ARTS: This award recognizes an outstanding woman whose exemplary lifetime career has made a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and significant lasting impact in arts and culture. She has exhibited long term support for and has worked to bring arts and culture to underserved communities.

BUSINESS: This award recognizes an outstanding woman who has stood out as a business leader in the community. She has exhibited creativity, diligence, and excellence in her career, and is responsible for progressing, sustaining, and inspiring innovation in the workplace while influencing and creating opportunities and growth in the field of business.

EDUCATION: This award recognizes an outstanding woman whose compassion and commitment to provide a learning environment that fosters respect, creativity and curiosity. Her passion for lifelong learning has led to developing innovative programs while building a strong rapport with students, parents, educators, as well as the community.

GOVERNMENT: This award recognizes the contributions of an outstanding women within government who is dedicated and committed to those she serves in the community. She brings a commitment to equity, honesty, and integrity to the field of public service.

SCIENCES (STEM): This award recognizes contributions of an outstanding woman in a science-related (STEM) field. She is dedicated and committed to improving, preserving, protecting and contributing to advancements in the field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.

SOCIAL SERVICES: This award recognizes an outstanding woman who models support and inclusion and has passion and enthusiasm for the respectful service of others in the community who are often underrepresented and underprivileged.

VOLUNTEERISM: This award recognizes an outstanding woman whose philanthropic leadership, endeavors and advocacy have served the community by meeting the needs of social services, human rights and community improvement. She is dedicated to making a difference in people's lives, striving to make the community a better place to live.

WOMAN ON THE RISE: This award will recognize 1 outstanding young women who is making an impact early in their career, while developing their potential to become a transformative leader in our community. This award is focused on individuals out of high school and under 40 that have shown dedication by creating, participating, or adapting programs to meet community needs, and embody the mission of the YWCA.

Nominees must live or work in Northwest Ohio, demonstrate outstanding achievement or distinction in career and community work, and exhibit leadership qualities. Criteria for selection include the following: unique, exemplary achievements in her field, serving as a role model for women in the community, and living a life consistent with the YWCA mission.

• YWCA Milestones Committee members are not permitted to nominate potential Milestones or Women on the Rise honorees. 

• Nominations must stay confidential during the review process. External communication and updates regarding the selection of Milestones honorees will be shared on our website. 

Nominations will be kept confidential throughout the selection process.

A panel of judges will carefully review all nominations and select the recipient of each award. The award recipients will be our guests at YWCA’s Milestones awards event on March 27, 2025 at the Glass City Center Ballroom. Milestones Honorees will be notified of the award status once selections have been made at the end of 2024.

Nomination forms that are not fully completed will not be considered. 

Once nominations are submitted, we respectfully ask that you do not contact YWCA of NWO Board of Directors or staff members regarding the status of your nomination. 

Milestones allows Northwest Ohio's community to come together to impact lasting change.

For nearly 30 years, YWCA Northwest Ohio has commemorated Women’s History Month by recognizing leaders throughout various professional industries and areas of activism and advocacy who embody the YWCA mission of eliminating racism and empowering women. The Milestones Awards Event was established in 1996 to recognize women of Northwest Ohio who have demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities and who, through their efforts and accomplishments, have opened doors for other women to achieve their potential. They are honored for outstanding accomplishments and contributions in the following seven areas: Arts, Business, Education, Government, Sciences, Social Services, and Volunteerism.

The Milestones Awards Luncheon has evolved into YWCA of Northwest Ohio’s largest fundraising event, sponsored by local companies and organizations each year, and is one of the area’s most prestigious award recognition events for women.

Friends and supporters who believe in YWCA’s dedication to eliminating racism, empowering women, standing up for social justice, helping families, and strengthening communities come together to invest in the safety, hope, and healing of those served by YWCA’s critical programs. All proceeds raised by this important event directly benefit the programs of the YWCA of Northwest Ohio.

Our more recently added category, the Woman On The Rise Award, recognizes one outstanding young woman who is making an impact early in her career, while developing her potential to become a transformative leader in our community. She has shown dedication by creating, participating, or adapting programs to meet community needs, and embodies the mission of the YWCA. The Woman on the Rise must be out of high school and under 40 years old.

The Woman on the Rise Award will be included in the 2025 Milestones Luncheon as a separate award.

Nominations close Sunday, October 5, 2025. Please remember to keep nominations confidential. 

The award recipients will be our guests at YWCA’s Milestones awards event on March 26, 2026 at the Glass City Center Ballroom. Honorees will be notified of the award status once selections have been made at the end of 2025.