Six Washington Women Are Honored For Public Service

By Ian Ith - Seattle Times Staff Reporter

Six of the state's most successful and outstanding women were honored last night for their accomplishments and public service. The Association for Women In Communication presented its yearly Women of Achievement Awards at its annual Matrix Table dinner at the Westin Hotel. "We just feel it's very important to recognize women who have made contributions to our community," said association president Vanessa Gallant.

The recipients were:

-- Barbara Hedges, the University of Washington's athletic director since 1991, whom the association cited for advancing equal opportunity in women's sports, improving academic achievement of athletes and starting leadership programs at the university. Last year, Hedges became the first woman to be named president of the National Association for Collegiate Directors of Athletics.

-- Irene Harvitz, who became a dedicated activist for the disabled 21 years ago when her 2-year-old son was left brain-damaged by nearly drowning in a swimming pool. Since then, Harvitz, of Bellevue, has pulled together the parents of disabled kids in her school district and helped promote a new disabled-friendly aquatic center in Bellevue that opened last September.

-- Melissa Hines, managing director of Seattle's Empty Space Theatre since 1986. Hines started working at the theater box office in 1978 and also serves on the King County Arts Commission and on the board of directors of the Fremont Chamber of Commerce. This year, the Corporate Council for The Arts awarded Hines an Unsung Heroes Award.

-- Judith Billings, the former two-term state superintendent of public instruction who has become an AIDS activist since she was diagnosed with HIV three years ago. Billings now serves on the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. Last year she founded Targeted Alliances, a private consulting service focusing on children's issues.

-- Sharon Elliot, senior vice president of human resources for Starbucks Coffee Company. She is a member of the Seattle chapter of Links Inc., a local service club, and Jack and Jill of America, a children's education and recreation group. She also serves as a trustee on the Human Resources Board of C.A.R.E., a global-relief charity, and is a member of the International and Washington State Women's Forums, and the African-American Parents Organization at Bellevue's Newport High School.

-- K.D. Hallman is a director of Microsoft's language-technology development division by day and a community activist in her spare time. She is the founder and regional director the Seattle chapter of Women in Technology Inc., a group that promotes career opportunities for women in technical fields. She is also on the board of Microsoft's Women's Networking Committee and is a director of the Kirkland-Redmond Boys and Girls Club.

Also honored last night was the Boeing Employee's Credit Union, which the association lauded for its family-oriented programs for employees, including child care, parenting classes and an on-site gym.