00 - Self-Nominations for the 2026 STEMMy Awards

Student Achiever

The Student Achiever STEMMy Award recognizes a female college student currently enrolled at a Kansas or Missouri college or university with professional aspirations in a STEMM field. The student has demonstrated academic achievements, shows exemplary student involvement in campus/community organizations, and is a leader amongst her peers at her college or university. This award can be given to an undergrad or graduate degree student.
Undergraduate DegreeGraduate DegreeDoctoral DegreeOther
Because the form can only be filled out at one time and not able to be saved to return to at a later date, we recommend drafting your answers in a Word document and pasting each answer into the form fields below before submitting.
1. Briefly describe why you believe you should be recognized as a WiSTEMM Student Achiever. Feel free to include accomplishments, academic achievements and awards in your student/professional career, as well as other areas of your life that wouldn’t be included in any of the following questions. (Brag about yourself)*
2. Describe how you stand out as a leader amongst your peers in supporting and nurturing women in STEMM fields and why this is important to you. (Now really brag about yourself!)*
3. How are you involved in student organizations at your college/university and in the STEMM community?*
4. What professional aspirations do you have in your STEMM field?*
WiSTEMM Educator

The WiSTEMM Educator Award recognizes a full-time STEMM faculty member at any high school or college level. Based on student or fellow faculty evaluations and community accolades, her institution or community acknowledges her as an outstanding educator.
Because the form can only be filled out at one time and not able to be saved to return to at a later date, we recommend drafting your answers in a Word document and pasting each answer into the form fields below before submitting.
1. Briefly describe why you believe you should be recognized as a WiSTEMM Educator. Feel free to include accomplishments in your career as well as other areas of their life that wouldn’t be included in any of the following questions.*
2. Describe how you stand out amongst your peers in supporting and nurturing women in STEMM education and why this is important to you. Yes, please brag about yourself!*
3. How have you been recognized as an Excellent Educator based upon student or faculty assessments?*
4. How are you engaged at your school and in the broader community in efforts that promote STEMM, demonstrate social responsibility, and/or show how you invest in others?*
Example: Faculty sponsor of an engineering organization.
5. How do you promote student involvement in STEMM related activities?*
Enterprising Innovator

The Enterprising Innovator Award honors a woman business owner at a STEMM-focused company who demonstrates outstanding leadership by setting a clear vision and achieving notable success. She also shows industry excellence by influencing others in her STEMM field and is regarded as a key contributor within her industry.
Because the form can only be filled out at one time and not able to be saved to return to at a later date, we recommend drafting your answers in a Word document and pasting each answer into the form fields below before submitting.
1. Briefly describe why you believe you should be recognized as an Enterprising Innovator. Feel free to include accomplishments in your career as well as other areas of your life that wouldn’t be included in any of the following questions.*
2. Tell us about your company/business/innovation in the areas of STEMM.*
3. How do you exemplify industry excellence and demonstrate influence in your field?*
4. Describe how you stand out as a leader amongst your peers in supporting and nurturing women in STEMM fields and why this is important to you. (Yes, please brag about yourself!)*
5. How are you involved in STEMM activities that impact our community, drive positive economic trends, demonstrate social responsibility, and invest in employee culture?*
These STEMM activities can be at either your company or within the community.
Corporate HERO

The Corporate HERO Award honors a company, whether large or small, that promotes women in STEMM within their organization. This company actively participates in KC Metro STEMM-related activities and supports community organizations. It strongly supports women in STEMM fields and offers benefits and support through education, growth opportunities, flexibility, and camaraderie via initiatives such as ERGs.
Approximately, how many employees does your company have?*
Please round to the nearest 5, 10 or 100.
Because the form can only be filled out at one time and not able to be saved to return to at a later date, we recommend drafting your answers in a Word document and pasting each answer into the form fields below before submitting.
1. Briefly describe why you believe your company should receive the Corporate HERO STEMMy Award.*
2. Please provide your company's mission and/or values statement.*
3. What ties to STEMM fields does your company have?*
Example: Financial industry with strengths in technology.
4. Describe how your company actively engages in STEMM activities that impact the Kansas City community, demonstrate social responsibility, and recognize women in STEMM careers and leadership.*
5. Explain how your company offers strong support and benefits for its female associates and invests in employee culture.*
WiSTEMM Community Spotlight

