Florida Tech Celebrates Womens History Month

MELBOURNE, FLA. — This year’s National Women’s History Month ceremony at Florida Institute of Technology will present two awards to deserving women on March
24, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Green Ribbon Award for Women will honor an individual who is “Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet.” Nominations can include women who have shown
leadership in preserving the natural environment and reversing ecological destruction as well as being innovative in their business practices to help save
the environment.

Presented by The Florida Tech Alumni Association, the Joan Bixby award will recognize a Florida Tech staff or faculty member (male or female) who enhances
the climate for women’s participation and development on campus. The Joan Bixby award is named in honor of a Florida Tech alumna, a former university
administrator and Melbourne resident. Bixby, who earned a master’s degree in contract and procurement management in 1975, started her university career as
development director in 1965. She left Florida Tech’s employ in 1975 for a career as a government contracting officer and remains an active member of the
university community. Florida Tech announces the Joan Bixby Award recipients annually during National Women’s History Month.

The event, to begin with a panel discussion headed by leading female community experts on green initiatives, is open to the public. The panel members are
Ros Lanthorne, The Zen of Clean; Pamela Shoemaker, Brevard County Recycling; Melissa Meeker, president, Sustainable Treasure Coast, Inc.; Donna Braunlich,
Sea Turtle Preservation Society; and retired Brigadier General Mary Ann Epps, former assistant adjutant general of the State of Connecticut Air National
Guard and director of the Joint Staff Project for the Connecticut Military Department.

There will be a luncheon from 12:30 to 1 p.m. for a cost of $10. This will be followed by a presentation by the keynote speaker Diana Dobin, executive vice
president of Valley Forge Textiles. She is a recipient of the 2008 Sustainable Florida Best Practices Award for Large Businesses for her FRESH initiative,
which produces fabrics made with 100 percent recycled content. The fabrics are recyclable at the end of their life through Valley Forge’s established
reclamation program. All activities will take place in the Hartley Room of the Denius Student Center.

The event’s partners are the Florida Alumni Association, Florida Tech Women’s Business center, the business and Professional Women’s Association and the
Brevard County Women newspaper. An RSVP is required to participate in the luncheon. For information, call (321) 674-7642.