Tribute to Women

INFORMATION

For more information or questions regarding a sponsorship, please contact Jennifer Hoesing at 605.681.8367 or jhoesing@embe.org.

Firmly rooted in its foundation as the YWCA’s Leadership Luncheon, Tribute to Women has honored the best of our community since 1973. As we celebrate the vital people that make the Sioux Empire an amazing place, Tribute also funds EmBe’s mission to empower women and families in our region through programming like women’s programs, child & school age care, youth development and aquatics.

Tribute to Women brings people from across the community together to honor women, men and businesses in nine categories ranging from the Sylvia Henkin Mentoring Award to Business Achievement and Community Service. Whether you are attending to support an individual or the community at large, this event reminds us of the people whose vision transformed our city as well as those who are moving us forward.

Deadline to submit your 2021 Tribute to Women nomination is Friday, March 12, 2021 at 5 pm.

EVENT DETAILS

48th Annual Tribute to Women Celebration
Thursday, April 15, 2021 | Virtual presentation on EmBe’s Facebook & YouTube Pages | 6:30 – 8 pm

Nominations open Monday, February 15 – Monday, March 15, 2021

NOMINATION

Nominations for the 2021 Tribute to Women event are now open! Deadline to submit your nomination is Friday, March 12, 2021 at 5 pm.

Tribute to Women has lifted up the people and organizations that empower women in Sioux Falls for decades. EmBe is honored to hold true to this spirit while growing this legacy of honoring achievement. The nomination process is straightforward and transparent. Our frequently asked questions (FAQ’s) help clarify the details, but EmBe utilizes volunteers throughout the nomination and judging process to ensure impartiality and consistency, reflecting the quality of the thousands of nominees and winners from the past decades.

The best nominations showcase the personal and professional side of the nominee, enhanced by accomplishments in every aspect of their lives. With community impact at the heart of every category, this can be reflected by dedication to others in volunteer work, mentoring, workplace and community support of all kinds.

Nomination categories:

Business Achievement – Business leader or leader in a professional trade – includes sales and marketing, entrepreneurs and leaders in innovative endeavors.
Banking & Finance – Banking, accounting, financial planning, investors, other finance-related business and those who contribute to the success of the financial industry.
Community Service – An outstanding individual who gives freely of their time and talents to a nonprofit entity, human or social service.
EmBeliever Award – A man, woman, or business that demonstrates the mission of EmBe to enrich our community by empowering women and families.
Government & Law – Individuals serving local, state, or federal government, law, politics or military service.
Healthcare & STEM – Leader in the fields of healthcare, science, technology, engineering or math.
Humanities & Education – Leader in any level of education, culture, arts, music, literature, philosophy or religion.
Sylvia Henkin Mentoring Award – Woman who has dedicated herself to mentoring other women in their personal/professional lives. Women aged 50+ are eligible for the Sylvia Henkin award.
Young Woman of Achievement – Woman between the ages of 21 and 35 with community service and professional success to indicate both current leadership and her potential for extraordinary leadership and service.

Your nomination is the most important part of Tribute to Women! Without you investing your time in the process, we wouldn’t be able to celebrate the incredible individuals and organizations that make a difference in our community. Your nomination form is what nominees are judged on – nothing else. Please see the sample nomination form for what a great nomination looks like. As always, contact us with any questions.

Click here to view a sample nomination form

VOLUNTEER

For more information or questions about volunteering or sitting on the EmBe Empowerment Committee, please contact Chief Development Officer, Jennifer Hoesing, at 605.681.8367 or jhoesing@embe.org.

SILENT AUCTION

EmBe will not be continuing with a silent auction this year due to the format change to a virtual event, please contact Chief Development Officer, Jennifer Hoesing, at 605.681.8367 or jhoesing@embe.org with any questions.

