Gloucester Township Honors Women Who Make a Difference

Gloucester Township, NJ -- Gloucester Township recognized 15 women who make a difference in the community as part of Women's History Month during Monday night's council meeting at the municipal building.

Women from throughout the township were nominated for the honor by their peers. The applications included an essay supporting their accomplishments. They were then evaluated by a three-member committee, made up of Jennifer Carosella, Yessenia Z. Garcia-Lebron and Renee Michel.

Nominees met the following criteria:

• Exemplary employment performance does not qualify as community service.
• Must be an exemplary citizen who has demonstrated significant contributions in the areas of community service.
• Must currently reside or work in Gloucester Township.

An essay was required supporting the nominee's accomplishments.

Past recipients were not eligible.

This year's recipients included:

• Jeanne Ingraham, a teacher specializing in technology in the Gloucester Township Public School system for 30 years, and the Gloucester Township Teacher of the Year;
• Gulcin Rose Bal, an immigrant who teaches English as a Second Language;
• Patricia Bauer, who taught special education for about 20 years and is now retired;
• Shannon Cahill, a nurse at the Gloucester Township Elementary School;
• Ann Marie Clark, a teacher who focused on teaching mathematics to young ladies;
• Joyce Ellis, an African American woman inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. to teach children, and spent 38 years teaching, including 10 in Gloucester Township;
• Carol Fredericks, a secretary who has worked at the Ann Mullen Middle School since it was built;
• Mae Robinson, the longtime Timber Creek Regional High School principal who is retiring in June;
• Maria Shaw, the founder of the Gloucester Township Relay for Life team;
• Samantha Spaulding, a community service advocate who has raised over $100,000 for girls at Triton Regional High School;
• Jennifer Storer, a Black Horse Pike Regional School District Board of Education member who founded the Highland Youth Soccer league;
• Tricia Wilson, a mother of three and a nursing major who assists parents of children who have Down Syndrome;
• Mary Wonderlin, a 28-year teacher who has volunteered at the school district during her eight-year retirement;
• Karen Young, a 33-year teacher who also continues to help children in her retirement because she feels the most important thing a person can do is impact the life of a child; and
• Mary Ann Johnson, a Gloucester Township Board of Education member who worked in the school district for 25 years. She was Secretary to the Director of Special Services. She was also on the Board of the Catalina Hills Little League and she taught CCD for 14 years.