“Women’s Education – Women’s Empowerment” was the theme of the annual Women’s History Month Banquet Thursday at the Dr. James Forrest Career and Technology Center in Leonardtown. Several speakers emphasized that theme at the event sponsored by the St. Mary’s County Commission for Women.

The 2012 Lifetime Achievement Awards was presented to Everlyn Holland, a long-time community leader. Holland worked at St. Mary’s Hospital for more than 30 years. Her long community resume includes being one of the founding members of the commission and current member of the Sty. Mary’s Library Board, the St. Mary’s Nursing Center Board and St. Vincent De Paul Society at St. Aloysius Church.

She has served on several school advisory boards, and been a member of Citizen’s for progress St. Mary’s County Delicadoes, the Women’s Democratic Club of St. s County, the county Social Services Board, at-large delegate to the State Democratic Central Committee and Political Education Chair for the St. Mary’s County NAACP. She played a major role in the committee to elect Joe Lee Somerville, who was the first black sheriff in St. Mary’s County and Maryland and only the eighth in the country.

Certificates of appreciation to Holland were presented from U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski, Rep. Steny Hoyer, the Maryland General Assembly and the county commissioner. The commissioner proclamation said that Holland “courageously dismantled barriers.” Holland said she was left speechless by the honor and thanked everyone for it.

Six candidates vied for Women of the Year honors. The winner, Pay Myers was instrumental in getting the Northern Senior Center built and is a constant presence there helping with their programs. Myers is current president of the St. Mary’s County Chapter 969 of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE).

Other Women of the Year candidates were:

          ·          Cindy Lynn Barnes, active with Delicadoes, United Way Day of Caring, a local soup kitchen and Christmas in April.

         ·         Mary Ann Chasen, long-time executive director of Christmas in April. She coordinates 1,200 volunteers