In 1987, Congress designated March as Women’s History Month to celebrate women’s contributions to history, culture, and society. However, Women’s History Month had it’s beginning in 1980 when President Jimmie Carter established National Women’s History Week. In his speech President Carter stated:

From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this Nation. Too often, the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength, and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well. (www.ajc.com/news/jimmy-carter-contributions-women-history-month)

This year, the Northern Oklahoma College Diversity Committee would like to highlight six notable women from Enid, OK in celebration of Women’s History Month. The first three are currently here in Enid in various capacities. Two of which attended NOC. The last three are more well-known on a national level and although two are not currently living in Enid, all three were all born in Enid. Highlighting these six women gives something of a flair towards: “look what you can achieve from little ole’ Enid”.

• Johnetta Washington, an African American, an Alumni of NOC, and currently the HR Director of FedEx.
• Angeilka Bajo, a Marshallese, an Alumni of NOC, and currently works for the Health Department.
• Irene Asai Clem is a member of the Garfield County Bar Associate and currently voluntarily assigned as Assistant District Attorney.
• Charlotte Declue, Native American (Osage) and a Native American Author. Declue’s poetry is marked by skillful use of the conversational idiom and trenchant wit. Her poems have appeared in numerous literary journals in this country and Europe. Some of her works include: Ten Good Horses and Without Warning.
• Carol Hamilton, Poet, Teacher, Children’s Writer, b. 1935 in Enid, Oklahoma. She was the Poet Laureate of the state of Oklahoma from 1995 to 1997. Also of note, she received her BS degree from Phillips University, now the cite of NOC-Enid.
• Leona Mitchell, is of African-American and Chickasaw descent, an actress, a singer (operatic soprano), and an Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame inductee.

You can discover information about other notable Oklahoma women from Enidbuzz.com and https://www.okhistory.org/learn/womenshistory.