WINNERS FROM 1974 to 2020

2003 Karla Abbott
2002 Janice Alberg
1985 Debra Anderson
2020 Jyoti Angal
2002 Argus Leader
2011 Elizabeth Augustine
2000 Avera McKennan
1981 Linda Barker
2006 Shannon Barnes
2020 Del’Inkka Beaudion
2001 Stephanie Becker
1975 Val Beckman
2008 Dr. Maria Bell
1986 Julie Haas Benz
2004 Diana Berkland
2014 Diana Berkland
1982 Lois Berry
1993 Susan Billings
2018 Carrie Biondi
2007 Judy Blauwet
1991 Melanie Bliss
2016 Kellen Boice
1999 Pam Bollinger
2013 Dr. Annette Bosworth
2019 Michelle Boyd
2007 Kristin Breitag
2020 Ashley Briggs
2011 Lisa Brouwer
1997 Carol Brown
1992 Sue Brown
1985 Lee Burd
2013 Kim Burma
1995 Sharon Busch
1982 Lynn Byrne
2012 Terryl Cadwell
1977 Betty Cahill
2002 Mary Beth Carrell
1974 Margaret Cashman
2013 Julie Choudek
2005 Sue Christensen
2003 Ruth Christopherson
2001 Citibank
1992 Cathy Clark
2008 Cathy Clark
2017 Suzy Collignon-Hodgen
2018 Marcy Crawford
1976 Jerry Cunningham
2008 Joni Cutler
1998 Barbara Day
1992 Bette Day
2016 Polly Dean
1996 Shawn DeGroot
1982 Gertrude Dekker
1995 Carol Denotter
1989 Elaine Dertien
1994 Carol Deschepper
1985 Virginia Dettman
1983 Mary Ellen Dock
1994 Eve Dooyema
2001 Julie Doss
1994 Carolyn Downs
1987 Norma Doyle
2020 Dawn Duerksen
1981 Patricia Eggers
2006 Paula Eichman
1979 Jean Eidy
2019 Amy Elliott
2007 Teri Ellis-Schmidt
1978 Deloris Erickson
2020 Kim Erickson
1984 Gloria Evans
2015 Barb Everist
1975 Kathy Everist
1991 Cheryl Farmer
1977 Jeanne Perry Farrell
2011 Jan Feterl
2007 Deb Fischer-Clemens
2005 Deborah Ford
2013 Allene Flora
2017 Laurie Fluit
1976 Lolly Forseth
2020 Jill Franken
2018 Sandy Frentz
1990 Bea Friesth
1995 Jeanne Fullenkamp
1998 Shelly Gardner
1979 Leslee Garvey
2011 Kris Gaster
2013 Nancy Geffre
1995 Lucy Green
1993 Carol Greenfield
1986 Joan Gross
2010 Kris Gross
1992 Dawn Gunn
1981 Lenore Haber
2013 Anne Hajek
2001 Sue Halbritter
1978 Shirley Halleen
2002 Tricia Halling
2000 Linda Hallstrom
1978 Dawn Halvorson
1990 Judy Hamilton
2013 Shelley Hanisch
1978 Eileen Hanneman
1987 Candis Hanson
1988 Jocelyn Hanson
2007 Clara Hart
1974 Eugenia Hartig
2018 Jan Haugen-Rogers
2006 Yvonne Hawkins
2013 Kim Hayes
2015 Erin Hayes
2010 Jean Healy
1996 Catherine Heinemann
1975 Sylvia Henkin
2007 Sylvia Henkin
1984 Beverly J. Henning
2011 Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
2008 Dr. Marice Highstreet
2019 Pam Hilber
1976 Inola Hill
2005 Rebecka Hinker
1991 Lois Hoffman
2015 Pam Homan
1986 Margot Hood-Rogers
2014 Arlene Horner
2010 Jamie Horter
1978 Gloria Houle
2003 Howalt-McDowell Insurance Inc.
2017 Mary Howard
2000 Monica Huber
1984 Maurine Hult
1980 Loila Hunking
1978 Doris Huseboe
2017 Taneeza Islam
2009 Dr. Meena Jaggi
1993 Mary Jo Jaqua
2012 Lesa Jarding
1980 Judy Jasper
2019 Jess Jasso
2009 Della Jeffries
2019 Beth Jensen
2004 Char Jensen
1990 Beth Jernberg
1982 Sandy Jerstad
1994 Clara Johnson
1994 Doris Johnson
2004 Jane Johnson
2013 Melissa Johnson
1995 Sheryl Johnson
1976 Signie Johnson
2014 Stacy Jones
1991 Cora Kalb
1978 Dorothy Kalns
2008 Aida Karic Brasnic
2017 Cathy Kellogg
2012 Jaciel Keltgen
1979 Peggy Kirby
2005 Kaia Kloster
2011 Jacquie Kluck
1987 Maureen Knight
1988 Suzanne Knudson
1988 Carol Knudtson
1990 Laurie Knutson
1992 Joellen Koerner
1993 Karen Kovar
2015 Brandi Kowalczyk
2003 Carol Kreager
2009 Ruth Krystopolski
