As Women’s History Month comes to a close, the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC) keeps the celebration going with a tribute to the “Influential Women of Today and Yesterday,” on display in The Bridge, located on the second floor of the Davies Student Center.

The inspiration behind the “Influential Women of Today and Yesterday” came from Ashlea Orth, a fifth-year women’s studies student and GSRC intern. Orth said GSRC aimed to produce a full month of programming for Women’s History Month, and after doing some research of her own, Orth suggested a “passive program” approach for Monday’s event.

A passive program would serve to provide more narratives, which doesn’t typically happen with active programs, like panels or films.

While the names and information gathered for the display was largely completed by Orth and the other GSRC interns, the final design that went into each poster was completed by Kallie Friede, a graduate assistant and project supervisor with GSRC.

The display, which will remain on the walls of The Bridge indefinitely, comprises dozens of informational posters naming, describing and quoting influential women in history. A table outside of The Bridge offers a collection of individual posters that visitors can take for themselves.

“It just highlights all of the achievements that women have done throughout history,” Orth said.

Orth said the purpose of the display is to promote awareness for the achievements of women that have often gone unrecognized. She said that women tend to be overshadowed by men, and it is important to give recognition where it is due.

“I’m hoping that (students) maybe start to actually analyze,” Orth said. “It’s not just that one person who did something. Let’s look behind and see all of the extra work that was put into it, and see if there’s more to it — see if there’s more roles that women have played that we don’t typically learn about in history and through media.”

Women like Michelle Obama, Malala Yousafzai, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Emma González are only a few of the people represented in the “Influential Women of Today and Yesterday” display.

Sarah Chojnacki, a junior women’s, gender and sexuality student, noted some featured women who are influential in her life — women like Gloria Steinem, Beyoncé, Rihanna and Demi Lovato. Chojnacki said she was impressed with the way the display turned out, specifically pointing out the inclusive diversity of the project.

“Representation is really important,” Chojnacki said, “so to have women of color up there, and not only just women of color, but trans women of color, is really important and powerful.”

Chojnacki explained that there has always been a lot of strong women present in her life, so the acknowledgement that this display presented was very valuable to her.

“There’s always something to learn,” Chojnacki said. “It’s important to know what’s going on, and to understand the different social movements that are going on, especially with how the political environment is right now.”

Another GSRC intern is Logan Crapser, a junior women’s, gender and sexuality student. Though Crapser was not one of the main organizers of the “Influential Women of Today and Yesterday” display, he did contribute research information featured on one of the posters.

Crapser said he was pleased with the final results of the project, saying “the colors looked good put together,” and that he liked the idea of people having the opportunity to take some of the posters home.

“There’s a lot of people up in (The Bridge) that we don’t think of as activists or feminists or figures,” Crapser said. “I think it’s important to recognize that something as simple as the work that they’re doing can be impactful.”

Crapser described the display as a “good educational opportunity,” as it places a unique focus on the accomplishments of women.

“(Women’s History Month) is a good reason to highlight the importance of women throughout history,” Crapser said. “Their struggles are central to everyone’s struggles.”