Women of Distinction Awards

Women of Distinction Leadership Awards

YWCA Madison honors leaders in the Dane County community through the Women of Distinction Leadership Awards. Award winners are chosen based on their success in work and volunteer activities. Recipients will be recognized on Tuesday, May 23, 2017, during the Moxie Conference (www.ywcamadison.org/moxie). Awards are presented to women who are diverse in race, ethnicity, age, occupation, and field of expertise. Award recipients and nominators will be notified of their selection once the review process is complete. If your nominee is selected, you will receive one complimentary ticket to the event. Additional tickets will be available for purchase. If a nominee is not selected in the first year she is nominated, her nomination will be considered during the next year’s selection meeting and YWCA staff will contact the nominator to request updated at that time.

Nomination Guidelines

As you decide who to nominate, you should be able to check the following:

I am not submitting a nomination of someone who has already received the award. See the full list of past recipients at www.ywcamadison.org/academy.

I am not an immediate family member of the nominee. She is not my parent, child, or partner.

I am not a YWCA staff member, current board member, or Women of Distinction committee member.

The person I want to nominate is not a YWCA staff member, current board member, or Women of Distinction committee member.

The person I want to nominate is not seeking elected office this year.

The person I want to nominate lives, works or volunteers in Dane County.

The person I want to nominate has the following characteristics:

o exhibits leadership in her field of expertise

o serves as a role model and/or mentor to other women and girls

o advocates for positive social change that helps close the leadership gap and create a more equitable society

o demonstrates a commitment to the YWCA mission of eliminating racism and empowering women

o has earned respect within her community

o supports policies, practices, attitudes, and/or actions that are intended to produce equitable outcomes for all

o gives back to the community through her time, talent, and/or resources

Award recipient must be present at the awards ceremony on Tuesday, May 23, 2017, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., to receive the award.

Questions? Call Jay Young at 257-1436, option 2, email or visit www.ywcamadison.org/distinction.

Alternative format needed? If you need an interpreter, translator, materials in alternate formats or other accommodations to nominate a Woman of Distinction, please contact Jay Young at 257-1436, option 2 or by email at .

¿Habla español? Si usted necesita ayuda con este formulario, llame al 608.257.1436, opción 5, o comunicarse con Jay por correo electrónico a para ser conectado con un voluntario que habla español y le puede ayudar con el proceso de nominación.

Nomination Information

How to Nominate a Woman of Distinction

1. Complete the nomination packet

a. Nomination Form: Complete the nomination form below. Responses to each question have word limits.

b. Support Forms: Please ask two to three people who are not related to the nominee to express their support of the nomination by filling out a questionnaire available at the address below. You should collect the support forms and include them in your nomination packet when you return it to the YWCA Madison.

i. Download a support form at www.ywcamadison.org/distinction

ii. Ask people to illustrate aspects of your nominee’s contributions to the community that are different from the ones you wrote about in the nomination form.

c. Please do not submit additional materials other than those requested. Resumes and articles are not required.

2. Submit nomination and support forms to the YWCA Madison by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 18, 2017, via email to or drop off a printed copy at 101 E. Mifflin Street. No exceptions to this deadline will be made.

Checklist to complete before submitting nomination

I have completed all fields of the nomination form.

I am submitting support forms from two to three individuals have completed the support form.

I have included all relevant information on the nomination form because the committee does no further research on the nominee.

I have kept a copy of the nomination materials. I understand that all materials submitted to the YWCA will not be returned to me.

Questions? A list of frequently asked questions is available at the YWCA website, www.ywcamadison.org/FAQs. You may also contact Jay Young at 608-257-1436, option 2 or by email at .

