Dominion Honors Nine in 'Strong Men & Women' Program; Students Meet Astronaut Honoree

WHAT:
Dominion will honor nine prominent African-American leaders renowned for their accomplishments in its 19th annual "Strong Men & Women: Excellence in Leadership" series. In addition, the four Virginia students who won the program's essay writing contest will meet with one of the honorees, astronaut Leland Melvin, to discuss leadership, the skills required to overcome life's challenges, and how to achieve their goals.

WHEN:
Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009
 

  • Interviews and live-shot opportunities with Melvin and students available from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Awards ceremony begins at 7 p.m.

WHERE:
Richmond Marriott Hotel
500 E. Broad Street
Richmond, Va. 23219

WHO:
The 2009 honorees are:
 

  • Sister Cora Marie Billings, RSM, first African-American nun pastoral coordinator in United States, Richmond, Va.
  • Matthew Guidry, Ph.D., retired deputy director-External Affairs, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Upper Marlboro, Md.
  • Rear Admiral Michelle J. Howard, first African-American woman to command a U.S. naval ship, Springfield, Va.
  • Leland D. Melvin, U.S. astronaut, Shuttle Atlantis, Lynchburg, Va.
  • Eddie N. Moore Jr., twelfth president of Virginia State University, first African-American treasurer of Virginia, Petersburg, Va.
  • *Frederick R. Nance, regional managing partner, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, Cleveland, Ohio
  •  *The Honorable Vel R. Phillips, first woman and first African-American Wisconsin secretary of state, Milwaukee, Wis.
  • Dianne Reynolds-Cane, M.D., first African-American woman president of the Virginia Board of Medicine, Richmond, Va.
  • *The Honorable Michael R. White, longest-serving mayor of Cleveland, Ohio

*Attending Cleveland, Ohio, ceremony Feb 5.

    The student essay contest winners are:
    - Krupa Patel
      Frank W. Cox High School
      Virginia Beach, Va.

    - Grace Segars
      Grace Christian High School
      Staunton, Va.

    - Risham Tariq
      J.E.B. Stuart High School
      Fairfax County, Va.

    - Tasha Tucker
      Lloyd C. Bird High School
      Chesterfield, Va.

Contacts: Daisy Pridgen, 804-771-6115, Daisy.Pridgen@dom.com