Supervisor Kate Murray and members of the Hempstead Town Board honored eight women who live or work in the Town of Hempstead for their outstanding contributions to the community at the town's annual Pathfinder Awards ceremony.

"These are remarkable times and women are achieving goals that were unattainable a generation ago," noted Murray. "The women we are recognizing this year have broken down barriers in the business world, started foundations to help those with diseases, volunteered at the town's ANCHOR program and have set a high standard for our young people and have proven themselves role models and inspirations to us all."

Among the eight women honored was Sandy Figueroa of Elmont in the volunteer category. A committed community volunteer, Figueroa has also compiled a brilliant professional career. She is an assistant professor and the chairperson of the business department at Hostos Community College in the South Bronx, where she has worked since 1979.

Sandy has been a respected member of the executive boards with both the National Business Education Association and the Eastern Business Education Association. She is also a longtime member and former president of Delta Pi Epsilon, the national graduate society for business education. Additionally, Sandy is an associate member and a distinguished contributor to the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul of New York and is a proud and prominent member of the parish at St. Boniface Church. She serves nobly with the parish council and the St. Boniface Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and cherishes her experience as a religious education teacher. She is working with the confirmation class at St. Boniface.

On Sundays, she serves her fellow parishioners as a lector and eucharistic minister. Sandy is also a loyal member of the North American Conference of Associates and Religious and she currently serves as secretary of the group's administrative board. Interested and involved in all facets of community life, Sandy is extremely active with the Argo Civic Association where she holds the position of recording secretary.

The other winners were Lucy G. Rosen of Oceanside, for business, Loree Jeanmarie of Lakeview, for community affairs, Roselinda Ricca for education, Robin Grass of Wantagh for health services, high school senior Kaitlin Condon of Division High School in Levittown, humanitarian Mary Pallotta of Wantagh and Town of Hempstead employee Mary Burns of Hempstead. Viki DeJons was honored posthumously for her work for the betterment of the communities of East Meadow, Westbury and New Cassel

"Each of these women is truly extraordinary," concluded Murray. "They are all deserving of this honor and it is an extreme pleasure to have this opportunity to recognize them for their many accomplishments."