Women Lead Change (WLC) is seeking historic women who are worthy of consideration for the prestigious 2024 Iowa Women of Achievement honors. The deadline for submitting nominations and supporting materials to WLC is Tuesday, Sept. 3.
The organization’s awards program is designed to recognize women who have made “outstanding and lasting contributions to the citizens of Iowa or have advanced the well-being of others throughout the world.”
It’s an impressive list of accomplished leaders. Previous winners of the annual posthumous award have come from all over Iowa. That includes the Quad Cities. Among the latter are the late Clinton Mayor LaMetta Wynn. In 2022, Iowa’s first Black female mayor was added to the permanent plaque featured on the Iowa Women of Achievement Bridge in Des Moines.
Another previous winner with regional connections was Sister Bernadine Pieper (1918-2000), Congregation of the Humility of Mary. The nationally renowned scientist and educator served in numerous educational roles throughout her life. That included a 25-year career at Davenport’s Marycrest College.
Then there was Ethel “Marion” Helland. Though she grew up in Cylinder, Iowa, the Civil Rights activist spent summer breaks in the south registering Black voters and taught for a time in Davenport schools.
To nominate an outstanding historical Iowa woman for this year’s awards, fill out the online form here. There is no limit to the amount of information you can provide in your nomination. But WLC asks that submitters be brief and include endorsements from others along with information about why this woman stands above others in her field or area of contribution.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible for selection as a Woman of Achievement, WLC said, nominees be historical (deceased) women who fall into one of the following categories:
- They were born in Iowa.
- They achieved prominence within Iowa.
- They had been a resident of Iowa for an extended period after achieving prominence elsewhere.
Nominees also will be selected on merit, not endorsement, in the following areas, WLC said:
- Did they make lasting contributions and what were they?
- Did they serve as a role model or a change agent?
- Did they impact the social, cultural, economic or political well-being of the community, state or nation?
- Did they inspire future generations?
Past Women of Achievement winners, whose actions impacted the nation fill most or all of those categories, include: suffragists Mary J. Whitely Coggeshall and Carrie Chapman Catt; and Lou Hoover, wife of President Herbert Hoover and a native of West Branch, Iowa.
All 2024 nominations will be reviewed by a committee of community judges. Up to three awards will be presented to be commemorated at the Iowa Women of Achievement Bridge with honorary plaques.
How to submit
Any person or group may submit a nomination. Incomplete forms or a single form nominating more than one person will not be considered. Please note that no materials will be returned to the nominator, so do not submit irreplaceable documents. If your candidate is chosen as a recipient, a portrait photo will be requested of you.
Nominations remain current for three years and may then be resubmitted if not previously selected.
Questions should be directed to Mackenzy Caligiuri at (515) 313-1980 or [email protected].
