Local Women are Celebrated During Women's History Month

Local Women are Celebrated During 
Women's History Month

MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - March is Women's History month and the achievements of women who left their mark on history are celebrated.

“I think the contributions of women in American history have probably been overlooked," said Meridian resident Steve Horton.

The Michigan Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame aims to recognize these achievements.

“We have almost 300 women inducted into the hall of fame and they could be from Olivia Brown who was a suffragist during the abolition movement. We also have Serena Williams,” said Museum Educator Caitlyn Perry Dial.

Among these hundreds, you'll meet two who might hit a little bit closer to home.

Dorean Koenig currently resides in Haslett and was inducted into the hall of fame in 2010.

She is an educator and writer who has influenced national and international law in the fields of human, women, and civil rights, as well as civil liberties and education.

Koenig was the first female tenured law professor at The
Thomas M. Cooley Law School and is the author of a criminal law textbook that is used by many Cooley students.

Kathleen Wilbur is from Okemos and is recognized as the first woman in history to lead three state governments.

Wilbur was a Michigan State University trustee for six years and since 2002, she has served as the vice president for governmental relations and public affairs at Central Michigan University.

The historical center works to honor the achievements of remarkable Michigan women like Koenig and Wilbur.

“You don’t tend to hear about the contribution that women make,” Horton said.

But the month of March, and places like the Michigan Women's Hisorical Center and Hall of Fame aim to change that.

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