Young Women Leaders Award

Accepting applications and nominations now through March 5, 2012

In 2008, Womanline in collaboration with the women’s centers of University of Dayton, Wright State University, and Sinclair Community College created the Young Women Leaders award. The purpose of the award is to recognize young women in their senior year of high school or currently in college, who have demonstrated exceptional leadership.

When we created the award we had a sense there were young women leading efforts to make positive changes at school, in clubs to which they belonged, at non-profit agencies where they volunteered, or in their community at-large. What we didn’t know until we began reading nominations and applications, was the depth of commitlment, skills, and the reach of some young women in the community and even in foreign countries. One finalist, for example, set out at fifteen to get youth in her inner city neighborhood involved in local soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and fundraising walks. Another one, after spending a summer in Uganda, came home and established a foundation to raise college tuition money for young Ugandans. Two high school seniors, who went on a mission trip to Belize, were changed by that experience, and knew they had to do something to help send young girls to school in that impoverished country. When they returned to their high school, they started a fundraising campaign, and raised over $4,500. 

Who is eligible?

The Young Women Leaders Award is given annually to high school seniors and college students not only to recognize their leadership and accomplishments, but to encourage other young women to become involved in efforts to better their community. Each woman selected as a leader is recognized at the Womanline Annual Luncheon in April, and is presented with a check for $500. Specifically, we are looking to honor young women who:

Have seen a need or identified a problem in their school, club, church, organization where they volunteer, or the community at-large, and taken the initiative to meet that need or solve the problem.

Have inspired and motivated others to become involved not only in their work, but in community service generally.

Have gathered resources, planned activities, and organized others to carry out tasks that have led to successful outcomes.

Have laid the foundation for the continuation of their efforts after they have graduated.

Help Us Get Out the Word

Send an email, share with your Facebook and other social networking friends, download, print, and post a flyer.

Click here, or Download Flyer to the left to download an Adobe PDF version of our flyer.

2012 Young Women Leaders Awards

Applications for the 2012 Young Women Leaders Award are now being accepted. The application period ends at 12:00 midnight, March 5, 2012. To apply, click on the Apply for YWL Award link on the left.

To be considered for the Award, you must demonstrate how you meet the criteria on the previous page, and:

Live in or attend a high school or post-secondary educational institution in Montgomery, Greene, Miami, Clark, Preble, or Warren counties in Ohio.

Be in your senior year of high school with plans to pursue post-secondary education, or

Be 25 years or age or under and currently enrolled in a post-secondary program; and

Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.

In addition to your application, you will need to have two persons, who can speak to your leadership experiences, complete a nomination. Ask these persons to visit our website and click on the Nomination tab above.

We would like to hear from you.

Anyone (a teacher, counselor, community or religious leader, any agency volunteer director, etc.) may nominate a young woman.  If you know a young woman you feel deserves to be recognized for her leadership, we would like to hear about her.

Before you nominate a young woman, please let her know you intend to do so, and tell her she will need to make an application, and ask one other person to nominate her as well as you.

We appreciate your joining us in recognizing what young women are doing today to make the community and the world a better place for everyone.  As Anne Frank, at the young age of fourteen, said, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

Nominations for the 2012 Young Women Leaders award are now being accepted. The nomination period ends at 12:00 midnight, March 5, 2012. To nominate a young woman, click on the Nominate Someone link on the left.

Since 2008 we have recognized ten young women leaders. You may know one or more of them.

2008 Leaders

From the left, Meredith McMiller (Troy High School), Quarie Howard (Antioch MacGregor), Molly Heineman (University of Dayton)

Other finalists were Katy Jo Brown (University of Dayton), Cristin Elmi (University of Dayton), Brittani Ann Sterling (Wittenberg University), and Mindy Sue Williams (Wright State University).

 

 

 

2009 Leaders

From the left, Andrenna Sawyer (University of Dayton), Alison Arbogast (Troy Christian High School).The third leader, Kelli Sexton (Wright State University), was not able to attend the award ceremony.

Other finalists were Nadia Aboussein (Miami Valley School), Olivia Chen (Yellow Springs High School), Taylor Guerrant (Stebbins High School), and Lauren Ignozzi (Alter High School).

 

 

2010 Leaders

From the left, Annie Stoddard (Chaminade-Julienne High School), Larquana Bryan (University of Dayton), Kim Faris (Lite 99.9, Mistress of Ceremonies), Kayla Shelley (Chaminade-Julienne High School), and Amy Arnett (Wright State University).

Other finalists were Annie Buscemi (University of Dayton), Courtney Geibert (Beavercreek High School), and Jessica Wynn (Wright State University).

 

 

2011 Leaders

From the left, Jill Bucaro (University of Dayton), Kristen Hammaker (University of Dayton), Brittany Katelanas (Wright State University).

Other finalists were Taylor Guerrant (Wright State University) and Emily Briskin (Centerville High School)