The Gero Awards were held at Shippensburg University on March 5, alongside the annual International Women’s Day celebration. 

The awards ceremony honored three members of the campus community: a student, a staff member and a faculty member. Additionally, three more awards were given to individuals at SU for their impact on women's safety, inclusion and equality. Among those honored at this event were Jenna Cornell, Sharnine Herbert, Ph.D., and Marsha Bonn. 

Jenna Cornell, SU senior, received the student award and was honored to be recognized among the other nominees. Cornell is a communication, journalism and media student and has served as the general manager of SU’s student-run radio station, WSYC 88.7 FM since fall 2023. She also previously served as a peer educator and content creator at the PAGE Center. Through both roles, along with many more, Cornell has been able to advocate for women on SU campus through discussions of women’s health and autonomy and by encouraging female leadership. 

One of Cornell’s most important takeaways from her work at SU is uplifting women in leadership roles. Cornell takes pride in encouraging her female peers to face their fears and embrace their strengths. To support women on campus, Cornell works hard to be an exemplary but realistic female leader and pushes women to apply for roles they are fit for, even if it may be out of their comfort zone. Ultimately, Cornell wants women to be themselves, advocate for each other and face the uncomfortable.

“Don't let anyone tell you who you are or what you should be because ultimately, the only thing that matters is what you want to be,” Cornell said. “Don't be afraid to positively correct things when you hear them because we are a community, and if we don't have people looking out for one another and for themselves, then things are going to stay static forever.”

Sharnine Herbert, Interim Associate Dean of the College of Education and Human Services, received the faculty award. Herbert has supported countless women at SU through her roles as the former chair of communications studies and ethnic studies, director of the Frederick Douglass Institute (FDI), and her current role as interim associate dean. 

Herbert was both excited and humbled by winning a Gero Award. Advocacy and collaboration are very important to Herbert, as she grew up in a diverse environment and has experienced the progression of acceptance for women and LGBTQ+ individuals at SU. She believes it is important to include multiple points of view and form connections to help avoid misunderstandings between people of different backgrounds.

“No movement has ever come to fruition without the help of all people, so all people have to be on deck,” Herbert said. “If you come for one and nobody addresses that, you're going to come for the rest of us eventually, so we have to stand together and build a stronger society.”

FDI has been a crucial part of Herbert’s advocacy journey at SU. As the director of FDI, Herbert works with undergraduate students to practice the ideologies of Frederick Douglass. The group introduces contemporary topics and brings them to life through research and passion. FDI is also very collaborative by hosting events, such as their recent paint night, that bring together a variety of campus groups.  

“I found that my teaching, my working with student groups, my community work is really how I want to give back,” Herbert said. “I don't think that everybody can be Martin Luther King [...] and I don't know that I'm supposed to be that person, but what I can do on this earth, I want to continue doing for those who are in need.”

Marsha Bonn, associate dean of students, received the faculty award. Bonn has worn many hats over her time at SU, and her leadership for the ShipCARES program is one of them. ShipCARES, to Bonn, is much bigger than what people think. Through this referral program, individuals can find a less intimidating approach to guidance, especially those who are weary of seeking professional help. Bonn prioritizes being an approachable safe space, even giving her phone number to students who need to talk.

“I think a lot of it is, people just don't feel like they have anybody they can talk to here, so that means so much,” Bonn said.

Winning a Gero Award was a breath of fresh air for Bonn. Bonn’s advocacy journey has been long and rewarding. Throughout her roles at SU, Bonn has strived to connect with students, especially women, and she remains in contact with students after they graduate. . Inspiringly, one of Bonn’s former female students pursued not only a similar career as Bonn, but has gone through similar life experiences.  

“In this job, there's a lot of bad that we try to make good, and it's those stories that keep you going,” Bonn said. 

These women, and every Gero Award nominee, perfectly encapsulate the meaning of Women’s History Month. Showcasing the work these individuals do for the women on Shippensburg’s campus is an important part of inspiring others to do the same. During and after Women’s History Month, women like Cornell, Herbert and Bonn will remain advocates for students and issues that matter.

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