Nominations Open Now!
Every year, Salute to Outstanding Women honors eight women from across the Mohawk Valley who uplift, inspire, and empower our community. Our annual awards ceremony and luncheon are a decades-long tradition celebrating each honoree for their unique achievements and impact on our community.
These women are leaders, role models, and outstanding in every way.
We can’t wait to meet your nominee!
Download Printable Nomination Form
Nominations for this year’s celebration must be submitted by Friday, December 8, 2023.
One honoree will be selected in each of eight categories:
- Business and Industry: employees of all levels in any profession, business, or industry; examples include accounting, construction, law, marketing, trade skills, etc.
- Education: teachers, administrators, community educators, coaches, mentors, professors, librarians, tutors, etc.
- Entrepreneur: someone who has started their own business: large or small, storefront or online
- Healthcare: physicians, nurses, opticians, dentists, therapists in any specialty, pharmacists, healthcare professional and aides, etc.
- Human and Public Service: law enforcement, EMT, fire department, armed forces, social workers, non-profit employees, etc.
- Outstanding Youth: girls age 17 and under who deserve recognition for their volunteer work, school-related involvement, and/or academic achievements
- Social Justice: an unsung heroine in the community whose efforts truly embody YWCA MV’s mission to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all
- STEAM: someone who works to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and/or Math in any field
Nominations are made by the public and reviewed for selection by a panel of independent judges. Nominees must be 18 years of age or older, live and/or work in Oneida or Herkimer counties, and must have demonstrated excellence and leadership in the community and/or workplace. Youth nominees must be 17 years of age or younger and live, work, or attend school in Oneida or Herkimer counties. Nominees cannot be past Salute honorees, current YWCA MV board members, or current YWCA MV staff.
2023 Honorees

Business & Industry 2023
Elizabeth Pellegrino

Education 2023
Nancy Ketz

Entrepreneur 2023
Julie Whittemore

Healthcare 2023
Jacalyn Cull

Human & Public Service 2023
Senora Marie Pierce

Outstanding Youth 2023
Caroline Entwistle

Social Justice 2023
Nancy Robert

STEAM 2023
Heather Hage
Save the Dates:
YWCA MV’s 35th annual Salute to Outstanding Women awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at Hart’s Hill Inn in Whitesboro
Our exclusive Salute Reveal will be held on February 8. Be sure to keep an eye out on February 9 for the first public announcement of our 2024 Honorees!
Nominate Your Outstanding Woman Today!
Download Printable Nomination Form
Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are now available for Salute to Outstanding Women 2024. For more information, contact Kayla Hartman, Development Director, by February 23 at events@ywcamv.org or 315.732.2159 ext. 235.
Salute serves as YWCA MV’s largest annual fundraiser. All proceeds directly benefit the agency’s life-saving free, confidential, and 24-hour domestic and sexual violence crisis services. To learn more, visit ywcamv.org/WhatWeDo.