Role models. Defenders of women’s rights and causes. Women who make a difference in Charleston and at Eastern Illinois University. These are the women who should be nominated during February for the annual Woman of Achievement Awards, sponsored by the Women’s Studies Program at Eastern Illinois University.
The awards, which will be presented at the annual Women’s History and Awareness Month awards ceremony, recognize women who help improve the quality of women’s lives and advance the status of women in the area. One Woman of Achievement award is presented to a community member and one to someone from the EIU campus. The awards ceremony also acknowledges and celebrates the achievements of students and others in the community.
“We have a community full of deserving women, and we want to honor them,” said Jonelle DePetro, chair of the Woman of Achievement Awards Committee and a 2002 recipient of the award. The award, given last year to Terry Coulton, known to many for her work with the area’s underserved, and Dana Gilbertsen, active in women’s issues on EIU’s campus, has been presented since 1980.
The nomination process is simple. The nomination form includes the nominee’s information and a brief description of her contributions to the community. The form can be found at https://www.eiu.edu/women/WHAM.php But the form is not necessary! Simply describe your nominee’s contributions, include contact information, and email to lsashley@eiu.edu. The deadline is Wednesday, March 1.
If you know someone who helps advance the progress of women’s causes, contributes to the success of women’s professional or community organizations or champions the cause of equity, nominate her for this award.
“It’s so important to acknowledge the contributions of women in our community,” DePetro said. For information, contact DePetro at jmdepetro@eiu.edu.
