City of Tampa to Celebrate Women’s History Month

From city of Tampa officials:

The City of Tampa will hold its 17th Annual Women’s History Month Celebration on Tuesday, March 19 at 10:30 a.m. The event will be held in Ballroom D at the Tampa Convention Center, located at 333 South Franklin Street. 

The celebration is free and open to the public.  The event will also feature a display focusing on the national Women’s History Month theme, “Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination:  Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.”

Mayor Bob Buckhorn will present Catherine Barja with the 2013 Josephine Howard Stafford Memorial Award.  Barja was the first woman elected to Tampa City Council in 1971. The award was created to honor a current or former City of Tampa female employee who demonstrates outstanding commitment to her position and the community.

The award is presented in memory of Josephine Howard Stafford who served as an Assistant City Attorney for 24 years. Stafford was the first female judge in Hillsborough County and a pioneer for women’s issues, both professionally and in the community.

As part of the event, Colonel Kelly Martin, Vice Wing Commander, MacDill Air Force Base, will present the 2013 MacDill Air Force Base Women's Appreciation Award, honoring an outstanding female member of the military at MacDill AFB. This year’s recipient is Captain Marlo Peloquin.

The keynote speaker will be Sharona B. Ross, M.D. FACS, Founder & Director, FHT Women In Surgery Initiative, Director, Minimally Invasive Surgery & Surgical Endoscopy, Florida Hospital Tampa.  Dr. Ross is a highly acclaimed surgeon who is leading the effort to attract more women to surgery.

Robotics demonstrations will be presented before and after the event featuring the Middleton High School STEM Academy 2012 FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) World Champions.

Women working for the City of Tampa in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics will also be honored during the program.

Erica Riggins, Bay News 9 Morning Anchor, will serve as the Mistress of Ceremonies. The celebration will be cablecast live on City of Tampa Television, Verizon Fios Channel 15 and Bright House Networks Channel 615.  The program will be replayed during the month of March.

For more information on Tampa’s Women’s History Month Celebration, including past JHS Memorial Award winners, please visit tampagov.net/whm.