923 with a goal to improve the legal, political, economic, educational, health, and professional status of women around the world.
2017 Genesee Women’s Hall of Fame Inductees
Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha
Dr. Hanna-Attisha is Director of the Pediatric Residency Program at Hurley Medical Center. Dr. Hanna-Attisha was the lead researcher in a study conducted at Hurley comparing the lead levels in children, 5 and under, from 2013 and 2015. She discovered that the lead levels were two times higher than the approved standards. Dr. Hanna-Attisha’s report was one of the deciding factors leading to the declaration of the public health emergency and brought about the movement to resolve what has become the greatest health challenge to Flint.
Sister Judy Blake and Sister Carol Weber
Sister Judy Blake and Sister Carol Weber are co-directors of the St. Luke’s N.E.W. Life Center in Flint. The center work to help women in the community better themselves and their families through self-esteem and emotional intelligence cultivation, job training, while focusing on improving their physical health and faith building. During the 1990s, the sisters worked with St. Luke Catholic Church providing a street ministry that offered clothing and food to the homeless population in Flint. In 2012, they began a partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Community Ventures. In 2015, a contract was secured with Stormy Kromer to sew high-end wool vests that are being shipped all over the world. The center offers a food pantry, hot meals twice a week feeding over 600 people a month, and host literacy fairs each year.
Mildred Doran (historical)
Mildred Doran was a Flint teacher and student pilot. The 22-year-old Flint Central High School graduate was lost as she tried to become the first woman to fly across the Pacific in 1927. She was the only woman participating in the Dole Race which offered a $25,000 first prize for the first plane to fly from California to Hawaii. Her aircraft—named the Miss Doran—was one of the four to leave the West Coast and one of the two that was lost over the Pacific. Doran contributed not only to the history of the region, but to aviation in general by ensuring a continued role for women in aviation and flight.
Susan J. Goering
Susan J. Goering is a consummate leader and professional educator who has achieved noted prominence within Genesee County. Goering was a secondary English teacher in the Flint Community Schools from 1964 to 1992 and lead the development of Flint’s Secondary Gifted Education Program. She later moved into an administrative position, which lead her to Carman-Ainsworth School District where she assumed the role as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. Among her achievements is being awarded the Christa McAuliffe Fellowship by the U.S. Department of Education. Even after retirement, Goering continues to be involved in Genesee County organizations including Whaley Children’s Center, Community Foundation of Greater Flint Women, and the STAR Program.
Beverly Walker-Griffea
Beverly Walker-Griffea, president of Mott Community College, has a legacy of creating college student success environments. Walker-Griffea’s career has spanned more than 30 years as she has worked as a university representative, instructional faculty member, counseling faculty member, and college administrator. In August 2014, Walker-Griffea became the seventh president of Mott Community College in Flint. She is the first African-American and first female president in the college’s history. She also is currently the only African American female community college president in the state of Michigan. Walker-Griffea serves locally on the Board of Directors for the Greater Flint Health Coalition, McLaren Health Care-Flint, Carriage Town Ministries, Metro Community Development, and the Michigan Community College Association (MCCA). In addition, Walker-Griffea is a member of the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce Operating Board and serves on several chamber committees including the Genesee Global Action Team and the Regional Leadership Council.
Angie Hendershot
Angie Hendershot is the lead anchor of ABC 12 News at 5, 6, and 11 p.m. Hendershot grew up in Davison and completed her undergraduate work at Central Michigan University. She holds a Master’s Degree in broadcast journalism from Northwestern University. She is a national Edward R. Murrow and Emmy award-winning reporter and has been a part of ABC 12 Team for 20 years. In 2010, Mrs. Hendershot was recognized with a national Edward R. Murrow Award in the hard news category for her report on Baby Court—a program in Genesee County designed to put broken families back together. In 2012, Hendershot worked with Flint businessman Phil Shaltz to form the Flint Diaper Bank, which provides more than a million diapers annually which to the local community. Hendershot serves on the Board of Directors for Weiss Child Advocacy Center and co-chairs the annual Superhero Run to benefit abused and neglected children in the community.
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