St. Columba School, Oxon Hill, Maryland

“Jane Goodall was an anthropologist and primatologist who loved to study chimpanzees and protect them from extinction. She wanted to show how people can connect with the chimpanzees. She inspires me because she has dedicated her life to protecting wildlife and the environment. She gives us hope for a more sustainable future.” – Artwork and writing by Gavin Smit, seventh grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“What I admire about Mother Teresa is that she dedicated her whole life to help the poor and the sick. She is really an inspiration to those who want to follow in the same path.” – Josette Amado, eighth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“Gabriela Silang was a Filipino woman who changed Philippines history. She was the first Filipina to lead an uprising against foreign power. Silang was a hero who took over her deceased husband’s role as commander of the rebel troops in 1763. She was able to lead over 2,000 troops into battle against 6,000 Spanish colonizers. Though the battle was lost and she was captured and hung, she is recognized for her courage. I admire Gabriela Silang because she fought against foreign power trying to colonize more of the Philippines. Silang stood strong and held her ground to the very last minute.” – AJ Capati, eighth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“Joan Jett was a feminist icon who proved that women could be a part of rock music like men were. She is mostly know for being the front woman of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and was also in The Runaways. Rock was a male dominated genre, and she wanted to show that girls could do whatever they want despite the heavy gender discrimination at that time. I admire her for not following the rules for women and her attitude of not caring about what others say.” – Artwork and writing by Cabrina Fronda, eighth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“In this picture I drew Frida Kahlo, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Kamala Harris and Dalia Mogahed. These women inspire me with everything they did and have done. A person who inspired and still inspires my art is Frida Kahlo. Frida was a Mexican painter. She made beautiful self-portraits. Frida is well known for her looks, for not many women embody their hair like her. That is also why I love her. She is so expressive and serious. I would want to have that mentality, too. 

“A more common known person is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, well known for her nickname AOC. AOC is a famous politician and activist, and she speaks out for many people of color. She inspires millions and gives hope everywhere. I always love listening to her, and that’s why she inspires me. 

“A lesser known person is Dalia Mogahed. Dalia is a pioneer for women everywhere. She is currently the director of research in the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. She also runs programs for American Muslims. She was part of President Barack Obama’s advisory board. 

“Now for a very well-known woman who will be in our history books, Kamala Harris. Kamala is the first Black woman to serve as vice president. Before that, she served in the U.S. Senate and as attorney general in California.” – Drawing and writing by Madison Pleta, sixth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“Billie Holiday was a jazz and swing singer. She had a big influence on jazz music and pop singing. She found a new way of changing phrasing and tempo. Billie Holiday is well-known for her voice. I admire her because she changed what jazz in music could be and the possibilities for the jazz genre.” – Drawing and writing by Nicaeya Florentino, sixth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“I admire and love Mary our mother, because she is the first and most perfect disciple and the mother of Jesus.” – Drawing and writing by Dominic David, sixth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“St. Teresa of Avila inspires me because she dedicated her life to God. She loved God so much and even though she was sick, she still did everything she could for God.” – Drawing and writing by Lianna Gonzales, sixth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“The former president of the Philippines, Corazon Aquino, is the woman who inspires me because of her outstanding role as the first female president of the Philippines. She had many accomplishments, like reforming the Philippines’ democracy, providing a new constitution and congress for their government, and preventing the economic monopolies from occurring much more in their market. She was a standout of all the Philippine presidents as an aspiring politician who took charge in helping her country. I thank her for caring for my parents’ home, and I wish that I could change my place for the better, just like her.” – Drawing and writing by Arlo Pangilinan, eighth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“I admire Hidilyn Diaz because she won the first Olympic gold medal for the Philippines in women’s weightlifting. She worked hard to win the gold and inspires others to work hard, too.” – Drawing and writing by Jonah Soriano, eighth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“I admire Frida Kahlo because she was an artist. She wasn’t like others that used canvases and careful planning, instead she relied on nature for her art. She never limited her appearance to what people thought a woman should look like.” – Drawing and writing by Michael Hernandez, eighth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda

“I admire Michelle Obama for many reasons. One reason is because of her persistence. I have been reading Becoming by Michelle Obama, and I am inspired by the many stories she tells. One story I am particularly inspired by is when Michelle Obama said that she wanted to go to Princeton, and the person told her that it wouldn’t be a good fit for her. But then, she got into Princeton! She proved to that person that she could, and that she was capable of doing whatever she wanted when she put her mind to it. This is why I admire Michelle Obama.” – Artwork and writing by Coco Chiu, fifth grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

 “Michelle Kwan is a two-time Olympic medalist. Her talent encouraged me to go on in my skating career. When she was a child, her parents were unable to pay for coaches but Michelle persisted. She never gave up and became one of the greatest figure skaters of all time. My drawing is dedicated to her and all those who were inspired by her actions.” – Drawing and writing by Ellie Cheng, fifth grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

“I admire Ruth Bader Ginsburg because she grew up in an environment with people telling females that they cannot take authority and show power, and she still managed to do all this. She graduated from Cornell University as top of her class. She then put a hold on her education to make a family with Martin Ginsburg. She had her first child after her husband came back from his two years of military service, on this note she enrolled in Harvard Law. Then in 1956 after her husband got diagnosed with testicular cancer, she took care of her husband and still managed to stay at top of her class as one the nine females out of the 500 hundred people in her class while she was tackling motherhood. She was the first female member of the Harvard Law Review. 

