BALTIMORE ( JULY 1, 2011) – The Maryland Commission for Women (MCW) hosted its fourteenth annual Women of Tomorrow recognition ceremony on June 30, 2011 at the Maryland Yacht Club Clubhouse in Anne Arundel county. The award, established in 1997, identifies young women in middle school and high school who have set sail into their future by demonstrating an extraordinary commitment to community service and academic excellence.
The honorees were selected through a process that begins with an annual statewide call for nominations. An independent, all-volunteer selection committee reviews the applications and normally selects six young women, two per grade grouping from sixth through twelfth grades. However, this year eight young women will be honored.
“This annual event highlights young women who are making significant and remarkable contributions to their communities,” said Theodore Dallas, secretary of the Maryland Department of Human Resources. “These young ladies are truly our future leaders.”
The Maryland Commission for Women, established by the Maryland Legislature in 1971, promotes the social, political, and economic equality of Maryland women. It advises government, advances solutions, and serves as a statewide resource to expand social, political, and economic opportunities for all women.
The Montgomery County 2011 Women of Tomorrow Award honoree is:
Grade 11:
First Place – Ilana Price, Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School
Ilana Price
Ilana Price lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland and is an 11th grade student at Bethesda-Chevy Chase H
igh School. Ilana has made a significant contribution to her community, having earned over 1,000 service learning hours pursuing her passion for improving the community through action. Ilana has also maintained a 3.95 unweighted GPA, having taken a rigorous course schedule of AP and Honors classes. She is President of the Green Service Club and is a member of the National Honor Society, and treasurer of National Art Honor Society. She also received the Maryland Department of Education Service Star Award this year.
Ilana founded the Green Service Club at school. As President of the Club, she has led efforts to assist various organizations and has created events to improve our environment, such as picking up litter along the Capital Crescent trail, pulling weeds at local parks, cleaning up streams, labeling storm drains to improve the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, collecting goods in recycling drives, and raising funds to support these efforts.
Ilana is also a founding member and the longest serving member of the Montgomery County Public Library Teen Advisory Group (TAG). As a TAG member since 7th grade, she has worked to make the library system more teen-friendly and to create programs for children, teens and adults, assisting with teen space remodels and teaching people new library technologies. As a leader in TAG, she has spoken at the American Library Association Annual meeting about the TAG program, has been quoted in newspaper articles, and has run several TAG programs. Recently, she coordinated a Montgomery County Public Library Art Exhibit, displaying high school students’ artwork. As an artist, Ilana is proud that the art show recognized the talents of high school students in the community.
In addition to her academic studies, this fall Ilana will be expanding her horizons by working on Capitol Hill as an Intern for a United States Senator. Ilana believes that a leader inspires and motivates as well as listens and takes action.
