Guilderland, NY – New York State Assemblymember Phil Steck hosted his third annual Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, May 13th, at the Guilderland Town Hall. The event celebrated the extraordinary contributions of eight women from the 110th Assembly District who have gone above and beyond to improve the lives of others in their communities. Each honoree was presented with a framed proclamation in recognition of their accomplishments, and Guilderland Town Supervisor Peter Barber joined the celebration to honor the women for their inspiring work.

Assemblymember Steck praised the honorees for their dedication and service, stating, “The Capital Region thrives because of community members who selflessly dedicate their time and effort to making it a better place to live, work, and call home. Many times, these women’s accomplishments and hard work go unnoticed, but their impact is deeply felt. It is an honor to recognize these exceptional women for their unwavering commitment to the people around them. Their leadership and compassion inspire us all.”

2025 Women of Distinction Honorees:

• Sally Courtright, Climate Change Advocate (Loudonville)
  Formerly a New York State science teacher, Sally Courtright has dedicated her life to raising awareness about the impact of climate change and educating people on what they can do to preserve our environment. Sally has had one hundred letters published in the Times Union and other newspapers across the state, using her voice to advocate for meaningful action on climate change. Sally has also lobbied legislators to pass smart green laws and served on the Town of Colonie’s Climate Smart committee.

• Robyn Gray, Chairperson, Guilderland Coalition for Responsible Growth (Guilderland)
  Robyn Gray has dedicated over 37 years to public service and advocacy in various positions, including Clinical Case Manager, Rehab Services Manager and Supervisor for various group homes with the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). In addition to those roles, Robyn has held senior-level positions such as Senior Personnel Administrator and Labor Relations Representative for several agencies, including OPWDD, New York State Department of Taxation and Finance and New York State Comptroller’s Office.

• Brett R. Harris, President of the NYS Public Health Association (Menands)
  Brett R. Harris is the president of the New York State Public Health Association (NYSPHA), a clinical associate professor at the University at Albany Center for Integrated Health Sciences and a senior research scientist at NORC. As president of NYSPHA, Brett founded and continues to chair the Public Health in Action Committee and Mental Health Workgroup. She also has conducted a series of listening sessions on mental health in the area, started a mentorship program at NYSPHA and helped raise money for suicide prevention.
• Crystal Dea Moore, Music Instructor and Co-owner of Peak Music Studios (Latham)
  Crystal Moore is a creative bassist, music instructor and co-owner of Peak Music Studios in Latham. Her passion led her to share the gifts of music through a welcoming, inclusive studio space where individuals can learn and grow. Crystal’s studio regularly donates performance and production time to local nonprofits, helping to raise vital funds. Peak Music Studios’ most recent performance raised an astounding $37,000 and sold 1,000 tickets due to Crystal’s efforts.

• Dr. Ifeoma C. Ojukwu M.D., F.A.A.P, Pediatric Doctor (Guilderland)
  Dr. Ifeoma Clarissa Ojukwu is an established Pediatric Doctor helping children and families globally. Since 2000, Ifeoma has been working at St. Mary’s Hospital for the Troy Pediatric Health Center caring for children. Striving to help more families, Ifeoma established her own practice, Capital District Pediatrics P.L.L.C., where she continues to serve children from diverse cultures and backgrounds in the Capital District. On top of her professional career, she travels abroad to Nigeria volunteering her medical services to children in need.

• Nic Rangel, Esq., Executive Director of the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York (Colonie)
  A champion for access to justice, Nic Rangel, Esq. is the Executive Director of the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York and an Adjunct Professor at Albany Law School. Her career journey includes serving as Second Deputy Counsel and Ethics Counsel for the New York State Senate Majority and the first Hispanic woman leader of the LASNNY, as well as working in election law and voter rights, and diverse pre-law experience as an educator, legislative aide, and nonprofit leader.

• Courtney L. Sim, Community Advocate, Inclusion Activist, and Fundraising Leader (Colonie)
  Courtney Sim is a dedicated community advocate with a focus on improving accessibility and inclusion for those with disabilities or chronic illnesses. Beginning in 2019, she volunteered with Special Olympics New York as a coach and fundraising team member, an effort which eventually led her to coaching at the national level, helping athletes earn two gold medals at the 2022 games in Orlando. After Courtney gave her mother a lifesaving bone marrow transplant during her mother’s battle with acute myeloid leukemia, Courtney wanted to give back. She launched a campaign for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s 2024 Visionary of the Year, raising $88,000.

• Dr. Meghan Zysik, Director of the Albany Medical Center Labor and Delivery Unit (Loudonville)
  Dr. Meghan Zysik is the director of the Albany Medical Center (AMC) Labor and Delivery Unit. Initially, she served as the Associate Program Director of the AMC OBGYN Residency Program before becoming director and leading initiatives focused on supporting underserved women, resulting in improved health outcomes, healthier babies and a more inclusive, respectful environment for all. As part of these efforts, she created the Birthplace Advisory Council, developed a new triage process, implemented enhanced communication workflows, and created a unique hospital-based doula program, which allows all labor patients at AMC to receive a doula’s one-on-one support, regardless of economic standing.