“Her husband recovered and Ginsburg graduated from Harvard Law School. Afterward they moved to New York because she accepted a position at a law firm there. She had one year left of law school, so she transferred to Columbia Law School and graduated in 1959. She had difficulties finding a job until a favorite Columbia professor explicitly refused to recommend any other graduates before the U.S. District Judge Edmund L. Palmieri hired Ginsburg as a clerk. Ginsburg clerked under Judge Palmieri for two years. She got offered jobs at other law firms, but her salary was always lower than her male counterparts. 

“In 1972 she became the first woman professor at Columbia Law School. Ginsburg also directed the influential Women’s Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union during the 1970s. In this position, she led the fight against gender discrimination and successfully argued six landmark cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. Ginsburg took a broad look at gender discrimination, fighting not just for the women left behind, but for the men who were discriminated against as well. She served on the court for 13 years until in 1993, Bill Clinton nominated her to the Supreme Court of the United States. Sadly she died on Sept. 18, 2020 and had everybody mourning.” – Artwork and writing by Claire Schreiber, fifth grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda 

“Lucille Ball was not only the biggest comedic star of the 20th century, she was a trailblazer. In 1952, she even caused an inexplicable drop in the water pressure every Monday at about 9:30 p.m., in cities all across America. It happened that everyone had been waiting to use the bathroom until Lucille’s show, I Love Lucy, was over! All the toilets flushing at the same time caused the water pressure to drop!” – Elise Gomez, fifth grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

“I admire Coco Chanel because she changed the face of fashion forever. Her company has been around for about 112 years.” – Artwork and writing by Lee Hartman, eighth grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

“Susan B. Anthony was an American social reformer and feminist who was a key figure in the women's suffrage campaign. I picked her because I appreciate her determination and ability to say ‘no.’ When she witnessed something that was unjust, she stood up and demanded that it be changed.” – Drawing and writing by Brooke Hughes, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

“Even though you might not know Marjorie Merriweather Post, you might know the brand that she was in charge of, the Post cereal brand! I admire her because she showed the world that not only men can be rich and powerful, while also raising a family and living a normal life as well. To all the girls and women who have big dreams, follow and work toward them! I promise you that the reward will be worth all of the work.” – Charlotte Harrison, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

St. Jude Regional Catholic School, Rockville

“I chose Susan B. Anthony because she is the reason I can play sports, go to school, and vote (when I’m old enough).” – Artwork and writing by Olivia Vincent, sixth grade, St. Jude Regional Catholic School, Rockville, Maryland

Drawing of Amelia Earhart by Nicholas Lagrana, fourth grade, St. Jude Regional Catholic School, Rockville

Drawing of Kamala Harris by Camille Simpson, fourth grade, St. Jude Regional Catholic School, Rockville

“Dominique Dawes (the Olympic and world championship medalist) of the USA gymnastics team inspires me to dance around and dance however I want.” – Clara Krum, fourth grade, St. Jude Regional Catholic School, Rockville

“I admire Mary because she is the mother of Jesus and took great care of Jesus.” – Artwork and writing by Tatyana Familia, fourth grade, St. Jude Regional Catholic School, Rockville

Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

Drawing of Malala Yousafzai by Rowan Seaman, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

 “I admire Jane Louise ‘Candy’ Kendeigh, because during the Iwo Jima and Okinawa fighting (in World War II), she was a flight nurse and was the first flight nurse to arrive at those islands and care for the wounded. She was brave enough to go on an open battlefield and care for the wounded, that takes real courage.” – Jack Crawford, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

Drawing of Oprah Winfrey by Adele Kirkpatrick, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School

“Junko Tabei inspired me, because she was the first  woman to climb Mount Everest. She was also a teacher, but she took time to put aside school to climb the world’s tallest mountain. That’s why I think Junko Tabei is awesome.” – William Barhoff, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

Drawing of Venus Williams by Kate Benhard, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

 “Zendaya is a young actress from Oakland, California. She has a German mother and an African American father and has five siblings. Zendaya inspires me because she has a big voice on social media and infuses her viewers with positive messages. She has acted in many movies and is in my favorite one called Spider-Man: No Way Home. She has many people looking up to her and inspires girls and boys to work in film.” – Jack Grossfeld, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

Drawing of Katie Ledecky by Mary Dugan, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

Drawing of Missy Franklin by Maisy Meenan, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

“Amelia Earhart was an historic flier. She was the first woman to fly over the Atlantic Ocean. I admire her because she was not afraid to do something that was so dangerous at the time. She worked very hard to get to where she was. She inspires me to follow your heart and to never give up, also to try something new, especially when nobody has done it, to go on adventures and make records and try your hardest.” – Drawing and writing by Emilia Jaeger, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

Drawing of J.K. Rowling by Pippa Morrison-Sherrett, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School

“I admire J.K. Rowling because she wrote a lot of books. She was really brave and changed her name just to get her book published, because she was scared that no one would read it. Harry Potter is so good that it got published in over 60 languages. She continued her career as a writer and became a very accomplished woman. She tried really hard and is very successful.” – Ione Seaman, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington