Community Corner

13 Campbell Women of Distinction for 2013

The annual recognition ceremony highlights women in Campbell making an impact on their communities.

 

Every year, for the last three years, Campbell looks to its community to nominate, select and recognize women in the community that are making an impact on the Orchard City.

On April 2, the Campbell City Council recognized 13 women in this year's Women of Distinction Awards.

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Campbell schools had strong representation among this year's winners.

Campbell Union School District's Cynthia Dodd, Rolling Hill Middle School Principal, Delphi Academy's Community Relations Director, Kimi de Leonibus, Wanda Whitehead, Founder of Casa di Mir Montessori School and Campbell Union High School District's Danielle Cohen, School Board Member and Lena Bundtzen, Director of Special Education were all honorees.

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"There’s still a lot of traditional roles traditionally held by men," says Cynthia Dodd. "I love our city council but its all men. It’s important to see women doing things that we don’t always bring to the forefront.

"As women, we tend to get used to not being recognized," she says. "We just know its gotta be done.

Dodd is currently at Rolling Hills but spent four years previous to that at Campbell Middle School. She was surprised and excited about the recognition, but says that more important than being recognized as a woman is being recognized as an educator.

"The job I do makes it important that someone in my position was recognized," she says. "I have so much contact with people in the community and kids at such an impressionable age, middle school, the kids can say, 'my teacher received this award.' Kids reflect on that. This is someone that they know every day. A lot of people that tend to get recognized, are a little more removed from us and I’m someone they know."

"The best part is the kids felt recognition too because I was bringing them with me to all these volunteer activities," she says.

Campbell Union School District Superintendent Dr. Eric Andrew was in the audience that night and was thrilled to see women in education being recognized.

"We are very proud of both Danielle and Cynthia," says Campbell Union School District Superintendent Dr. Eric Andrew. "They have put a number of years into our districts and are great role models for not only the girls and women in the community but also for all the students and parents. They truly embody the importance of having passion to educating all students and ensuring that all students are part of the community."

The annual recognition ceremony takes place to celebrate the month of March's Women's History Month. In 2012, there were two recipients: Sally Howe and Susan Blake. In 2011, there were five recipients and in 2010 there were 10. This year, the number jumped to 13.

There are several benefit of these types of ceremonies, Andrew says.

"It illustrates to the community at large that there are several people that are responsible for making Campbell the great place that it is," Andrew says. "The importance to encourage others to be a part of community building, to act upon that passion and share it with others in the community."

The women recognized as Women of Distinction in 2013 are:

  • Dr. Beth Robie, Physician, Women Promoting Healthy Lifestyles
  • Lena Bundtzen, Director of Special Education, Campbell Union High School District, Women Demonstrating Leadership in Education 
  • Anne Bybee, City Clerk, Women Promoting Leadership
  • Danielle Cohen, Software Engineer, Board President, Campbell Union High School District, Women Demonstrating Leadership in Education
  • Jacquie Davidson, Manager, Global Mobility at Google, Women Demonstrating Leadership
  • Kimi de Leonibus, Community Relations Director, Delphi Academy, Women Preserving the Environment
  • Cynthia Dodd, Principal, Rolling Hills Middle School, Women Creating Community
  • Jann Harbor, Community Volunteer, Past Parks and Recreation Commission, Women Creating Community
  • Dr. Sue Klear, Past President, Campbell Rotary, Women Demonstrating Leadership
  • Manda Lam, Student/Community Volunteer, Women Demonstrating Leadership
  • Patricia Causey Nichols, Retired SJSU Professor, Women Promoting Healthy Lifestyles
  • Sue Rodrigues, President Campbell Historical, Museum Board, Member Friends of the Campbell Heritage Theatre, Women Contributing to the Arts
  • Wanda Whitehead, Founder, Casa di Mir Montessori School, Women Demonstrating Leadership in Education

"I also want to thank the Campbell city council for making community recognition a priority because that helps sustain the wonderful activities and services that we have in the city of Campbell," Andrew says.

 

Related articles:

  • Nominate A Woman of Distinction in Campbell
  • Women of Distinction Nomination Period Extended
  • Nominations Begin for 'Women of Distinction'
  • A Woman of Distinction
  • 5 Campbell Women Honored
  • Nominate Your Campbell Woman of the Year


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