YWCA Mohawk Valley (YWCA MV) held the agency’s 36th annual Salute to Outstanding Women awards ceremony and luncheon on Thursday, March 27, 2025. The celebration was presented by Bank of Utica.

Salute to Outstanding Women is a decades-long tradition at YWCA MV. The celebration honored local female leaders for their achievements and impact on the community. The class of 2025 honorees were:

 

  • Shawna Candella-Papale: Business & Industry, sponsored by Utica National Insurance Group.
  • Cheryl Beckett-Minor: Education, sponsored by Kristin’s Fund.
  • Kathleen Rutishauser: Entrepreneur, sponsored by Adirondack Bank.
  • Maria Kontaridis, Ph. D.: Healthcare, sponsored by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.
  • Kelly Walters: Human and Public Service, sponsored by Scalzo, Zogby & Wittig, Inc.
  • Adelynn Leslie: Outstanding Youth, sponsored by Adorino Construction, Inc.
  • Ace Morreale: Social Justice, sponsored by Fort Schuyler Club.
  • Amy Singletary-Jaworski: STEAM, sponsored by Indium Corporation.

 

The new class of honorees were inducted into the Salute Academy, a collective of empowered women, standing now at 297 members.

 

“It is a pleasure and an honor to welcome these incredible women into our Salute Academy and the YWCA MV family,” says YWCA MV CEO Dianne Stancato. “It is an honor to have them at our side working on our mission to eliminate racism and empower women.”

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Salute serves as YWCA MV’s largest annual fundraiser. All proceeds directly benefit the agency’s life-saving free, confidential, and 24-hour domestic and sexual violence crisis services. To learn more, visit ywcamv.org.

 

YWCA MV extends thanks to the generous sponsors who make Salute to Outstanding Women a success. Salute to Outstanding Women 2025 is presented by Bank of Utica.

 

Salute is made possible by Media Sponsors Galaxy Media, Lite 98.7 FM, Sentinel Media Company, and WKTV NewsChannel2, and Diamond Sponsor Mohawk Valley Health Systems.

 

YWCA MV is available for anyone experiencing domestic and/or sexual violence via our free and confidential 24-hour hotline services. Visit ywcamv.org/Chat to reach an advocate directly through our private, secure server. In Oneida County, call or text 315.797.7740 for domestic and sexual violence crisis services. In Herkimer County, call 315.866.4120 for child advocacy and adult sexual violence crisis services. For more information about YWCA MV, visit ywcamv.org.

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