Wilmington , DE – The Delaware Commission for Women will honor three Delaware women for outstanding accomplishments in their endeavors to improve the lives of others at the 22nd annual Hall of Fame of Delaware Women Awards Banquet in Dover on March 19. The 2003 Hall of Fame inductees are Joy Ann Bartell, a health professional and advocate; Sister Jeanne Cashman, a champion for the homeless; and Delaware State Senator Margaret Rose Henry, a government and community leader. The public is invited to join Lieutenant Governor John Carney and the Delaware Commission for Women at the awards ceremony to pay tribute to these women as they receive one of the State’s most prestigious awards.

Since 1981, the Commission has celebrated Women’s History Month by recognizing and honoring Delaware women whose exceptional achievements and contributions have positively affected the lives of others. Including the 2003 honorees, a total of 79 women of diverse experiences and vocations have been named to the Hall of Fame of Delaware Women. Inductees are selected from nominations submitted by individuals and organizations from throughout the State.

Joy Ann Bartell, the 2001 Delaware Nursing Instructor of the Year, is an instructor at the Beebe Medical Center School of Nursing, Lewes. As the first Oncology Certified Nurse in Sussex County , Bartell saw deficiencies in the level of health care for oncology patients in lower Delaware . She managed to turn a fledgling part-time cancer treatment service into a regional medical, radiological, and surgical oncology center. She faced the hurdles surrounding the funding of a multi-million dollar medical complex, and garnered the support of her employer (the Beebe Medical Center ), the local medical establishment, and the community to make the Tunnell Cancer Center of the Beebe Medical Center a reality.

Sister Jeanne Cashman, OSU, an Ursuline nun with a master’s degree in creation-centered spirituality, has had remarkable success in re-integrating the homeless into mainstream society. Founder and executive director of Sojourners’ Place in Wilmington since 1991, Sister

Jeanne introduced the concept of educating homeless clients, rather than simply keeping them alive. After completing the program, hundreds of former homeless people have gone on to productive lives that include jobs, homes and community service.

For thirty years Margaret Rose Henry has been involved in the Delaware human service community, working to meet the needs of the poor, the elderly, families and children. In 1994, she became the first African American woman to serve in the Delaware State Senate. As senator, she has been committed to ensuring that the State Police recruit, train, retain and promote minorities on an equal footing with all others. She has sponsored bills to crack down on drug dealers and to offer more substance abuse treatment for the addicted. She also has sponsored hate crime legislation, and she created the Office of Women’s Health to address the special needs of women.

The Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony and Banquet will be held at the Dover Downs Conference Center , 1131 N. DuPont Hwy. , Dover , on Wednesday, March 19. The evening begins with cocktails at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner and presentation of awards at 6:00 p.m. Cost is $40. Seating is limited. For reservations contact the Delaware Commission for Women at (302) 761-8005. The deadline for reservations is Friday, March 14.