Women’s Leadership Conference offers glimpse of the future.
By: Audrey Levine
The theme of the day was based on an old adage, that women can do anything they put their minds to.
"Our ultimate goal is to make today’s young women into tomorrow’s leaders," said Denise Avrutik, chairwoman of the South Brunswick Commission on Women, as she welcomed over 300 women to the 10th annual Women’s Leadership Conference at South Brunswick High School on Saturday. "We want to inspire you to go beyond the career norms."
The conference, which was open to girls in eighth through 12 grades, featured 19 panels, split into two sessions, where participants could speak with college students and professionals in more than 10 fields.
The panels featured women discussing law and government; music, art and theater; food and restaurant management; opportunities in the FBI; date rape and sexual harassment; and health professions.
"I’m really big on feminism and women power," said Hafsa Ahmad, 16. "This is a good chance for women to come together and feel empowered."
Farhana Chowdhury, 16, said she enjoyed the session on owning a business. She said it was inspirational, especially in light of the fact that she has her own tutoring business. She said parents recommended her services to their friends, and now she has eight of her own clients.
"Each speaker had her own story," she said. "They showed us that anything is possible. After hardships, there is success and we can make our dreams come true."
Another session, led by Bonnie Lin, a South Brunswick High School graduate and student at Amherst College in Massachusetts, was called Making a Different Kind of Difference. During the session, Ms. Lin discussed her work at the Boys and Girls Club in Holyoke, Mass., encouraging the women to give even a small amount to help others.
"Never underestimate the power of having a cause," she said.
According to Ms. Avrutik, members of the commission network with others to find panelists for the conference. She said they ask friends and other people they work with, encouraging them to participate.
Participants fill out an evaluation at the end of the conference each year, in exchange for a gift bag with products donated by L’Oreal, with their comments about what they would like to see the following year, Ms. Avrutik said.
"We look to see what the girls are interested in," she said at a lunch that concluded the conference. "We are trying to empower them to become tomorrow’s leaders. In the past, women had certain careers, like teaching and staying home. There is nothing wrong with these, they are honorable, but there are other things women can do."
Aside from learning about careers, two panels were offered about school, one with college students answering questions about higher education, and another with seniors at SBHS showing eighth-graders around the high school.
"I wanted to learn more about the high school," said Ashton Dwyer, 14, who will attend South Brunswick High School in September. "The tour was the best part."
Chloe Hall, 13, said she was glad to have the opportunity to make connections with seniors before actually attending the school.
"We also found out what teachers are interesting," she said.
The conference began with keynote speaker Willa Spicer, former assistant superintendent of schools and one of the founders of the conference, who spoke to the women about how opportunities have changed over the years.
"Demand understanding and ask the questions," she said, after explaining her struggles with math in elementary school and how she didn’t question the strategies she was taught. "You are going to have jobs that require you to think."
Ms. Spicer also discussed making good decisions based on understanding their impact and suspending judgments.
"If you can think before you make decisions, the world will be a better place for you," she said.
During the opening remarks, Mayor Frank Gambatese also took to the stage to present a plaque honoring the work of the Commission on Women. He said the plaque will be hung up in the Municipal Building on Ridge Road.
"This is an important year for women," he said, addressing those in the audience. "There is nothing that you can’t do."
In addition to the panels, four women were honored for their leadership skills and dedication to the community. The first awards were two $1,000 scholarships given to women who have proven to be role models in South Brunswick.
Neha Bansal, who will attend Princeton University in the fall, received the first scholarship. The second was presented to Neha Deshponde, who will attend Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, in September.
Entrants submitted applications detailing why they felt qualified to win the scholarship. Neha Bansal attended New Jersey Governors School of the Sciences at Drew University and received the Distinguished Delegate award as a member of Model United Nations. She is also part of Viking Volunteers at the high school and volunteers as a second lieutenant of the Kendall Park EMS Explorer Squad.
Neha Deshponde was a finalist for the 2007 Intel Science Talent Search and a semifinalist for the Siemans Westinghouse Science and Technology Competition. She also worked at the Waksman Institute of Microbiology at Rutgers University and was chairwoman of the Central Jersey March of Dimes Chain Reaction Council, where she organized a multicultural show that raised $150,000 for research to prevent birth defects and premature births.
Following the scholarship presentation, commission member Debra Johnson presented the community awards to Cynthia Bachoo, a South Brunswick teacher for 28 years, and Sharon Charzewski, a former substitute nurse in the township.
The award is given to people who have contributed to the South Brunswick Community. The people are nominated by friends or other members of the community. Ms. Charzewski was president of the South Brunswick band parents association, a township county nurse and secretary of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Post 401. Cynthia Bachoo was on the Ann Frank Exhibit Committee in 1996, worked at the Sunday School at St. Cecilia’s R.C. Church, and is a past chairwoman of the South Brunswick Concerned Black Parents.
The secretary of the commission, Julianne Avrutik, 18, said the conference is something she supports as a way to show women that they should pursue anything they feel strongly about. She said working on the commission also serves as a good bonding experience for her and her mother, Denise.
"The conference is to empower women to choose careers outside the normal ones, even if it seems impossible," she said.

