Throughout the United States, the YWCA has been honoring

women for their achievements for years – this year, the YWCA is

recognizing women in the Ames community.

Judy Dolphin, executive director of the Ames/ISU YWCA, said the

first YWCA Achievement Awards of Ames will be given to three

members of the area who exemplify the mission of the YWCA.

“The mission of YWCA of Ames is the commitment to the

empowerment of women and girls and the elimination of racism,”

she said. “The nominees should be women making a difference

in that way.”

The award began with discussion in Des Moines, said Julie

Harders, program assistant for public safety and YWCA board

member.

“The discussion about the awards was how successful the event

had been [around the country] and how prestigious it is,” she said.

“We decided to adopt it for our area.”

The criteria for the nominees is open to women of all ages,

Dolphin said.

“Each person nominated is to be respected by her peers, a leader

and a role model or have made a significant contribution to the

Ames community,” she said.

Harders said there are three categories in which the winners will

be chosen – holding a leadership position in a respective

profession, volunteering and being a student in Story County.

In order to honor a female for this award, Dolphin said there were

multiple ways of nominating the person.

“We are trying to make it as easy as possible for a person to be

nominated,” Dolphin said.

To nominate a woman for the awards, visit the Web site

href=”http://www.stuorg.iastate.edu/ywca”>www.stuorg.iastate.edu/

YWCA, e-mail

href=”mailto:[email protected]”>[email protected] or

call the YWCA office at 294-1663.

“Basically, just get a hold of us and we will get your nomination in,”

Dolphin said.

She said deadlines are the only concern.

“The only challenge is to get the nomination in before Sept. 7,” she

said. “In order for the winners to be chosen and the invitations to

be sent out, we need the nominations in pretty early.”

Dolphin said the nomination form should include basic

information about the individual, such as name, address, place of

employment, school she is attending and a statement about how

the woman is making a difference.

“We will have a committee made up of members of our community

that will read the nomination letters, and based on a point system,

choose the winner,” she said.

The winners will be honored Oct. 3 during a luncheon along with

all of the nominees.

“I would encourage nominations,” Harders said. “Take a moment

out of your busy schedules to recognize a woman who has

established herself among her peers. This is an excellent

opportunity.”