Salve’s “Phenomenal Women” Honored

By: Megan Furtado
Posted In: News

“Each one of us has the courage and vision to do many things.” It was with this statement that Salve Regina University’s annual Women of Courage and Vision luncheon began on Wednesday, March 30, in the Ochre Court State Dining Room, where four women closely associated with the University – one staff, one faculty, one community, and one student – were honored by friends and colleagues for being women with a strong sense of courage and great vision.

Amidst purple-covered tables, bright sunflowers, and portraits of remarkable women who came before them, the four nominees – Patricia Hawkridge, Leila de Bruyne, Jackie Henderson, and Patricia Cronin – were each given a beautifully-rendered plaque and invited to say a few words after being introduced by those who nominated them.

Patricia Hawkridge, the beloved chair of Salve Regina’s Theatre Department, was introduced as one who “has promoted the cause of women through her direction of ‘Playing For Time’, ‘Medea’, and ‘The Crucible'” and “infuses theatre students with her zeal for life.”

Hawkridge laughed as she approached the podium, saying, “That was absolutely beautiful – I really don’t recognize myself.”

In her acceptance speech, Hawkridge thanked her late mother, of whom she said, “She’s looking down on me, and thinks this is pretty cool,” as well as her students and fellow teacher Roland LaFlamme.

Before leaving the podium, she added, “My students remind me that I am a woman, then an artist, then an educator. I am a woman who is truly blessed.”

The staff nominee, Patricia Cronin of the Athletics Department, was introduced as “a truly remarkable young woman” and a good role model for young women athletes, as well as a teacher of morality for young male athletes, who are still in the minority at Salve.

Like Hawkridge before her, Cronin said she could not see herself in the light that others had portrayed her.

But at the end of her acceptance speech, she noted, “All of the people I’ve mentioned have turned the light on for me, and inspired me to turn the light on for others.”

The student nominee, Leila de Bruyne, is a member of the class of 2007 at Salve who spent her vacation in Nairobi, Kenya, at an African orphanage in one of the worst slums in the city.

The children looked up to her and adored her, according to Father Mike Malone, who introduced her, and who even compared her to the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, Catherine McAuley.

De Bruyne plans to return to Nairobi later this year, and has even convinced some of her friends to make the trip with her.

In a heartfelt acceptance speech, de Bruyne said, “I feel very honored and lucky to be part of a university community that is so supportive…I am not sure that I am courageous, but I have a lot of vision.”

The final nominee, the community representative, was Jackie Henderson, the founder and director of the dance troupe Off The Curb, which supports a no-drugs, no-violence policy and encourages young people to spend their free time in dance rather than getting into trouble.

Brianna Carter, a member of the class of 2007 who introduced and nominated Henderson, mentioned that Henderson was a woman of positive attitude, and that “Many today may have gone in the wrong direction, had they not followed Jackie’s example.”

Henderson, who began teaching in 1992, has lead students to dance for USA Today and Sports Illustrated.

“To get this award is just amazing,” she said at the podium, “I put all of my emotion into what I do and what I love.” Evidence of this was seen just a few minutes later, when members of Off The Curb entertained those assembled with several dance pieces.

One younger member was too shy to perform, but the older girls cheered her on just the same – true symbols of the teachings Henderson employs.

Other entertainment included Brianna Carter singing Vanessa William’s “The Greatest Love of All”, and musical selections by Coralee Skoch ’07 on the flute, and Francine Monfette on the guitar.

The ceremony was beautiful and inspiring, as it is every year, and one can only imagine what courageous and visionary women will be honored next spring.