Kent State staff, alumni and students gathered at the Kent Hotel to recognize women in the Kent community’s achievements at the Gender, Equity, Advocacy and Representation Awards on March 18.
While gathered together to support community members, they also came together to answer one question: “How did daylight savings originate?”
Knowing how to preserve light in the darkness is especially important in these times, said Alicia Robinson, founder and executive director of Limitless Ambition and the keynote speaker for the 2nd annual G.E.A.R. Awards.
“Oil lamps don’t burn forever, just like them, we need to refuel our spirits when life feels overwhelming,” Robinson said. “You can’t pour from an empty cup, you can’t fuel anybody else or anything else, if you, yourself, are not fueled.”
Among the crowd were many different people, including alumni, retired Kent State staff members and people from out of town hoping to celebrate family members
33-year-old Danielle Szabo works in marketing and came from Cleveland to support her aunt, Catherine Hackney, for her G.E.A.R. Awards nomination.
“She was a huge proponent of women’s rights and graduated from and worked for Kent State, and so it was just near and dear to my heart,” Szabo said.
The event’s awards were split into five different categories, with 25 total nominees submitted and then examined by a committee team. These categories include faculty, staff, community, students and alumni awards.
The G.E.A.R. Awards are not just an awards ceremony, because it makes sure to celebrate the audience too, Cassandra Pegg-Kirby, director of The Women’s Center said.
“We celebrate and honor people, and it’s not just the people who are being honored, but the people in the audience or in the room,” Pegg-Kirby said. “There’s a lot of laughter, a lot of enjoyment, and so we wanted to find a way to bring that back, but I was also struck by the impact of people who have created change.”
For the last 11 years, the program originally went by Mothers, Mentors and Muses, but it was remade into the G.E.A.R Awards to focus more on the idea of gender equity, Pegg-Kirby said.
They also anticipated a little over 100 people to attend, which is similar to the number of people who participated in the first G.E.A.R. Awards last year.
With the trying times, community is even more important, said Emily Hudson, an Akron University criminal justice student who came to support her sister nominated for the G.E.A.R. Awards.
“I think, especially right now with our political climate, it’s good to have an event like this as a reminder that there is community and solidarity still, even in these dark times,” Hudson said.
Pegg-Kirby said working towards equity is a community-wide effort.
“We each need a torch if we’re going to see where we are going, and together we create so much more light,” Pegg-Kirby said. “When we turn the gear even just a little, the next one moves, and the next, and so on, exceptionally. We all have our part in creating much needed change.”
At the end of the ceremony, Tina Bhargava, professor of public health and long-time friend of Pegg-Kirby, arrived on the podium to give a few words.
“Cassie has been the heart and soul of this center – a fierce advocate, a compassionate wisdom keeper and a tireless champion for women’s empowerment,” Bhargava said.
Bhargava said Pegg-Kirby’s wisdom, light and influence will continue to ripple in ways that can not be measured.
Robinson also hopes people can come out learning to protect their own flame during challenging times, whether it’s through practicing self-care or uplifting others.
“By keeping their light burning, women have continually refueled their spirits, protected their energy and shared their wisdom with future generations,” Robinson said. “No matter what darkness you face, remember you are a lamp, you’re a beacon and the world needs your light.”
Sascha Aleksich is reporter. Contact her at [email protected].