Original Submission Year 2017

Women of Distinction Leadership Award Nomination Coversheet

My contact information

Nominator’s Name:

Mailing Address: Email:

Employer: Title:

Phone Numbers: Work: Home: Cell:

Contact information of the person I am nominating:

Nominee’s Name:

Mailing Address: Email:

Employer: Title:

Phone Numbers: Work: Home: Cell:

Nominee Area of Expertise

Please select ONE category in which the nominee demonstrates leadership and should be considered. All categories will be considered each year:

Arts & Culture: Creates, preserves or supports the visual, literary, performing arts, and/or cultural heritage.

Business, Trades, Professions & Entrepreneurs: Leads in management, administration, a profession or trade, in private companies or non-profit organizations, or through entrepreneurial or innovative endeavors.

Communication & Public Relations: Communicates ideas and/or shapes opinions through advertising, public relations, the media, and/or communications technology.

Education, Training, Professional Development: Works in the education system, employee training and development, or an alternative learning environment as a teacher, researcher, or administrator.

Economic Empowerment of Women: Expands women’s abilities to make strategic choices and improves their economic situations.

Racial Justice Leadership: Demonstrates outstanding commitment to racial justice, the work of eliminating racism, and expanding equity.

Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (STEM): Works in a STEM field, social sciences, or medicine.

Unsung Hero: Makes significant impact in the Dane County community without holding a highly-visible position.

Voluntary, Community & Humanitarian Service: Leads and inspires others as a volunteer whose work has enhanced the quality of life in her community.

Nominee Demographics

In keeping with the YWCA mission to eliminate racism and empower women, the YWCA ensures that the Women of Distinction Leadership Award recipients reflect the rich diversity of the Dane County community. Please help us to achieve this goal by indicating the racial or ethnic group with which the nominee identifies. (Please mark all that apply.)

American Indian or Alaska Native

Asian

Black or African American

Latina or Hispanic

Native Hawaiian or Asian Pacific Islander

White

Please note if nominee identifies differently than the options above:

Age Range: 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+

Is the nominee aware that you are nominating her? No Yes

Women of Distinction Leadership Award Nomination Form

We encourage you to provide specific examples that illustrate how your nominee fulfills the qualities of questions 3 to 6.

1. Describe your relationship to the nominee (Answer limit: 100 words):

2. Summarize your nominee’s accomplishments for use as an introduction to the nominee in publicity materials (Answer limit: 100 words).

3. Role Model: Describe how this person has served as a role model for others in her community or her profession. The following questions can serve as a guide to help you provide a response. (Answer limit: 750 words):

a. How has the nominee influenced the lives of others?

b. How does she mentor and to what level?

c. How has she helped women and girls achieve their goals?

d. Is she a role model in her profession or in a volunteer capacity?

e. Has the nominee broken down any barriers for future generations or worked to close the leadership gap? If so, how?

4. Achievements: How has the nominee demonstrated sustained excellence, accomplishment, and creativity in her profession? Has the nominee received any notable commendations or awards? Please give specifics about how the nominee has garnered respect within the Madison community or her professional field. (Answer limit: 750 words)

5. Eliminating Racism & Empowering Women: How has the nominee shown that she actively supports the YWCA mission of eliminating racism and empowering women? The following questions can serve as a guide to help you provide a response. (Answer limit: 750 words):

a. How has she proactively strengthened policies, practices, attitudes and/or actions that are creating equity for everyone?

b. How is she involved in women’s issues, specifically those that improve women’s economic status or help close the leadership gap?

c. How has she worked to eliminate racism and make the Dane County community more inclusive and equitable?

6. Community Involvement: How has the nominee given back to the community through her time, talent, and/or resources? How has the nominee shown initiative or taken on a leadership role as a volunteer? (Answer limit: 750 words)

7. State any other reasons why this nominee should be recognized as a Woman of Distinction. (Answer limit: 750 words) (OPTIONAL)

I’ve included two to three support forms. Yes No

NOMINATION DEADLINE

Submit an electronic copy of the nomination by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, January 18, 2017

or submit a paper copy at 101 E. Mifflin Street, Suite 100│Madison│WI│53703.