Women's History Month events set for March

March is Women's History Month and the University of North Georgia (UNG) is slated to celebrate women through several online and in-person events.

"The roles that women have played in U.S. history are often overlooked or ignored," Kyle Murphy, interim assistant director of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA), said.

To commemorate the women who have made an impression — whether large or small — is important to younger generations, too.

"Women's History Month is a special time to remember and learn from the leaders and pioneers who have paved the way before us," cadet Lt. Col. Callie Regal said.

A Women's History Month Celebration scheduled for March 30 will feature keynote speakers from the community. Angel Jackson, '14, community engagement director for Rape Response, and Gigi Pedraza, executive director of the Latino Community Fund, will be among the speakers.

A courageous conversation slated for noon March 8 will present a virtual panel discussion. The event will feature student, faculty, and staff representation. The panelists will answer questions focused on the importance of Women's History Month, personal struggles, and leadership.

The month also includes viewings of the movie "On the Basis of Sex" at 5 p.m. March 24 in the Robinson Ballroom of the Student Center on UNG's Gainesville Campus and at noon March 31 in the MSA office in Dahlonega.

Women's History Month is a special time to remember and learn from the leaders and pioneers who have paved the way before us.

Cadet Lt. Col. Callie Regal

Senior pursuing a degree in interdisciplinary studies

For Gina Diodati, Dahlonega Campus vice president of the Student Government Association and the president of the Honors Program on the Dahlonega Campus, highlighting the accomplishments of women is inspiring after working in the motorsports industry for several years.

"Working in a male-dominated industry at a young age, I was lucky enough to have been empowered by my boss, who celebrated me as a young woman forging her own path in an industry when everybody else was telling me I didn't have a place," Diodati said. "It shaped me into the person and leader I am today, and I still have the confidence to walk into a room and assert myself because he gave me the courage to speak my mind and share my ideas."

Another MSA event in March is a Kahoot! trivia game from noon to 1 p.m. March 2 to test one's knowledge of women in U.S. history. Cash prizes of $50 will be awarded to those who place in the top three.

Women's History Month grew out of a weeklong celebration of women's contributions organized by the school district of Sonoma, California, in 1978. Former President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women's History Week. In 1979, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution establishing a national celebration and by 1985, Congress expanded the event to the entire month of March.