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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |   Feb. 25, 2016

Chambersburg, Pa. ������Ƶ — In recognition of Women ������Ƶ ’s History Month in March, ������Ƶ will host three lectures and open a new Women ������Ƶ ’s History Exhibit at the Hankey Center. The exhibit, ������Ƶ “Trailblazers and Innovators: Portraits of Educated Women, ������Ƶ ” is free and open to the public.

The exhibit spotlights Wilson graduates from the years 1875-1975 who made notable contributions in their fields, including medicine, academia, science, law, business, the arts, the military, political activism, social work, libraries and education. It also includes a section on ������Ƶ “advice ������Ƶ ” for women choosing careers and how that advice changed over time, reflecting cultural changes regarding educated, working women.

������Ƶ “The purpose of the exhibit is to recognize the accomplishments of Wilson ������Ƶ ’s alumnae in various fields of work, during a time when it took great fortitude to gain an education, as well as succeed in some fields which were dominated by men, ������Ƶ ” said Amy Ensley, Hankey Center director. The exhibit will run through the year.

In addition, the college will sponsor the following Women ������Ƶ ’s History Month lectures, which are also free and open to the public:

• Author Kim van Alkemade, Orphan #8, Monday, March 7, at 4 p.m.
  Van Alkemade is the bestselling author of Orphan #8. Inspired by true events, and incorporating years of archival research, the novel tell the story of a woman who must choose between revenge and mercy when she encounters the doctor who subjected her to dangerous medical experiments in a New York City Jewish orphanage. This talk is being held in conjunction with the Wilson Writers Series.
   

• Dianna Heim, ������Ƶ “Claiming Ground: Challenges and Activism Among Pennsylvania ������Ƶ ’s Women Farmers, ������Ƶ ” Thursday, March 24, at noon.
  Heim ������Ƶ ’s master ������Ƶ ’s thesis at ������Ƶ explores the challenges faced by women farmers from a feminist perspective. Through the use of oral history interviews, she examines the role of activist for those women working in Pennsylvania agriculture.
   

• Karlee Johnston, ������Ƶ “Elizabeth McGeorge Sullivan ������Ƶ ’38, ������Ƶ ” Wednesday, March 30, at 4 p.m.
  Johnston recently interned at the Hankey Center and worked with the Elizabeth McGeorge Sullivan ������Ƶ ’38 collection. She will discuss Sullivan ������Ƶ ’s World War II service as a WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) pilot and how women ������Ƶ ’s service was treated differently than men ������Ƶ ’s. Items from the collection, including Sullivan ������Ƶ ’s WASP uniform, will be displayed.

MEDIA CONTACT:       
Amy Ensley, Director of the Hankey Center
Phone: 717-264-4141, Ext. 3279
Email: amy.ensley@wilson.edu

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Founded in 1869, ������Ƶ is a private, coeducational liberal arts college offering bachelor ������Ƶ ’s degrees in 29 majors and seven master ������Ƶ ’s degrees. Wilson is committed to providing an affordable education that offers value to its students beyond graduation.

Located in Chambersburg, Pa., the college had a fall 2015 enrollment of 923, which includes students from 22 states and 16 countries. Visit www.wilson.edu for more information.