Ceremony honors Revolutionary War figure Sybil Ludington, renowned American sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington and generations of Northwood Distinguished Women.
The stories of two remarkable women — one remembered for a legendary Revolutionary War ride and another who broke barriers to immortalize her in bronze — came together Saturday, Oct. 24, as Northwood University unveiled its newest campus landmark.
The university unveiled a bronze replica of Anna Hyatt Huntington’s Sybil Ludington’s Ride during a ceremony attended by students, university leaders, community members and generations of Northwood University Distinguished Women Awards honorees.
The sculpture celebrates the courage and individual initiative associated with Ludington’s story while honoring the accomplishments of all women, including more than 500 individuals recognized through Northwood’s Distinguished Women Awards since the program began in 1970.
Northwood President Kent MacDonald brought a piece of history to the ceremony: a first-edition copy of Colonel Henry Ludington: A Memoir, published in 1907. The book contains an early account of how the colonel’s 16-year-old daughter reportedly rode through the night in April 1777 to rally her father’s militia as British troops attacked Danbury, Connecticut.
MacDonald used the century-old book to illustrate how women’s contributions have not always received the attention or recognition afforded to those of men. He contrasted the widespread fame of Paul Revere with Ludington’s relatively limited place in the historical record, inviting attendees to consider the remarkable determination at the heart of her story.
“She had a horse, and a mission, and the nerve to say yes,” MacDonald said.
He drew parallels between Ludington and generations of Northwood Distinguished Women Award honorees who have built businesses, led organizations and opened doors for others, often overcoming significant obstacles along the way.
MacDonald also praised Northwood First Lady Dr. Mary-Ellen MacPhee, who spent years championing the effort to bring a bronze replica of Sybil Ludington’s Ride to campus.
“Before we step outside, we want to take a moment to understand why this statue is so meaningful to our university and to present a Distinguished Woman award,” MacPhee said before inviting Northwood junior Kennedy Williams of Farmington Hills, Michigan, to discuss Huntington’s accomplishments.
“Some women change a room when they walk into it,” Williams said. “Others change the world and leave something behind in bronze so that every generation after them can look up and see courage and brilliance made real.”
Williams highlighted Huntington’s extraordinary career, which spanned seven decades and produced more than 570 works, including Lincoln on the Prairie, the iconic sculpture that has stood along Northwood University’s Mall Walk for nearly six decades.
Sculptor honored posthumously with Distinguished Women Award
In recognition of her artistic achievements and success in a field historically dominated by men, Huntington was posthumously honored with Northwood’s Distinguished Women Award. Robin Salmon, vice president of art and historical collections and curator of sculpture at Brookgreen Gardens, accepted the award on her behalf.
“Anna spent her life making sure extraordinary women were never forgotten,” Williams said. “Robin has spent hers making sure Anna will never be forgotten.”
Salmon noted how the determination captured in Ludington’s expression and forward motion reflects Huntington’s own character and accomplishments.
“An incredible young woman memorialized by an incredible artist,” Salmon said.
Automotive leader inspired by Ludington’s journey
Another memorable moment came when Dr. Rita Case, president and CEO of Rick Case Automotive Group, recalled being just 16 years old when she told her father she intended to take over the family business.
Like the young woman depicted in Sybil Ludington’s Ride, Case faced daunting expectations but remained determined. Today, she leads the nation’s largest woman-owned and -operated automotive dealership group and has earned some of the industry’s highest honors, including the 2024 TIME Dealer of the Year and 2026 Barbara Cox Woman of the Year awards.
MacDonald also recognized Case’s extraordinary career and continued generosity, including her winning bid at Northwood’s Auto Show Gala earlier this fall, which secured one-year naming rights to the sculpture while supporting student scholarships.
Case described Sybil Ludington’s Ride as a permanent source of inspiration for Northwood students, both men and women, emphasizing the importance of perseverance, courage and believing in oneself.
A 2005 Distinguished Woman Award honoree, Case also reflected on what the recognition means to its recipients.
“To be called distinguished is the highest title of respect and admiration in our dictionary,” Case said.
Her remarks reinforced the significance of Northwood’s decision to establish the Distinguished Women Awards in 1970, recognizing women’s leadership and accomplishments at a time when their contributions were too often overlooked.
That legacy was especially evident Saturday with the return of Nancy Barker, a member of Northwood’s inaugural 1970 class of Distinguished Women, and Paula Ulmer, who was inducted with the second class in 1971.
MacPhee noted the ceremony brought together honorees representing all six decades of the Distinguished Women Awards program. Their presence helped connect the program’s earliest years with a new generation of honorees, underscoring Northwood’s commitment to recognizing accomplished women and introducing students to leaders whose examples can shape their own futures.
MacDonald: Art gives a campus a memory
MacDonald used Saturday’s unveiling to explain why art plays an important role at a university known for business, free enterprise and the automotive industry. Beyond its visual appeal, he said, art encourages students to look beyond spreadsheets and showrooms to consider the values and culture that shape human behavior.
“Art has the power to have people stop and look and ask questions,” MacDonald said. “It sparks intellectual curiosity.”
He also emphasized how public art can become part of a university’s identity, preserving its history and values while inspiring future generations.
“Art also gives a campus a memory,” MacDonald said.
Nearly six decades after Huntington’s Lincoln on the Prairie became a Northwood landmark, MacDonald said Sybil Ludington’s Ride will serve as a new focal point, reminding generations of students and visitors that courage, initiative and service are not reserved for the powerful, the famous or the old.