2007 Peg Lambert
2012 Dr. Laurie Landeen
2015 Megan Landsverk
1997 Diane Larsen
1982 Marianne Larsen
2009 Deana Larson
1983 Doris Larson
2009 June Larson
2008 Michelle Lavallee
1977 Clara Chilson Lee
2010 Mary Leedom
2018 Tina Lenz
1986 Ann Lewis
2011 Jolene Loetscher
2002 Roxie Loftesness
1989 Marvelene Looby
2020 Micki Lundin
2011 Donna Magnuson
1989 Carol Mashek
2018 Pat McAdaragh, Midco
2016 Trish McCann
2018 Sarah McGuire
2014 Stacey McMahan
1997 Evie Meier
1987 Judith Meierhenry
2006 Ruth Metcalf
1998 Betty Meyer
2010 Lindsey Meyers
2014 Megan Myers
2002 Carla Middlen
1985 Diana Miller
2006 Doreen Miller
2005 Francie Miller
2013 Brittany Montecuollo
1975 Phyllis Montis
1988 Pamela Moser
2008 Pamela Moser
1981 Fayola Muchow
2010 Carol Muller
1981 Lauretta Mundt
2018 Lori Murray
1981 Mary Lynn Myers
2010 Pat Nadolski
2009 Becky Nelson
2016 Julie Nelson
1974 Melvina Newman
2015 Brooke Nicholson Grote
1982 Jan Nicolay
1989 Lorraine Norman
1980 Judy Northrop
2015 Julie Norton
1991 Carol Oakland
1983 Colman Oakley
2009 Kristine O’Connell
1974 Hazel O’Connor
1977 Betty I. O’Donnell
2000 Charisse Oland
2012 Mary Olinger
2004 Nancy Olsen
1999 Nancy Olson
2012 Susan Omanson
2014 Betty Ordal
2020 Wendy Otheim
1999 Tammy Otten
1987 Kim Overby
2016 Elizabeth Overmoe
1980 Ethel Oyan
2011 Mary Oyos
2009 Carole Pagans
2001 Lorrie Papka
1984 Ruth Parry
1989 Karen Pearson
1986 Trudy Peckham
1996 Cheryl Pederson
1979 Alice Penticoff
2016 Twila Parkinson
1995 Patricia Peters
1980 Catherine Piersol
1986 Pat Pilcher
2017 Dr. Ashley Podhradsky
2003 Jenny Pohlman
2009 Doreen Pospisil
1996 Val Putman
1985 Ella Reagan
2003 Jean Reed
1977 Judy Regan
1997 Patricia Reipel
1983 Lenore Richards
1981 Marjorie Richards
1989 Sarah Richardson Larson
2006 Kimberly Roe
2017 Carol Rogers
1974 Libby Rogers
1999 Ann Marie Rossing
1984 Judy Rost
1994 Vicki Rowenhorst
1980 Rose Ryan
2020 Mary Sand
2016 Karla Santi
2007 Kristina Schaap
2000 Catherine Schiltz
1998 Katherine Schnabel
2011 Lynnda Schoen
2014 Sharon Schueler
1999 Trudee-Schur-Marsh
2017 Amber Schwiesow
2007 Harriet Scott
1996 Susan Scott
1996 Pam Sessier
1999 Anita Sekora Kealey
2012 Jennifer Sherman
2008 Darcy Sherman-Justice
1980 Dorothy Shultz
1993 Charline Smith
2008 Keila Smith
1979 Lorraine Smith
1984 Maize Solem
1976 Mary Sommervold
2015 Erin Srstka
2004 Rhea Staniaszewski
1990 Linda Stensland
1998 Barbara Stork
2009 Amy Sumner
1988 Margaret Sumption
2006 Mila Surkalovic
2018 Allison Suttle, MD
2019 Maggie Sweets
2007 Sarah Swenson
1979 Judith Szakats
2015 Paul Ten Haken, Click Rain
2010 Ann McKay Thompson
1992 Diane Thompson
1991 Ronelle Thompson
2012 Mary Thoen
2000 June Thormodsgard
2014 Kathy Thorson
1993 Mary Tidwell
2014 Pam Tiede
1988 Kay Torney
2016 Bill Townsend, Howalt-McDowell Insurance Inc.
2019 Chelsea Tracy
1976 Mary Turner
1977 Carol Twedt
1983 Rae Unzicker
2005 Eileen Van Soest
1979 Bertie Vandemark
1988 Mary Vanderlinde
1987 Nancy Veglahn
1990 Susan Wagner
2019 Nancy Wahlstrom
2014 Cindy Walsh
2008 Sharon Wartenbee
1983 Mary Jo Wegner
2016 Jill Weimer
1997 Edie Weiss-Holzbauer
2010 Sr. Lynn Marie Welbig
1998 Grace Wellman
2001 Wells Fargo
1997 Heidi Wenande
2012 Anita Wetsch
1989 Nancy White
2008 Sue Williams
2019 Carrie Wilson
2005 Meredith Wipf
2012 Mary Wolf
2017 Jim Woster, Avera Health
2006 Cara Wynia
1985 Anne Zabel

