ROCK HILL — The SUNY Sullivan Foundation honored seven of Sullivan County's finest as 2014's Women Who Make a Difference on Thursday.

BHR (Bernie's) played host to a house packed with family, friends and supporters of this year's honorees, seven respected women, who have had a profound impact on lives within the county and beyond.

According to an event handout, “A Woman Who Makes a Difference is one who gives of herself, who faces challenges with strength, courage, dignity, perseverance and foresight. She has the ability to initiate change with her ideas and determination.”

This year's honorees were recognized under six different categories, as follows:

Healthcare: Dr. Katherine Seibert of Hudson River Health-Care; Higher Education: SUNY Sullivan Professor Lisa Lindquist; Law Enforcement: Sullivan County Sheriff's Office Sergeant Cheryl Crumley; Pay It Forward: Catskill Regional Medical Center (CRMC) Oncology Nurse Glorianne Ellison and Ride 2 Survive Sullivan County (R2S) co-founder Kara Passante; Tourism Development: the Sullivan County Visitor's Association's Roberta Byron-Lockwood; and Volunteerism, Village of Monticello Justice Hon. Josephine V. Finn.

The first honoree, Sergeant Crumley, is the epitome of the women who've made an impact. A Forestburgh native, she attended the Monticello School District, where she graduated with honors. Crumley later earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from SUNY New Paltz, then a master's degree in education from California Coast University.

In February 2002, Crumley began work as a Sullivan County Sheriff's deputy, achieving the rank of Corporal by October, 2007. In March of 2012 Crumley made local history, earning the distinction of becoming the very first woman in Sullivan County Sheriff's Office history to obtain her “stripes,” and the rank of Sergeant.

Crumley is also a Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) officer, as well as a School Resource Officer (SRO) and works closely with local school districts in promoting drug awareness, problem solving techniques, healthy choices, anti-bullying education and internet safety. Sergeant Crumley additionally serves as the face of the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office at SUNY Sullivan during the academic year.

Introduced by her boss, Sullivan County Sheriff Mike Schiff, who said: “Cheryl has a grace, and she comes in with an intuitiveness in the schools, or wherever we put her, and she does a tremendous job... but make no mistake about it, when it's time not to be graceful or sensitive she will put you on the floor...”

And then there was another distinguished honoree, Hon. Josephine V. Finn.

Born and raised in Monticello, where she is currently serving in her fourth four-year-term as Village Justice, Finn, after graduating from Monticello High School, received a dual bachelor of arts degree in psychology and black studies from SUNY Oneonta.

Before 1968 a black studies program didn't even exist at SUNY Oneonta. But that was before Finn, along with some of her African-American classmates, became the impetus for the creation of the dual degree program. Not by just mere coincidence, the hiring of various minority faculty members followed in the four years Finn attended Oneonta State.

After several years in the workforce, Finn returned to school to accomplish her life-long dream: becoming an attorney. She would earn her Juris Doctorate (JD) from the University of Buffalo Law School, and, in 1985, go into private law practice.

Finn is currently admitted to practice law in the Eastern and Southern districts of the federal court system, as well as with the United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit. Along with her private law practice, Finn would also serve as Assistant Sullivan County Attorney, Deputy Town of Thompson Attorney and Town of Thompson Attorney.

Finn was elected to her first term as Village of Monticello Justice back in 2002, recently having been elected to her fourth four year term as such. Judge Finn is a past president of the Sullivan County Bar Association, is trained in mediation and is a member of the New York State Magistrates Association.

Finn also served as an associate professor at SUNY Sullivan for 13 years and chaired the Paralegal Studies program at the college. She has also taught “Positive Imaging” at Sullivan County BOCES, as well as at local summer camps.

Truly passionate about youth, especially at-risk youth, in 2007, Finn founded a program that would come to be known as the DREAM Tank, which stands for Dynamic Realization through Enrichment, Actualization and Motivation.

Earlier this year Finn was tabbed to the prestigious NYS Board of Regents.

Offered Finn during her acceptance speech, “It is important to me that everyone understand, that if we do not give every person a stake in the community, then that person has nothing to lose and we're all at risk... that is why I do what I do.”

For more information on the SUNY Sullivan Foundation and Women Who Make a Difference - along with biographies of all the honorees - go to www.sunysullivan.edu.