Joshi
XENIA — The Greene County Women’s Hall of Fame will grow by five during the 2024 induction ceremonies.
Jane Doorley of Fairborn, Nina Joshi of Beavercreek Township, Becka Perales and JoAnn Rigano of Beavercreek, and Ellen Slone-Farthing of Fairborn are being enshrined for their dedication to making Greene County a better place.
Doorley will be inducted for her endeavors in community service and nursing. She made significant contributions teaching nursing for 25 years at Wright State’s College of Nursing and Health. She was awarded numerous grants totaling more than $456,000 which were used to develop minority recruitment and retention programs as well as a study of end-of-life decisions and mentoring teams. Since her retirement in 2012, Doorley has been an active volunteer at Fairborn FISH Pantry and has served as the executive director since 2021. She believes that access to nutritious food is a basic human right and works tirelessly to ensure that members of her community are fed.
Joshi will be inducted for her endeavors in science and technology. She has excelled in leading scientific research and technology development as well as integrating important business functions as the president and CEO of UES. In addition to her technical leadership, Joshi utilizes bottom-up management to create a culture of inclusiveness, customer intimacy, employee engagement, and collaboration. Joshi has been a staunch advocate for student internships at UES and supports STEM-related activities such as Air Camp, Lego competitions, robotics, and job-shadowing for local high school students including Greene County Career Center. She talks with students of all ages to help them become acquainted and excited about applications in science.
Perales will be inducted for her endeavors in community service. She spent nearly 45 years in a successful career in facility/asset management, first working at WPAFB and later starting her own practice contracting with various organizations. While her work required much time and travel, she found time to make a difference in her community. Perales has been donating time for 24 years to Violence Free Futures serving 10 years on the board, taking the lead in fundraising activities, strategic, and assisting with acquisition of real estate and resources to better serve people seeking a safe place to live. Perales is a a board member of Bloom Community Services, which provides service to developmentally disabled adults in Greene County and a Trustee for Clark State College.
Rigano will be inducted for her endeavors in education. She has dedicated her life to the field of education, making significant contributions and touching countless lives along her journey. Teaching third graders at Valley Elementary in Beavercreek City Schools for 24 years, she was an innovator, integrating community needs into the curriculum and creating innovative projects that earned her accolades at local, state and national levels. Her class (known as Rigano’s Raiders) won a national award for the Energy Mobile Project they created which traveled around Greene County area schools to teach about the evolution of energy. Following her retirement, she was elected to the Beavercreek Board of Education and continues to serve today.
Slone-Farthing will be inducted for her endeavors in community service. Her leadership qualities have benefited the city of Fairborn and Greene County repeatedly. Her current leadership position as executive director of the Fairborn Senior Center is a fitting capstone of her career. Some of her many responsibilities include budgeting, fundraising, sessions with community organizations and more. She worked with the Dayton Food Bank to bring a mobile food bank to the center, making it easier for those in need to link up. Slone-Farthing was president of the Fairborn Chamber of Commerce, and president and treasurer of Fairborn Rotary. Other involvements include the Lions Club, Fairborn Ministries Gathering Group, helping promote school levies, and serving on the Police Advisory Council. Currently the treasurer of the Fairborn Area Historical Society, she was named a Legend of Fairborn in 2021 by the society for her dedication to the city.
The public is invited to attend the 44th annual Recognition Day Luncheon planned for Saturday, Sept. 28 during which each honoree will share her reflections on the areas for which she is honored. The luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Walnut Grove Country Club, located on the Greene-Montgomery county line at 5050 Linden Avenue, Riverside.
Reservations are $25 and must be paid in advance by mail with the final deadline of Sept. 21. A luncheon reservation form is available online at www.greenecountyohio.gov. Click on Our Community and scroll to Greene County Women’s Hall of Fame.
Menu options are limited to your choice of either the trio salad (chicken, tuna, and egg) or vegetarian garden salad. Be sure to mark your menu preference on the form or on your check. Multiple reservations may be made on one form. Mail a copy of the completed form and check payable to the Greene County Women’s Hall of Fame, to PO Box 703, Fairborn, Ohio, 45324.
For more information, call Ann Byrd, hall of fame chair, at 937-429-1805.
