'There's no limit to what you can do' — Topeka women celebrate Women's History Month

Four Topekans spoke to The Topeka Capital-Journal about the women who have inspired them to excel in their careers and personal lives.

The women were asked for their thoughts for Women's History Month, a time to celebrate the role of women in history and culture.

But the celebration of women doesn't end March 31, as women across the globe are striving to reach goals every day of the year.

One is eager to graduate and begin her higher education. Another is retiring soon and looks back on the glass ceilings she smashed. Here's what they had to say.

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Ainsley Sha-Win Schimmel ready to study education after high school

Nothing is holding Ainsley Sha-Win Schimmel back as she navigates through her final months her senior year at Topeka West High School.

Ainsley Sha-Win Schimmel, a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, was recently awarded a $2,000-per-year scholarship through superintendent Tiffany Anderson's scholarship foundation. Schimmel hopes to study elementary education at Emporia State University and later return to Topeka to teach early elementary grade levels.

Along with the women of her family, Schimmel said her inspiration comes from all her female teachers, including her current teacher, Diane Kimsey at Topeka Center for Advanced Learning and careers.

"She talked about how when you educate people, you are changing the future, too," Schimmel said. "Just by educating people. And that's also kind of the reason why I wanna go into teaching, too."

She also pointed to Wilma Mankiller, the first woman to lead the Cherokee Nation.

"I think that there's so many Native American women to look up to," Schimmel said. "Like women activists and people that really stand for what they believe in. I have such a passion for education and there's just so many women that have done so much."

Schimmel is involved in dance at Topeka West, golf and soccer and said she has learned that being a female of color doesn't limit her in the endless amount of things she can do.

"Just being able to see other women succeed, that inspires me," she said. "Knowing that there's no limit to what you can do and you can do whatever you want and that your voice makes a difference."

Fatima Perez-Luthi operating small business while being a community organization leader

Being brave enough to take the next step is exactly what Fatima Perez-Luthi is doing in her career.

A graduate of Washburn Rural High School and founder of The Grind Coaching and Consulting — a financial literacy and planning program — serves as the chair for the Forge Young Professionals Board. Forge is the city's young professionals association, housed under the Greater Topeka Partnership.

Perez-Luthi said when she hears Women's History Month, it makes her excited.

"I don't necessarily think that we are meant to be celebrated for one day or a month. I think it's a good reminder to celebrate ourselves every day, because I think women are awesome," Perez-Luthi said. "We all have our unique experiences, our unique skill set, but also our very own story that has driven us to where we're at."

Perez-Luthi was a former branch manager and mortgage lender at Envista Credit Union. Through her experiences in the financial realm, one of the people who inspired her was Del-Metrius Herron, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty One Legacy Partners, LLC.

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"She is actually who encouraged me to pursue my small business. She gave me the courage and empowerment that I didn't know I need needed at the time. Perez-Luthi said. "And just seeing her, how she navigates through the community, she's just so graceful."

Balancing her many roles in the community, Perez-Luthi said she's navigating through her journey one day at a time.

"I don't have to necessarily know what the end result is gonna look like, but I know what I'm achieving or I'm working towards achieving, and I know what it's going to take," she said. "And through that journey, just like any other journey, I'm navigating through it instead of pushing it away or accepting that I'm not good enough.

"So I would say that it's a constant challenge facing leadership as a woman, but I love a challenge, so I will face it head on."

Staci Ogle bringing various art opportunities to NOTO

Facing challenges head on is what Staci Ogle has done in the Topeka arts realm.

Ogle became a part of NOTO in 2012 and later became a NOTO Arts and Entertainment District board member. She then felt like the community didn't have a lot of pride in Topeka and every since, she's been working to fix that.

"Part of the reason why I got really involved with the arts and the community is because I wanted to continue to provide opportunities for my kiddos in our community," Ogle said. "And I wanted to give them a place that was gonna grow with them as they were growing.

"So when I moved down here into the district, it was really empowering to be surrounded by other women who were also working hard to try to make changes in their community. So, that kind of inspired me to continue to get really more involved in the community and get really involved in the arts district."

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Ogle said majority of the business owners in NOTO are women, which allows to bring a warm feeling to guests when they arrive in the entertainment district.

"All of the women down here are passionate about what they do, and we have such a great friendship," Ogle said. "It's really a unique support system in that regard because we can call on each other when we need to. I think in that area, it just makes us a little bit more unique than everybody else. So, I find pride in that."

Ogle is the program and communications coordinator for the NOTO Arts District. Since taking on the position, Ogle has been able to introduce various art-filled activities and events to the district.

She said she lives by the quote, "What's holding you back is the thought that something is holding you back," and that's a lesson she aims to teach her children every day.

Beryl New serving more than 30 years to education and students

With more than 30 years of experience in education, Beryl New has pioneered her way through every obstacle that came her way, whether it was fighting for the equality of her students or teaching her own children everyday lessons.

As the current director of equity council and certified personnel for Topeka Public Schools, New began her career in 1988 as an English teacher at Topeka High in 1997 to 2000, then became assistant principal at Highland Park High School from 2000-2005.

New left for a associate principal position at Lawrence High School from 2005 to 2010, then returned to Highland Park High School as its principal until 2017.

New said she was always inspired by the women in her family, but her love for becoming a principal stemmed from Linda Wiley, former Topeka High principal, and Harriet Johnson.

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New was the first female African-American person to serve in each of her positions, she said. She plans to retire at the end of June.

"I always said, I'd never wanna be a principal because I didn't wanna be, you know, some manly kind of principal. A female walking around, you know, that, that wasn't my personality," New said. "But (Wiley) was just a woman in every sense of a word, but yet she was a strong leader."

New said powerful women in the community are up and coming and they have reached a comfort level in their personalities, "but yet be brave enough to step out and do things and I appreciate seeing that come up in this new generation."

Keishera Lately is the business reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. She can be reached at klately@cjonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @Lately_KT.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Women's History Month celebrated with inspirational women in Topeka