The announcement of a new sculpture that will be erected at Northwood University in honor of over 500 Distinguished Women Award recipients was among the highlights of the 2024 Distinguished Women Awards Gala.
The sculpture will be a replica of one created in honor of Sybil Ludington, a 16-year-old American Revolutionary heroine, by the sculpturer who made the Lincoln on the Prairie statue that sits on the Mall Walk at the heart of Northwood University’s campus in Midland, Michigan.
“In 1967, Anna Hyatt Huntington, one of America’s most renowned sculptors and a trailblazer for women in the arts, visited Northwood University to dedicate her sculpture, Lincoln on the Prairie. Since then, this piece has become an iconic focal point on campus, reminding generations of students of the importance of freedom for all,” stated Dr. Kristin Stehouwer, Academics Vice President and Provost for Northwood University, during the Oct. 26 Distinguished Women’s Gala at The H Hotel in downtown Midland. “Building on this rich heritage, Northwood is proud to announce a landmark initiative: the commissioning of one of Huntington’s most famous works, Sybil Ludington’s Ride.”
Dubbed the female Paul Revere of the American Revolution, Sybil Ludington rode over 40 miles during a rainstorm on April 26, 1777, to warn militiamen that British troops were attacking Danbury, Connecticut.
While Paul Revere is a well-known figure in U.S. history, it wasn’t until 1961 that Sybil Ludington’s story came alive through Huntington’s sculpture, a piece commissioned by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Ludington’s bravery was publicly honored in 1975 by the U.S. Postal Service, which issued a stamp depicting her on horseback as part of a Bicentennial stamp series that honored Revolutionary War heroes.
“We have been looking for something to honor and commemorate our Distinguished Women Award recipients over the past 55 years and beyond. It seemed remarkably fitting to go with the same sculptor who created Lincoln on the Prairie in the heart of our campus,” explained Northwood First Lady Dr. Mary-Ellen MacPhee, who co-chairs the Northwood University Distinguished Women Awards with Mary Ellen Hess, a Northwood alumna who serves on the University’s Board of Trustees.
During Saturday’s gala, MacPhee and Hess unveiled a rendering of Huntington’s Sybil Ludington’s Ride statue, which sits outside the Danbury Public Library in Danbury, Connecticut.
This week, an artist commissioned by Northwood University went to Connecticut to take 3D scans of the statute that will be used to cast a bronze replica. Once completed, the replica will be installed in a visible area on Northwood’s campus.
“This new sculpture will honor the influence of women and further elevate the heart of campus,” Stehouwer noted. “We look forward to unveiling more details about this transformative addition to campus in the months ahead, including meaningful opportunities for our community to be part of its success.”
“Since its inception in 1970, Northwood University’s Distinguished Women Awards program has inspired others through the honorees’ commitment to free enterprise and their drive to reshape industry and society,” noted Northwood President Kent MacDonald. “We are deeply grateful to Mary-Ellen MacPhee and Mary Ellen Hess for spearheading this meaningful initiative, honoring past and present Distinguished Women Awardees. This recognition will inspire future generations of free-enterprise leaders dedicated to advancing global social and economic progress.”
Hess, a 2023 Distinguished Women Awards recipient, knows first-hand the significant impact honorees can have on Northwood students as mentors. “The Distinguished Women Awards is not your typical awards program – it’s a bridge between visionaries and aspiring changemakers,” Hess stated.
The 2024 Distinguished Women Award recipients include:
- Anne Hathaway, President & CEO of Hathaway Strategies, a grassroots public affairs firm based in Indianapolis, Indiana;
- Sharon Johnson, a resident of Southfield, Michigan, who serves as Executive Director of Operations at the Piston Group, which builds world-class assemblies for top manufacturers and includes Piston Automotive, the world’s largest Value Add Assembly supplier;
- Mary Kissel, a Dallas, Texas resident who serves as Executive Vice President and Senior Policy Advisor for Stephens, Inc., a family-owned financial services firm that specializes in investment banking, asset and wealth management, and public finance and operates in locations across the U.S. and Europe;
- Diane R. Maher, President & Chief Strategy Officer for DP Fox Ventures, a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based diversified management company with interests in real estate, transportation, fashion, sports, and entertainment, and President & Chief Operating Officer of Fox Motor Group, a retail automotive and powersports group representing 43 locations and 49 brands; and
- Ann McBrien, a Hilton Head Island, South Carolina resident, served as former Vice President with CBD Global Healthcare of Procter and Gamble and founded AM Marketing & Sales Concepts.
During Saturday’s gala, attendees saw a video featuring Nancy Barker, a Midland resident who is among the 531 women who have received the Distinguished Women Award over its 55-year history. Barker, who was inducted in the inaugural Class of Distinguished Women, is still very involved with Northwood University and continues to mentor students. Barker has plans with Northwood Student Trinity Burtch, a junior from St. Charles, Michigan, to catalog, preserve, and curate a growing collection of dresses donated to Northwood University, ensuring these important historical garments are carefully maintained for future generations.
“This is a powerful example of the lasting relationships forged through this award,” Stehouwer noted.
For more information about the Distinguished Women Awards, visit https://www.northwood.edu/advancement/signature-events/distinguished-women-awards/. To nominate someone for the 2025 Class of Distinguished Women Award recipients, email Signature Events Director Jen Carpenter at .
