BALTIMORE (June 24, 2011)—Michelle Horne, a student at the Chesapeake Public Charter School in Great Mills, St. Mary's County, will receive the first place Women of Tomorrow Award in the Grades 7-8 category. The award, sponsored by the Maryland Commission for Women (MCW) and established in 1997, identifies young women in middle school and high school who have set sail into their future by demonstrating an extraordinary commitment to community service and academic excellence.
The award will be presented at the fourteenth annual Women of Tomorrow recognition ceremony on June 30 at the Maryland Yacht Club Clubhouse in Anne Arundel county.
The honorees were selected through a process that begins with an annual statewide call for nominations, according to the MCW. An independent, all-volunteer selection committee reviews the applications and normally selects six young women, two per grade grouping from sixth through twelfth grades. However, this year eight young ladies will be honored.
"This annual event highlights young women who are making significant and remarkable contributions to their communities," said Theodore Dallas, secretary of the Maryland Department of Human Resources. "These young ladies are truly our future leaders."
The Maryland Commission for Women, established by the Maryland Legislature in 1971, promotes the social, political, and economic equality of Maryland women. It advises government, advances solutions, and serves as a statewide resource to expand social, political, and economic opportunities for all women.
This year's winners in all categories include:
Grades 7-8:
First Place - Michelle Horne, Chesapeake Public Charter School, St. Mary's County
Honorable Mention - Alexandra Comegys, Saint Ursula School, Baltimore County
Grades 9-10:
First Place - Josephine Grant, Francis Scott Key High School, Carroll County
Honorable Mention - Tyra Hooper, Bryn Mawr School for Girls, Baltimore City
Grade 11:
First Place - Ilana Price,Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, Montgomery County
Honorable Mention - Megan Toms, Frederick County Career and Technology Center, Frederick County
Grade 12:
First Place - Carson Wigley, Worcester Preparatory School, Worcester County
Honorable Mention - Meredith Good-Cohn, Garrison Forest School, Baltimore County