September 4, 2019 | The Clarion
Campus News
Page 3
Institute for Women
annual pinning ceremony
By Carmen Boone
Copy Editor
The Institute for Women in
Leadership (IWIL) hosted a pinning
ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at
5:30 p.m. in the Francis Pavilion
of the Porter Center. The purpose
of the ceremony was to welcome
new members into IWIL.
The program opened with a
welcome from Beth Abrams.
Directly after that was a delicious
soup and bread bowl dinner with
a side of salad provided by Myers
Dining Hall.
After everyone had been served,
Mary Lewe, a member of the IWIL
steering committee, introduced the
guest speaker, Brevard College
Director of Athletics Myranda
Nash. She spoke about several
important roles that a leader has.
Nash encouraged her audience to
be inspired leaders. “You have an
opportunity to find out your true
self and who that is, so that you can
then lead others the best way that
you can,” said Nash.
She also mentioned how important
it is to have a mentor as a source
for learning and encouragement.
Lifting one another up and being a
light is a huge part of being a leader,
according to Nash. “Women, we
have to empower each other,” Nash
said. “We need to light up a room.
That is what these women in this
room can do for Brevard College,
and when you graduate, for your
community.”
There were 19 new IWILs
(NIWILs) welcomed into our
community of women leaders.
Each returning member (RIWIL)
had a short introduction prepared
for who she was pinning.
Mariana Rodriguez pinned Sarah
Gray, Allison Rogers pinned Gabby
Galvan and Summer Wilson pinned
Madeline Lehman. Carrie LaBonte
pinned McKenna Johnson,
Madeline Cronin pinned Caroline
Hoy and Lauren Dowell pinned
Brigette Hernandez.
Then, Madison Smith pinned
Alexis O’Neill and Kendall
Brackin pinned Maggie Frail and
Grace Pukas. After that, Mariah
Grande pinned Brianna Link, then
Kaitlin Farmer pinned Timiah
McGhee and Janie Perez pinned
Sarah Hajkowski.
Syedi Ocosta-Oviedo pinned
Alydia Monahan and Hope Jackson
pinned Xandria Colbert. Then,
Joslyn Folkers pinned Haley
Flippin, Gwen Jennings pinned
Lilith Jones and Emily Fisher
pinned Liliana Diaz and Alyssa
Fediuk.
Following the pinning ceremony,
Dee Dasburg shared some closing
remarks. “How fortunate we are
as a college to have women like
you to come and be a part of our
community here at Brevard,”
Dasburg said. She believes having
a community with leaders such as
the women in IWIL is what creates
change and influence.
She then left the group with a
final word of advice. “Take the time
to invite people to tell their stories.
[...] Take risks, be vulnerable, get
connected with each other through
sharing your stories. That is how we
build community,” Dasburg said.
Photo by Victoria Brayman
Dee Dasburg gives closing remarks.
A RIWiL pins a NIWIL, welcoming her into the IWIL community.