Florida Tech Women’s Business Center to Honor Gen. Ann Dunwoody and Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos March 18
Will Celebrate Women’s History Month
MELBOURNE, FLA.—The Women’s Business Center (WBC) and the Alumni Association at Florida Institute of Technology will present their sixth annual luncheon to celebrate Women’s History Month and support the National Women’s History Project (NWHP) on March 18. With the theme, “Women Inspiring Innovation through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics,” the luncheon will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Crowne Plaza Melbourne Oceanfront.
The Florida Tech Award of Distinction, the Space Coast Community Award and the Joan Bixby Awards for deserving women in the community will be presented.
This year’s Award of Distinction recipient is Florida Tech alumna General Ann E. Dunwoody. Now retired, she was the military’s first female four-star general, with 37-plus years of service to her country. In her last four years of service she led the largest global logistics command in the Army comprising 69,000 military and civilians located in all 50 states and over 140 countries. She managed a budget of $60 billion and was responsible for the oversight of approximately $70 billion in service contracts.
Dunwoody has been recognized by the National Collegiate Athletics Association with its highest honor, the Theodore Roosevelt Award; by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association with its Lifetime Achievement Award and by France with its National Order of Merit.
This year’s Space Coast Community Award recipient is Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos. A family practitioner, wife, mother of three and a survivor of domestic violence, she now lends her support, voice and encouragement to others who are victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
Haridopolos has been frequently recognized for devoting her time to charities and organizations. She recently served as the chairwoman and community organizer for the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk. Additionally, she has mentored underprivileged children and lent support to homeless veterans by helping to secure a million- dollar state grant for the National Veterans Homeless support group to establish a transitional housing facility.
Presented by the Florida Tech Alumni Association, the Joan Bixby Award recognizes members of the Florida Tech community who enhance the climate for women’s participation and development on campus. The award is named in honor of Florida Tech alumna Bixby, who was a university administrator and Melbourne resident.
This year’s Joan Bixby award recipients are Niescja Turner, Ph.D., College of Science associate professor; Jarin Eisenberg, Nathan M. Bisk College of Business program coordinator; and Carla Deras, a senior majoring in aerospace engineering who will graduate in May 2013.
The cost for the luncheon is $35 per person. Participants must RSVP to wbc@fit.edu. For more information, call the WBC at (321) 674-7007, or visit https://wbc.fit.edu/womenshistory/index.php.
About WBC
The WBC at Florida Tech is partially funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and is an outreach of the Nathan M. Bisk College of Business. The WBC provides women with opportunities, tools and connections to advance their global influence and success. The center offers well-equipped facilities conveniently located at Florida Tech, teachers, mentors and volunteers with expertise and business knowledge, partnering with community organizations for broad outreach, and training and resources that are onsite and online to accommodate busy schedules and provide easy access.
