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Annual Women's History Month Program Stresses Vitality, Highlights Trailblazers
U.S. Navy photo by Javier Chagoya

Annual Women's History Month Program Stresses Vitality, Highlights Trailblazers

By Javier Chagoya

Honoring Trailblazing Women Who Paved the Way for Future Generations was the theme for this year's Women's History Month celebration, March 23. NPS Training Officer and Committee President Lt. Kristen Connor, NPS Assistant Security Manager YN2 Ana Ingram and the NPS Multicultural Committee pulled together a program to bring pause and focus to the contributions American women have made to the nation in a program held in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Auditorium, March 23.


Guest speaker Dr. Bettye Lusk, a member of the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Board of Trustees, conveyed her personal story of being a woman with a joyful and plainspoken message that stirred everyone in the room. The audience, nearly all women, followed along with Lusk a recitation of words of empowerment and self-confidence.

"I grew up in the South where I went to school in a one-room school house. It was there that I learned of the greater family of man. My teacher was committed to giving us the tools for learning, so that early on I was certain I wanted to be a teacher," Lusk said.

"My father also told me I could do anything and be anyone I wanted to be. And with that, later as an adult, I struck out on my own to California where I took a job in Merced as a teacher. However, what I heard from my fellow teachers was demoralizing. There I found some of the same racist attitudes, both towards blacks and women," she continued.

Lusk said she eventually overcame many of the challenges thrown her way in the decades that followed. She was determined more than ever to pass on to her students her own teacher's gift of love, patience and encouragement that enabled her to believe in her abilities, and that have formed her into the woman she is today.

Lusk then transitioned the discussion to talking about women who have paved the way for future generations as she invoked Maya Angelou's phrase, "And still I rise." She spoke of the grace Michelle Obama brought to the White House as First Lady and the many educational and health initiatives she championed. She noted U.S. Navy Adm. Michelle Howard's own fearless trailblazing story that ultimately broke through the "glass ceiling" on two fronts. And she talked about U.S. Air Force Gen. Lori Robinson's journey that culminated in her current position as Commander, U.S. Northern Command and Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command.

"All great women, all great leaders," exclaimed Lusk.

The program concluded with a reading from Maya Angelou's poem, "Phenomenal Woman," annunciated by Branch Dental Clinic Monterey HN Keziah Nduro and HM2 Angelica Hargraves along with NPS Purchasing Specialist Shirley Holmes and Management Program Analyst Jaye Panza, pictured above.

"Maya's poem makes me proud to be a woman. Balancing personal life and career can be overwhelming at times and it can be difficult to keep my head above water. Stopping for a moment during the year to remember inspirational women like Maya remind all of us that we are phenomenal," said Panza.

Panza also points to NPS' supportive environment and gender tolerance in the workplace.

"Peer support is very important, and women at NPS have a voice. Once a year we celebrate women's heritage and to me it's like giving ourselves a pep talk where it's a safe and supportive place and time to speak up," said Panza.

Throughout Panza's professional life she has felt fortunate enough to be surrounded by women who have taught, inspired, mentored and encouraged her.

"My first boss and supervisor at NPS was a female flag officer. I believe my career success, in large part, is because of her and her belief in my abilities," added Panza. "She consistently gave me challenging work that pushed my limits and I am a better woman for it."

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