City of Bloomington’s Women’s Commission Seeks Nominations for Yearly Awards, Including New Award to Recognize Young Women

(BLOOMINGTON) – The City of Bloomington Commission on the Status of Women is seeking nominees for the 2020 Woman of the Year, Toby Strout Lifetime Contribution, Emerging Leader, and Young Woman of the Year awards. Although nominations for these awards are accepted year-round, the deadline for submission of nominations for 2020 is January 17, 2020. These awards will be presented during Women’s History Month in March 2020. 

“The Commission provides an important space and voice for recognizing both women’s concerns and their accomplishments in Bloomington,” said commissioner Shruti Rana.  “During Women’s History Month, we seek to celebrate and honor the women who have contributed so much to our community through their actions and leadership, and hope to inspire others to join all of us in shaping Bloomington’s future.”  

The Woman of the Year Award is presented to a woman who has improved the quality of life for other women through inspiration, community service, or professional accomplishments above and/or outside normal job responsibilities. The recipient is also someone who serves as a positive role model for girls and women and has made outstanding contributions to the community.

Named for the longtime director of Middle Way House and former member of the Bloomington Commission on the Status of Women, the Toby Strout Lifetime Contribution Award recognizes a woman whose work has significantly advanced the status of women through leadership and service. 

The Emerging Leader Award acknowledges a woman with a relatively short (less than five years) history of significant achievements and recognizes the potential for future contributions. 

The Young Woman of the Year Award, a new award in 2020, recognizes a young woman between the ages of 11-18 years who has already, at a young age, impacted the lives of girls or women in the community. Self-nominations are encouraged in this category. 

Nomination forms are available online at: https://bloomington.in.gov/boards/status-of-women/woman-of-the-year, in the City of Bloomington’s Community and Family Resources Department, Suite 260 or by contacting Sue Owens at owenss@bloomington.in.gov.

The Woman of the Year, Toby Strout Lifetime Contribution and Young Woman of the Year award recipients will be honored at the Women’s History Month Lunch on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, at the Monroe Convention Center.

The Emerging Leader award recipient will be honored at the Women’s Leadership Development event on Saturday, March 28, 2020, at City Hall.

Send completed nomination forms by email to owenss@bloomington.in.gov or by mail to: The Commission on the Status of Women, P.O. Box 100, Bloomington, Ind. 47402.

The City of Bloomington Commission on the Status of Women explores women’s issues and concerns, celebrate women’s accomplishments and promotes solutions to problems and challenges faced by women.