TRIBUTE NOMINATION FAQ's

Tribute to Women Nomination FAQ’s

Who can submit a Tribute nomination?
- Any individual, corporation, agency, civic organization, school, place of worship should lift up a deserving woman. In addition, the Embeliever award is is open to ANY individual or organization that fits Tribute criteria. EmBe staff and their families may not submit a nomination.

Can multiple people nominate someone?
- Yes. We suggest you work together to submit a single nomination form rather than submit multiple nomination forms. If EmBe receives multiple nominations for the same individual, we will reach out and facilitate consolidation.

Can I nominate someone outside of Sioux Falls?
- Tribute to Women is intended to highlight contributions to the Sioux Falls area. Most winners reside in Minnehaha, Lincoln, Turner and McCook counties.

How long does it take to complete a nomination?
- Nominating is simple, and the online form can be completed in as little as 20-30 minutes. Preparing the best nomination may take more time. We suggest you review the nomination form and ask others for input, including the nominee if that is appropriate. You may find it helpful to create and edit your nomination is a word processing program, then cut and paste into the online form.

Can I nominate someone who has been nominated in the past?
- Yes, though no individual is eligible to win in the same category more than once.

Who is ineligible for nomination?
- You cannot nominate a relative, EmBe staff member or their families, or a current EmBe board member. Previous winners may not be re-nominated in the same category.

Do nominees pay for their ticket to Tribute?
- All nominees receive a complimentary ticket to the event.

Where can I find a list of past winners?
- Visit https://www.embe.org/program/tribute-to-women/ and scroll to the bottom of the page for an alphabetical listing of winners since Tribute’s inception in 1974

When do you announce winners?
- Winners are announced live at the Tribute to Women event, and are shared on social media and with local media outlets throughout the evening.

When do you announce nominees?
- Nominees are announced mid-March, following the conclusion of the judging process.

How are nominations judged, what’s the criteria?
- First, nominations are anonymized by removing names and identifying references. Each category is judged by a group of volunteer judges using a 40-point scoring rubric with four categories: leadership, growth, achievement and contribution to community. Each category has a maximum value of 10 points. Judges resolve tied scores before submitting their scores to EmBe. Then, scores are averaged to determine the category winner and scoring is audited.
  - Leadership. Is the individual an effective leader at work and in the community? What unique skills do they demonstrate?
  - Growth. How has the individual demonstrated continued learning? Acquiring new skills?
  - Achievement. What personal and professional milestones has this individual garnered?
  - Contribution to Community. How has the individual made a difference in the community, whether in business, volunteer efforts, or in other ways?

How do you select judges?
- EmBe staff and volunteers nominate community leaders to serve as judges and the roster is affirmed by the Tribute committee. Judges are then assigned categories with an eye to matching their expertise without assigning a category that would make impartiality difficult. For example, someone working in finance would review Healthcare & STEM nominations.