What are the Outstanding Achievement Awards?

Outstanding Achievement Awards are presented at the YWCA LeaderLuncheon to remarkable women who have demonstrated their commitment to advancing the well-being of Utah women and girls, and whose work and achievements exemplify the YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

Outstanding Achievement Award NominationsJune 15th Deadline

Award Categories

During the 2021 LeaderLuncheon on September 24th, we will recognize those in our community who have been exceptional in key areas of our mission & work. The public nomination categories are as follows:

Racial Equity & Social Justice
Health & Wellness
Business & Social Innovation
Community Builder & Champion
Leader of Tomorrow—Young Woman Under 19

Examples: educators, advocates, artists, student leaders, athletes, activists, educators, business leaders, entrepreneurs, public policy advocates, medical professionals (spiritual care & mental health), non-profit leaders, etc.

Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible for an Outstanding Achievement Award, the nominee must:

Have resided in the state of Utah for at least two years
Not be a current YWCA staff or board member
Not currently be running for political/elected office
Be able to attend the 2021 LeaderLuncheon on September 24, 2021. More info to come!

Judging Criteria

Nominations will be judged by a panel of previous Outstanding Achievement Award Winners and community leaders specialized in the OAA Categories. The criteria are as follows:

Demonstrated commitment to Utah women and girls
Demonstrated commitment to YWCA mission
Professional achievement and peer recognition

Make a Nomination June 15th Deadline

Once you’ve verified that all of the eligibility requirements have been met, determined the nomination category, and collected the necessary materials, you can make a nomination via the form below or via PDF.

Questions? Please contact Cassie at cbrood@ywcautah.org or 801-537-8612.

Past Outstanding Achievement Award Winners

2020 Extraordinary Woman Winners

Sandra Hollins, Neylan McBaine, & Dr. Angela Dunn

2019 OAA Winners

Deanna Kepka, Mara Rabin, Amy Rees Anderson, Rosie Rivera, & Kendra Tomsic

2018 OAA Winners

Sheryl Allen, Mary Beckerle, Patricia Christensen, Cristina Flores, Yasmen Simonian, & Paul Green Johnson (YWCA Heart & Soul Award)

2017 OAA Winners

Lisa Gentile, Carol Osborn, Lorena Riffo-Jenson, & Joan Smith

2016 OAA Winners

Jackie Biskupski, Sherrie Hayashi, Nedra Hotchkins, Susan Madsen, & Gail Miller

2015 OAA Winners

Rosemarie Hunter, Linda Leckman, Carolyn Goodwin Schubach, Peggy Tomsic, & Olene Walker (Mary Schubach McCarthey Lifetime Achievement Award)

2014 OAA Winners

Martha Bradley, Christina Gallop, Jacqueline Gomez-Arias, Peggy Fletcher Stack, Betty Sawyer, & Yda Smith

2013 OAA Winners

Betsy Burton, Rebecca Chavez-Houck, Harriet Hopf, Kathy Christine Howa, Pam Perlich, Deb Sawyer, & Mary Schubach McCarthey (YWCA Heart and Soul Award)

2012 OAA Winners

Brenda Burrell, Norma Carr, Natalie Gochnour, Libby Hunter, Leigh Neumayer, & Boyer Jarvis (Honorary Outstanding Achievement Award)

2011 OAA Winners

Dolores Delgado Bernal, Emma E. Houston, Anita Kinney, Vivianne Elizabeth Mbaku, JoAnn Seghini, & Geralyn White Dreyfous (Mary Schubach McCarthey Lifetime Achievement Award)

2010 OAA Winners

Deborah Bayle, Cynthia A. Bioteau, Marian Ingham, & Lynne Ward

2009 OAA Winners

Judy Kasten Bell, Marjorie A. Chan, Sanchaita Datta, Ann Millner, & Elaine M. Pace

2008 OAA Winners

Jeannette Misaka, Kaye Richards, Babs DeLay, Michele Johnson, & Maria Garciaz

2007 OAA Winners

Karen Crompton, Shauna Graves-Robertson, Patti Harrington, Colette Herrick, Wilma Johnson, Kathleen Mason, & Margo Provost

2006 OAA Winners

Christina Kim, JoAnn Slama Lighty, Silvia Peña, Lucille Stoddard, Maggie Wilde, & Jeanetta Williams

2005 OAA Winners

Elaine Cohen, Cecelia H. Foxley, Paula Julander, Lucinda Kindred, Aida Mattingley, & Kathleen McElligott

2004 OAA Winners

Frances P. Battle, Bishop Carolyn Tanner Irish, Tibby Milne, Nancy Mitchell, Ruth Novak, & Susan J. Quaal

2003 OAA Winners

Rev. Gwyneth MacKenzie Murphy, Gail Russell, Marilyn Tang, Graciela Italiano-Thomas, & Jan Tyler

2002 OAA Winners

Emma Gross, Lacey Heward, Sue E. Huether, Margaret Jackson, Heather Stringfellow, & JoAnn Jacobsen-Wells

2001 OAA Winners

Khando Chazotsang, Debra Daniels, Roberta Harris, Corrine Hill, Jill Jones, & Helen Papanikolas

2000 OAA Winners

Kathryn Brooks, Val Davis, Joy Hashimoto, Peggy Norton, Chieko Okazaki, Josie Valdez, & Elaine Weiss

1999 OAA Winners

Kay Brown, Preddy Oseguera, Dee Rowland, Janet Harnsberger, Diana Jergensen, & Patty Reagan

1998 OAA Winners

Colleen Casto, Maria Farrington, Leslie Lewis, Agnes Plenk, Sally Smith, & Lynn Trenbeath

1997 OAA Winners

Barb Barnhart, Laura Boardman, Anne Erickson, Brandy Farmer, Elizabeth Hammond, & Eileen Stone

1996 OAA Winners

Maggie Snyder, Luci Malin, Tomiye Ishimatsu, Karen Shepherd, Marie Augustine, & Carol Ann Dunlap

1995 OAA Winners

Jan Graham, Joyce Gray, Reba Keele, Diane McCall Lennon, Abby Maestes, & Donna Land Maldonado

1994 OAA Winners

Frances Hoopes, Alice Kasai, Theresa Martinez, Lucy Osborn, Kathryn Bond Stockton, & Lee Anne Walker

1993 OAA Winners

Pamela Atkinson, Annette Cumming, Barbara Hamilton-Holway, Margaret Peterson, Kathleen Spencer-Christy, & Dorothy Stowe

1992 OAA Winners

Pema Chagzoetsang, Christine Meaders Durham, Karrie Galloway, Florence Lawrence, Lorraine Miller, & Linda Smith

1991 OAA Winners

Ruth Draper, Irene Fisher, Betty Gaines-Jones, Aden Ross, & Emma Lou Thayne

1990 OAA Winners

Frances Farley, Rita Inoway, Marjorie Janove, Jacqueline Nicholes, Kristen Ries, & Phyllis White

1989 OAA Winners

Carol Fay, Lou Jean Flint, Ila Marie Goodey, Helen Ure, & Alberta Henry