UTICA — In honor of March as Women’s History Month, Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon, D-119, Marcy, held her annual Women of Distinction event on Friday, March 24, to honor local women and students who help make positive changes and go above and beyond to help their communities.

Buttenschon had people send in their nominations by mail and then invited these women and the nominators to Friday’s event at the Utica State Office Building.

This year, Buttenschon also reached out to all local high school superintendents in her district to have their students participate in this event. The purpose was to expand the event to not only local women but also exceptional high school students in the area.

At the event, each nominee was given a certificate of merit and carnation in recognition of their contributions to their communities.

The women came from a variety of disciplines and roles, including: business/law, volunteerism, visionary, humanitarian, community activist, organizer, law enforcer, educator, church volunteer, caregiver, veteran advocate, and historian, among others.

Some of the attributes from the students were: humble, polite, intelligent, caring, compassionate, humanitarian, volunteerism, self-motivation, leadership skills, positive attitude and real people.

“I look around the room and I am very proud of the women in my community who continue to inspire me to be a stronger woman. A community is only as good as the people and certainly Women of Distinction exemplifies the quality and honor that is shown and demonstrated in my area,” Buttenschon said.

This year’s honorees included:

• Sparkle Anthony;
• Florence Barnett;
• Rev. Dr. Marlyn Bell;
• Gina Bossone;
• Jessica Bronga;
• Lisa Burline-Roser;
• Jennifer Calandra;
• Tonya Calandra;
• Kimberley Carrier;
• Delores Caruso;
• Carmela Carmie Caruso;
• Theresea Cohen;
• Tiffany Coleman;
• Bonnie Collins;
• Kitti Cotto;
• Celia Domser;
• Catherine Doolittle;
• Deborah Dougherty;
• Maureen Dunn-Murphy;
• Tammy Ellinger;
• Sonya Ellinger;
• Gerry Elthorp;
• Denise Flihan;
• Dianndra Frazier;
• Elizabeth Gerling;
• Hanka Grabovica;
• Joannie Grande;
• Mary Griffin;
• Andrea Grippe-Getz;
• Julie Grow-Denton;
• Lorie Guerrieri;
• Patricia Kapps;
• Nancy Ketz;
• Karen Lascala;
• Kelly Lubeck;
• Selma Lupardo;
• Sonia Marte;
• Jennifer Martin;
• Lisa Matte;
• Mishael McKenna;
• Tyra McKinsey;
• Sarah McQueen;
• Andrea Meier;
• Debra Mondi;
• Yahaira Muñoz;
• Jacquelyn Nelson;
• Kim Newton;
• Christine O’Connor;
• Colleen O’Neil;
• Carol Ossenfort;
• Brenda Outwater;
• Ann Marie Palladino;
• Olivia Paul;
• AnnaMarie Piacentino (deceased);
• Lisa Putnam;
• Mary Sainsbury;
• Christine Scharf;
• Pastor Gloria Scutchins;
• Christina Sowich;
• Dorothy Sperbeck-Cornnell;
• Patricia Terenzetti;
• Margaret Trinkaus;
• Michelle Truett;
• Emma J. Tueker;
• Alane Varga; and
• Stephanie Viscelli.