Women's History Month Reception and Awards Ceremony

Celebrating Women's History Month at Emporia State University

Emporia, KS (03/25/2026) — Come celebrate Women's History Month at Emporia State University on Friday, March 27 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the PKP Room of the Memorial Union. The Social Change Program is sponsoring the reception.

Join the Emporia community in celebration of the 2026 Women's History Month Reception and Awards Ceremony. The recipients of this year's Ruth Schillinger Award and Dr. Mary F. Headrick Award will be honored.

The first reception took place in March 1996 when the first Schillinger Award was presented to Ruth Schillinger herself. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Schillinger Award.

The Ruth Schillinger Award is named after a former Dean of Women and ESU's first Affirmative Action officer. To earn this award an individual must make extraordinary contributions to the women of Emporia State over a sustained period.

This year's recipient of the Ruth Schillinger Award is Dr. Rachel Spaulding. Dr. Spaulding is an Associate Professor of English and Modern Languages in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. She regularly mentors students in research projects and teaches Spanish and global literature courses.

The Mary Headrick Award is named after a former counselor in the Emporia State University Counseling Center, who was known for helping women reach their full potential. This award is designed for those who make a long-term commitment to promoting the growth of women at ESU and in the community.

This year's recipient of the Mary Headrick award is A'Kena LongBenton. LongBenton is an instructor of Instructional Design and Technology in the School of Library and Information Management. She has taught extensively, both in person and online, in the public Pre-K through 12th grade school system and in higher education.

Friends and family of award recipients, students, and community members are welcome to join ESU as we honor dedicated and amazing award winners.