In honor of Women's History Month, the Buffalo History Museum hosted an awards ceremony Tuesday to recognize local women who have pioneered and contributed to the community.

The 2025 honorees included Stephanie Orlando (COO, WNY Independent Living), Kara Oliver Perez (Director of Communications and Marketing for the Charter School for Applied Technologies), Stephanie Peete (Director of Workforce Development, Say Yes Buffalo), Karen Monaco (Assistant Principal, Kenmore Jr./Sr. High School), Cassie Nguyen (Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Accounting & Law University at Buffalo, School of Management) and Lou Jean Fleron (Legacy Honoree)(Extension Faculty Emerita, Cornell University ILR School).

"Every year, we honor women from the Western New York area who have made great contributions to our community in all different facets, and this year the theme is focusing on educators and mentors, so we will be recognizing women in the community who have mentored and educated and helped uplift the community," Dr. Karen King said.

Lori Quigley, Jane Hartney, Dr. Lillian Williams, Nancy Abdelhaq and Tina Abrams were recognized as Living Trailblazers as part of the Trailblazing Women of WNY Monument Project.