Marjorie Clagett
The Calvert Board of County Commissioners honored the five women chosen by the Calvert County Commission for Women at their Tuesday, April 21, 2015 meeting. The five were nominated by peers and were chosen among many entries for 2015.
The Honorable Marjorie Clagett received the Outstanding Achievement Award for Advocacy. Judge Clagett was a trailblazer and role model for women in the legal community. She was the first female attorney in the Calvert County States Attorney’s Office, first county Master for Domestic Relations and Juvenile Causes, first female judge in District and Circuit Court in the tri-county area, and in 2012 became County Administrative Judge, overseeing management of the Circuit Court. A graduate of Mary Washington College and the Baltimore School of Law, Judge Clagett taught 7th and 9th grade history, and was a mortgage loan officer and FHA underwriter before becoming an attorney. She supports the Bren Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer and the Wounded Warrior Foundation. She and husband Stephen have 3 adult children.
Jennifer Foxworthy was honored with the Outstanding Achievement Award for Business Leadership. Jennifer began her second career as a
Jennifer Foxworthy
motivational speaker, founded Inspirationally Speaking, LLC, and published her first book, Tomorrow My Sunshine Will Come, Memoirs of Women Who Survived Domestic Violence. She is also the founder of Unstoppable You Women’s Conference Series; co-host of the Journey: Meeting of the Minds on You Tube and WBNDRADIO.com and has been featured in newspaper articles in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Jennifer retired from her first career, 21 years in the US Navy in 2013. In 2011 she became a military certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor. She has received numerous military awards. Jennifer earned an Associate of Science in Business Administration from Columbia College in Missouri, where she will receive the 2015 Columbia Alumni Association Jane Forman Courage Award and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from the University of Maryland University College.
Nancy Highsmith
The third woman honored was Nancy Highsmith with the Outstanding Achievement Award for Service. She is a lifelong champion of Calvert County students and their families, beginning as a teacher, and then as an administrator and a principal, and most recently as Interim Superintendent. She has been a staunch and effective advocate to ensure that students learn, parents are engaged and teachers are effective. Nancy served as the Interim Superintendent in 2013-2014, a challenging time with declining enrollment, decisions to make and the resignation of the previous Superintendent. She implemented new programs, such as lengthening the school lunch period to 60 minutes, to allow students to meet with teachers, participate in clubs, and get tutoring and mentoring during the school day, without having to arrive early or stay late. As Patuxent High School Principal, she strengthened extra-curricular activities and implemented such innovations as the Freshman Academy, the One-Lunch Program, A Place at the Table, and the Minority Cohort. She partnered with the PTSA to increase parent involvement. Nancy’s philosophy has been to create educational leaders within her school.
Ella Ennis was chosen as the Outstanding Achievement Award for Service. Ella is a born leader who instills in others the desire to work hard
Ella Ennis
to achieve common goals and overcome obstacles to success. She does this consistently, whether working on a community concern, charitable event, or political event. She has lived in Calvert County for 22 years and volunteers her time and skills for her church, community and political party. A member of St. John Vianney in Prince Frederick, she serves as a member of the Parish Council and for the past five years as Coordinator of the Eucharistic Adoration Network. As Legislative Chairman for the Maryland Federation of Republican Women, she was instrumental in the 2007 effort to convince the General Assembly to enact Jessica’s Law. Ella also organized MFRW’s Red Scarf Day, when the women come to Annapolis to learn about the legislative process. Ella is also an active member of the Board of Directors of Friends of Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum. She has also served as an appointed member of the Maryland State Critical Areas and Coastal Bays Commission, on the County’s Cliff Stabilization Advisory and as Treasurer of the Western Shores Civic Association. Ella also was very active in the elections as she organized voter outreach, trained candidates, and encouraged women to be actively engaged. At the State GOP level, Ella co-chairs the Grassroots Committee.
Morgan Lang
The fifth lady honored was Morgan Lang for Woman of Tomorrow. She is a senior at Northern High School and she exemplifies service, leadership, and effective advocacy to make the world a better place. Morgan’s activities include student council, cheerleading, lacrosse, and serving as a Student Board Member on her school’s Parent-Teacher-Student Organization. But Special Olympics is closest to her heart. She plays Unified Soccer, basketball, cheerleading, football and track, where people with and without intellectual disabilities play on the same team. As a Junior Member of the Special Olympics Management Team, Morgan helps with fundraising and coordinating events. She is working
to start a middle school campaign to Spread the Word to End the Word, so the “R” word will go away and people will realize it is a negative label for those with intellectual disabilities. She is also working with a family that asked her for help, after their 11 year old daughter, who has a sister with Down’s Syndrome, kept hearing the “R” word at school. Morgan helped the young girl to explain to her friends why the word was so hurtful.
Each lady was presented a proclamation by the Board and asked that this honorable recognition be a tribute to the admiration and esteem held by the community for these exceptional women.
Margit Miller / Calvert Beacon