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Overcast Honoring Wantagh's outstanding women
The Miss Wantagh Court held its second annual Women of Wantagh event, also referred to as W.O.W., on March 29 at Wantagh Elementary School to honor the contributions of seven local women. With purple balloons and decorations filling the room, Mary Wagner, Jean Quinn, Alberta Splescia, Betty Triquet, Jeanne Gualtieri, Sister Lauren Hanley and Cathy Scahill were recognized by their family members and elected officials.
“I was here last year and it was terrific,” Councilwoman Erin King Sweeney said. “The coordinator, Ella Stevens, always does an amazing job and she really gets the community together. She also does a tremendous job with Miss Wantagh and the court and she gets them so involved with giving back and having them be engaged with a different issue that they support throughout the year.”As a part of their duties, the girls in the Miss Wantagh Court wanted to honor the women in their own community who have inspired them to be great leaders. Since the event was a large success last year, the girls worked hard to make it even bigger this year.
“This is just some of the great work that Ella does in this tight-knit community of Wantagh,” Sweeney added. “It’s all just about local issues and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
After receiving more than 50 nominations for the event, the court was able to narrow it down to 18 women and from there, seven. All of the women represented have given back to Wantagh in either one way or another.
“We live in a time where there is so much conflict and bitterness, and then we come together on a night like this, where we see the giftedness, the positivity and a lot of possibility,” said recipient and St. Frances minister, Sister Lauren Hanley. “It is young people like this that will make the world a different place, and for them I am so grateful.”
Whether it is teaching religious studies at St. Frances de Chantal Church, working with the Wantagh Chamber of Commerce, teaching in the Wantagh school district or just being an excellent mom, these seven women have made their mark in the town.
