For over three decades, YWCA Utah has proudly celebrated extraordinary women through the Outstanding Achievement Awards at our annual LeaderLuncheon.

YWCA Utah has been championing women for over 120 years in Utah. For more than 30 years, YWCA Utah has honored extraordinary women through the Outstanding Achievement Awards at our annual LeaderLuncheon. These awards recognize visionary leaders whose work strengthens Utah communities and advances equity, opportunity, and justice for all. We invite you to nominate a woman who is leading with courage, compassion, and impact for our 2026 Outstanding Achievement Awards. Nominations close Sunday, March 29, 2026. Women selected for this prestigious award join a powerful legacy of more than 100 women who have shaped a more just and equitable Utah.

Nominees should:

• Embody YWCA Utah’s mission to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all

• Demonstrate a deep commitment to advancing the well-being of all Utahns

• Exhibit excellence and integrity in their professional achievements

• Show meaningful engagement with diverse communities,  including communities of color, refugees, 2SLGBTQI+ communities, Black, Indigenous, and disabled communities

• Demonstrate broad and measurable impact across multiple communities including westside, eastside, and rural communities throughout Utah

• Collaborate effectively with a diverse range of community partners and organizations

• Be based in Utah

Supporting Materials (Highly Encouraged)
While not required, we strongly encourage nominators to submit supporting materials such as a résumé or CV, letters of recommendation, and/or a LinkedIn profile. Our scoring committee which is comprised of previous Outstanding Achievement Award recipients relies heavily on these materials to fully understand a nominee’s impact and leadership. Taking the time to gather and submit these documents will strengthen your nomination. You can email any supporting documents to Jakey at Jsiolo@ywcautah.org. Deadline for supporting documents to be submitted is Sunday, March 29th 2026. 

Nominees selected for the 2026 Outstanding Achievement Awards will be notified in early April. Additionally, all nominators will be contacted regarding the status of their submission, regardless of the outcome. Those selected for OAA Awards will need to be available on Friday October 2rd 2026, from 9:00am-2:00pm, to accept the award at our annual LeaderLuncheon held at the Grand America Hotel.  

Questions? Contact Jakey Siolo, Senior Marketing & Engagement Manager, Jsiolo@ywcautah.org

Judging Criteria