Santa Fe College Announces the 2019 Women of Distinction and Women of Promise
Every March, Santa Fe College celebrates Women’s History Month by holding an annual ceremony lauding the achievements of women in our community.
“Women of Distinction” are women who have enriched the community through their contributions to the arts, business, education, social services, government, wellness or other philanthropic ventures in Alachua or Bradford County. These extraordinary women are examples for all women, balancing careers, families and community service, and making our community a better place for all.
SF also applauds the efforts of “Women of Promise”, young women in our community who are following in the footsteps of women before them, being involved in community activities while working toward a college degree in order to advance their professional aspirations.
The 2019 Women of Distinction and Promise Honorees: Nilanjana Sengupta Caballero, Emily Acevedo (Woman of Promise), Linda Lee, Layne Sasser (Honorary Woman of Distinction), Carol Bosshardt, Gussie M. Lee and Fran Maris
About the 2019 Honorees
Carol Bosshardt founded the Bosshardt companies with a few key principles starting with putting people first. She stated “the value of our companies is not about sticks and bricks, it’s about people. People our associates counsel with the greatest care through each transaction to bring them to a happy, successful close. We are passionate about the people we serve. Our culture has always been and must remain to be, putting people ahead of profit.”
This philosophy transfers to her work with over 100 community charities that the Bosshardt Charitable Fund has contributed to over the years. Another key principle of Carol’s is to give back to the people, their friends, families and work associates who have helped make Bosshardt Realty and Bosshardt Property Management successful.
Carol enjoys giving her time and money to charities that, although vital to the health of the community, don’t get as much attention. She works with organizations that help children, animals and people with mental health issues. One of the most recent charities she has given her time to is Aces in Motion, an initiative that helps youth in East Gainesville take a path toward success in life.
In addition to her duties as Department Chair for Sciences for Health Programs at Santa Fe College, Dr. Nilanjana Sengupta Caballero has dedicated her life to the service of others and her community. Through her volunteer work serving others at Food4Kids, Take Stock in Children, Peaceful Paths, the Humane Society and Alliance of Therapy Dogs, she says she gains awareness and empathy. She also tells her students that service to the community, and being able to understand others’ struggles, teaches skills that will be useful in their future careers.
She instills the principles of service in her children as well through their service projects, collecting donations and creating care packages for local women in shelters. Dr. Caballero’s service and leadership to the college is not limited to her role as a department chair and faculty member, she is also an advocate for student’s need through increasing diversity, a spirit of inclusion, and the sharing of resources.
Linda Lee believes in making a difference by being the difference in her community. Although now retired, Lee served her community for over 30 years working in Bradford County government as Deputy Clerk, Deputy Appraiser and Assistant Tax Collector. She also serves on various committees and organizations such as the Kiwanis Club of Starke, Woman’s Club of Starke, ACORN, and Take Stock in Children in various leadership roles. She said that after the first time she volunteered, she began to realize that giving of time produced much more than giving money to a cause.
After losing her mother to cancer following a nine-month battle, Lee began volunteering for Relay for Life and has raised over $100,000 for cancer research. She has dedicated her life to ensuring that her family and community are educated on preventative measures and that they have the resources necessary for any stage of the journey with the hope that one day no one will be affected by this horrible disease.
Fran Maris’ life of service to the community began when she started volunteering in her children's schools and has continued throughout her life. Her marketing skills and branding Cure by Design, a fashion show featuring cancer survivors as models, through the American Cancer Society, has raised over six-figures in her tenure.
She says that community service begins with compassion and reaching out with the gifts and talents you have to help others.
Currently, as President of the Gainesville Garden Club, her volunteering, motivating and mentoring has led to significant community contributions including veterans’ projects, honoring our armed forces with a Blue Star Marker, and a Gold Star Marker honoring the families of fallen soldiers at the VA Hospital.
She works with Girls Scouts and middle school students intriguing them with gardening skills. As a Master Gardener, she has opportunities to serve all of Alachua County with horticulture knowledge in various volunteer capacities. The gardening handiwork of Maris and her various clubs can be seen in the form of trees, flowers and even butterflies all over Gainesville.
Gussie Mae Washington-Lee has two life mottos, “May my work speak for me” and “Are you making a difference?” Washington-Lee’s service includes starting Lee’s Preschool Center in 1976 to address a need for African-American families in her community to acquire adequate child care. Through her dedication and hard work, she has raised over $50,000 in educational scholarships from various organizations. She believes that education is vitally important, because it gives the tools necessary to become empowered, to grow and to influence the people around you.
She is President of the Suwannee River Baptist Association Women’s Auxiliary, where she has helped with relief efforts and programs in Haiti. She believes so much in the power of education that she returned to Santa Fe College in 2014 to take additional classes in early childhood education. Her love for learning is never-ending and her passion for the future is evident in her work and interaction with the community.
Emily Acevedo is a senior from Bradford County. Emily has been showing animals since she was 4 years old, currently serves as an FFA officer and recently attended the FFA Washington Leadership Conference. Over the past four years, she has competed in the state and national FFA Agriscience Fair, and won first place as the National Champion in Animal Science in 2018.
She has been conducting research, published in the American Boer Goat Association Magazine, on Boer goat reproduction and has made many significant advances. Her research has also helped in the areas of parasite control and pregnancy testing for goats. She offers workshops to other FFA and 4-H members, volunteers at her local school day care center, participates in Teen Court Jury and is enrolled in High School Dual Enrollment at Santa Fe College.
She hopes to complete her bachelor’s and doctorate in animal science at the University of Florida, and go on to a career as a reproductive physiologist.