Eligibility and Criteria

All nominations will be reviewed and the Class of 2027 will be chosen by the Tribute to Women of Excellence Selection Committee.

• Nominees for the Class of 2027, the Legacy Award and the Emerging Leader Award should support and promote the YWCA’s vision and principles of economic empowerment and racial justice, courage in spirit and action, breaking barriers, leadership and self-determination, and community responsibility, with focus on the bullet points listed below.
• Nominees must have worked for or volunteered with a charitable, civic or human services organization that serves the Capital Region for two years or more.
• When submitting a nominee and writing their biography, please focus on:
  • The nominee’s involvement in the community as a mentor, role model or volunteer
  • The nominee’s involvement on boards or committees of nonprofits and other organizations
  • Their integrity, strength of character and leadership
  • The ways they embrace and support the mission and vision of the YWCA Greater Harrisburg
  • Money raised for or donated to important causes
  • Other noteworthy achievements
• Carolyne L. Smith Legacy Award. This award is given to an exemplary woman whose efforts set a standard for a lifetime commitment to the welfare of women and children in the Capital Region, with focus on the bullet points listed above.
• Karen F. Snider Emerging Leader Award. This award recognizes the efforts of a woman under the age of 35 on behalf of the community, particularly with regard to mentoring young girls with focus on the bullet points listed above.

Guidelines

Nominations must include a narrative biography of approximately 600 words detailing the impact the individual has on our community, her significant contributions or accomplishments, and any additional information you consider pertinent. Please take note of the bullet points listed above as the selection committee will focus on community activities, volunteering, and community support.

We also ask that you submit a shorter biography of 200 words or less, that, if the candidate is chosen for the Class of 2027, will used as their bio in the Tribute to Women of Excellence program and part of it will be read when they receive their award (YWCA reserves the right to edit the bio for clarity).

CLICK HERE for a full list of past TWE honorees (1990-present). Please see the tabs at the bottom to search by year, name or company.

Deadline

The deadline for nominations is Friday, November 20, 2026. Nominations must be submitted by the deadline in order to be eligible for consideration. The Class of 2027 and their nominators will be notified in mid-December, just prior to the holidays.

Nomination Fee

The nomination fee is $50. Checks should be made payable to YWCA Greater Harrisburg – TWE (1101 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17103) or CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE PAYMENT (you may also text TWENOMINATION to 41444 to be taken to the payment page. Standard data and text message rates apply).

Tribute to Women of Excellence 2027 Event

Mark your calendars for the Tribute to Women of Excellence annual event on Wednesday, March 24, 2027 at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center. More information on this event will be available at a later, including sponsorship information. Those chosen for the Class of 2027, and their nominators, will also be invited to a meet-and-greet reception at the YWCA on January 27, 2027 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. This event is an opportunity for the Class of 2027 to meet each other, network, get to know the YWCA and receive important information about the March event.