IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 1, 2007
CONTACT: Gordon Ovenshine:
724.738.4854
724.991.8302
gordon.ovenshine@sru.edu

SRU graduate named recipient of national diversity award

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – U.S. Navy Capt. Kathlene Contres, a 1977 Slippery Rock University allied health graduate, has been named the recipient of the 2007 HENAAC Santiago Rodriguez Diversity Award. She will receive the award later this month in San Diego.

            The award recognizes the contributions of Hispanic Americans.

            “They say this one is equal to the Oscars. I’m definitely going, even if I have to crawl to it,” her father, John Contres, told the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat. The family is from Spangler. 

            Contres, the Navy’s highest-ranking Latina line officer on active duty, leads diversity recruitment as commandant of the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute in Patrick, Fl.  She has a master’s degree in education leadership and holds subspecialties in manpower, personnel and training, and education and training management.

            Contres began her Navy career in 1980 and been stationed in New York, Hawaii, Washington, D.C., California, Rhode Island and Tennessee. 

            While assigned to the directorship of the Service and Support Division at the Navy Personal Command, she established several programs supporting Navy personnel and families.

            Military awards include three Meritorious Service, five Navy Commendation and two National Defense Service medals. She has also received a leadership award from Latina Style magazine and was the 2005 recipient of the Las Primeras Award from MANA, a national Latina organization.

            HENAAC is a national nonprofit education organization that promotes careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

Slippery Rock University is Pennsylvania’s premier public residential university. Slippery Rock University provides students with a comprehensive learning experience that intentionally combines academic instruction with enhanced educational and learning opportunities that make a positive difference in their lives.