ST. GEORGE – Dixie State College of Utah will host its second-annual Women’s Achievement Conference on Saturday, Feb. 26, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Gardner Center Ballroom on the DSC campus.
This year’s conference, spearheaded by reigning DSC Homecoming Queen Jessica Baird, will focus on family and education. Ms. Baird, a junior physical therapy major from Roy, Utah, won the crown with her pageant platform of “Reading Revamped: Encouraging Kids to Love Reading,” which emphasizes the importance of childhood literacy as a pathway to better communities through education.
“I really think women of any age will benefit from the topics being discussed and hope that as word spreads, this event will be one that women from all over the state look forward to coming to every year,” Ms. Baird said. “I have been lucky to work with the presenters for the event this year. They are a fantastic group and I can’t wait for them to share their messages.”
KSL-TV news anchor Nadine Wimmer will deliver the conference’s keynote address on children’s literacy. An Emmy award-winning reporter, Wimmer produces a series of reports “Staying Safe,” to help parents protect their families from danger, injuries and other preventable problems. Because of her commitment to education, she is most excited about her involvement in the Read Today. KSL’s reading incentive program. Read Today aims to boost reading scores by encouraging families to read together. Through stories and online digital reading tracker, the program is helping parents realize the importance of reading with their children and providing incentives. In addition, Wimmer serves on the Governor’s Literacy Commission and on boards at the University of Utah.
The conference will also feature an opening keynote discussion on domestic violence, presented by Brandy Farmer, who is a recognized leader in Utah regarding domestic violence prevention education. For over 20 years, Farmer has been actively involved in the legislative process, testifying before legislative committees to urge for desperately needed funding of domestic violence services and statutes to protect victims. She served as an active member of the National Association of Attorneys General’s Violence Against Women Advisory Committee, and has chaired the State Domestic Violence Council (UDVC), and the Council’s Government Affairs, Public Education workgroups. Farmer has also authored the Council’s Domestic Violence Related Death Report.
Other breakout session presenters include the reigning Ms. Utah Christina Lowe, DSC Career Center Director Kathy Kinney and DSC Associate Professor of English Dr. Sue Bennett. In addition, Dillard’s will be sponsoring a fashion show and entertainment during the conference luncheon.
The cost of the Women’s Achievement Conference is $10, which includes the luncheon, with proceeds going to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Registration for the conference will begin that morning at 8:30 a.m., at the Gardner Center Ballroom. For more information, visit the conference website at www.womensachievement.org, or email Jessica Baird at [email protected].