The October meeting of the Millville Woman’s Club (MWC) had a full agenda. First there was the international luncheon for which members prepared dishes from their various ethnic backgrounds. There were Polish kielbasa and perogies, Italian ziti with vegetable dish, German bratwurst, English cucumber salad and more. Desserts included Italian ricotta cheese cookies and homemade pizzelles, English pound cake and American treats.
Donna Pio, MWC Education Committee chair, introduced Milenka Zamalloa, Cheyanna Snyder and Zaiya Loatman, Millville High School seniors who were selected and attended the New Jersey State Federation of Woman’s Club (NJSFWC) Girls Career Institute at Douglass Residential College of Rutgers University for a week in June. Each shared some of her experiences there, activities in the community, and plans for the future.
Milenka is a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club, Leaders Club, Academic Team, Debate Team and Student Council. She is also Miss Holly City. Milenka has received three academic awards as well as three varsity letters in cheerleading. She plays soccer, swims and participates in many Key Club activities. Milenka is fluent in English and Spanish and is working on learning Portuguese. She is active with her church and its community programs. She enjoys singing, dancing and being creative with her art. Milenka has worked at Zentai and McDonald’s and for the U.S. Army in water treatment. She plans to continue her studies in biology and chemistry working toward becoming a forensic pathologist. She completed her Basic Combat Training for the U.S. Army and will continue that venture following graduation.
Cheyanna is the vice president of the local National Honor Society and member of the Key Club, German Club, Academic Team and Leaders Club. Her studies include AP English 3 and 4, AP U.S. history, AP microeconomics, AP statistics, AP physics, AP psychology, criminal law and ceramics. She has received academic varsity letters as well as varsity letters for swimming, tennis and lacrosse. She is currently varsity captain of the tennis team. She was selected as Student of the Month in her sophomore year. Cheyanna is a sailing instructor. She works at Millville Tennis Camp and Union Lake Sailing and Tennis Club Camp during the summer. She also works as a hostess/busser and babysitter. Cheyanna plans to attend college with a focus on biology before pursuing a career in veterinary medicine. MWC member, Cassandra Naylor-Wells, is Cheyanna’s very proud grandmother.
Zaiya Loatman is class president and is a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club, Leaders Club and Student Council. Her studies include Honors and AP classes in English, U.S. history, physics, statistics and psychology. She was selected Student of the Month in 2021 and HOBY Youth Leadership Program Delegate in 2021. She was the recipient of Widener University High School Leadership Award in March of this year. Zaiya has been Varsity Cheerleading Captain since 2021. She has been a Chick-Fil-A team member since April 2022 and participates in community activities, such as Pumpkin Extravaganza, Festival of Craft, Out of Darkness Walk, Mental Health Awareness Night, Senior Citizen BBQ, and Teacher Appreciation Week. Zaiya plans to go to Widener University and major in neurobiology with a goal to become a neurologist.
MWC members congratulate these young women and wish them well as they pursue their goals.
Joan Fauver, MWC president, introduced the guest speaker, Millville Mayor Lisa Orndorff, who gave some background about herself and her family and spoke lightheartedly about how surprised many people were that she came from the bottom of the ballot to be narrowly elected as mayor. She emphasized the challenges of a woman working in a male-dominated environment. While she enjoys working to improve issues here in Millville, she made it clear that she is only one of five commissioners that make up the Millville government, each with their own agenda. Orndorff responded to questions posed by club members. For those questions requiring research on her part she provided her e-mail address requesting that members send her their inquiries. Orndorff closed by addressing the high school seniors, strongly encouraging them to pursue their goals.
