Eight accomplished women will be added today to a gallery of about 150 others at the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame.
The women are being honored for their lifetime achievements.
The Michigan Women’s Studies Association, Inc. will hold their 18th Annual Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame Awards Dinner at the ballroom in the Sheraton Hotel, 925 S. Creyts Road in Lansing. The awards ceremony will start at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m.
A panel of association judges reviewed about 100 nomination forms from those who wished to name women.
To qualify, women must have made a significant contribution to Michigan’s society, but did not need to be born in the state, said Gladys Beckwith, president of the association, Inc. and director of the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame.
The dinner will recognize the outstanding women who have been chosen, Beckwith said.
The inductees are Cora Reynolds Anderson, Lucile E. Belen, Theresa Maxis Duchemin, Aretha Franklin, Francea Kraker Goodridge, Marain Bayoff Ilitch, Mary Ellen Riordan and Josephine Stern Weiner.
All the honored women will be attending the dinner except singer Aretha Franklin.
Belen, a Lansing resident, will be honored at the dinner for her work as a councilwoman on the Michigan Women’s Studies Association, Inc., as an educator, entrepreneur, businesswoman and woman’s rights activist.
She said she is happy about being honored in the Hall of Fame, but never thought she would be since she had served on the council.
“I feel very humbled,” she said. “Whatever I do, I do it, and don’t expect anything in return.”
Patricia Cuza, vice president of the Michigan Women’s Studies Association, Inc. said it is important women receive the recognition they deserve and is glad there is a place in Michigan where woman are acknowledged.
“I’m just thrilled there is a place to honor women in Michigan,” she said. “Too often we assume history is made by really important people, and women should be included because they do some remarkable things.”
Ila Smith, dinner chairwoman, said she is happy to be apart of a dinner that is expecting almost 600 attendees.
“This is an absolutely fantastic event,” she said. “I have been doing this for a number of years and this year is our largest dinner where we will honor very deserving women.”
