YWCA Mohawk Valley Reveals Outstanding Women

Eight Local Women to be Honored at Salute Awards Ceremony in March

 

YWCA Mohawk Valley (YWCA MV) announced their Salute to Outstanding Women 2025 honorees last night at their exclusive Reveal party.

Salute is a decades-long tradition at YWCA MV that honors local women for their achievements and impact on the community. Honorees are nominated by the community and selected by a panel of independent judges. The class of 2025 honorees are:

 

  • Shawna 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 Jaworski: STEAM, sponsored by Indium Corporation.

 

YWCA MV’s signature Salute to Outstanding Women awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, March 27 at Hart’s Hill Inn in Whitesboro. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased by visiting ywcamv.org/Salute, emailing events@ywcamv.org, or calling 315.732.2159 ext. 235.

YWCA MV extends thanks to the generous sponsors who make Salute to Outstanding Women possible. Salute to Outstanding Women 2025 is presented by Bank of Utica. Salute Reveal is generously hosted and exclusively sponsored by Valentino’s Banquet Hall.

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.

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.

Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are still available for Salute to Outstanding Women 2025. For more information, contact events@ywcamv.org or 315.732.2159 ext. 235.

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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