The WiSTEMM Community Spotlight Award honors a nonprofit, professional organization, or community initiative that advances STEMM within our region. The awardee helps build a pipeline of STEMM talent in the community, promotes STEMM programs, and increases awareness of STEMM.
Because the form can only be filled out at one time and not able to be saved to return to at a later date, we recommend drafting your answers in a Word document and pasting each answer into the form fields below before submitting.
1. Briefly describe why you believe your organization or initiative should receive the WiSTEMM Community Spotlight Award. Include any program accomplishments and other community awards.*
2. Please provide your organization's mission and/or values statement.*
3. What ties to STEMM fields does your organization have?*
4. Describe how your organization actively engages in STEMM activities that impact the Kansas City community, demonstrate social responsibility, and recognize women in STEMM careers and leadership.*
5. Explain how your organization offers strong support and benefits for its female associates and invests in employee culture.*
Rising Trendsetter

The Rising Trendsetter Award honors a woman with 10 Years or Less of professional experience in her STEMM field who has demonstrated significant achievement early in her career. She is a role model for women in STEMM, gaining peer recognition and support. She is an emerging leader among women in STEMM and participates in STEMM activities at her company and in her community.
Because the form can only be filled out at one time and not able to be saved to return to at a later date, we recommend drafting your answers in a Word document and pasting each answer into the form fields below before submitting.
1. Briefly describe why you believe you should be recognized as a Rising Trendsetter. Feel free to include accomplishments in your career as well as other areas of your life that wouldn’t be included in any of the following questions.*
2. Describe yourself in 3 words.*
3. Please give examples of how you are an influencer and emerging leader for women in STEMM, how you show your peers recognition and support and why this is important to you. (Yes, please brag about yourself!)*
4. How do you exemplify industry excellence and demonstrate influence as a key contributor in your company or STEMM field?*
5. How are you involved in STEMM activities that impact our community, drive positive economic trends, demonstrate social responsibility, and invest in employee culture?*
These STEMM activities can be at either your company or within the community.
Groundbreaking Leadership

The Groundbreaking Leadership Award honors a woman in STEMM who has made significant contributions to the STEMM community throughout her more than 10-year professional career in her field. She advocates for women in STEMM by promoting gender equity in leadership roles, supporting women entering or advancing in STEMM careers, and celebrating their achievements. She is a comprehensive leader who casts a vision, sets and achieves goals, learns from other leaders, mentors others, influences peers, and drives innovation and change.
Because the form can only be filled out at one time and not able to be saved to return to at a later date, we recommend drafting your answers in a Word document and pasting each answer into the form fields below before submitting.
1. Briefly describe why you believe you should be recognized as a Groundbreaking Leader. Feel free to include accomplishments in your career as well as other areas of your life that wouldn’t be included in any of the following questions.*
2. Describe yourself in 3 words.*
3. How are you known for industry excellence? Please give at least one example of how you are known for being an expert on a product/service/process, having a history of high-quality results/customer loyalty, and contributing to progress in your industry.*
4. Describe how, as a 360-degree leader, you cast visions, set and attain goals, learn from other leaders, mentor others, influence peers, and propel innovation and change.*
5. How do you promote gender equality in leadership roles, support women entering or growing in STEMM careers, and how do you celebrate achievements by women in STEMM? Why is this important to you?*
WiSTEMM Champion

The WiSTEMM Champion Award honors a leader, regardless of gender, who works in or is connected to a STEMM field or organization. These individuals are bridge builders who envision gender equality and actively work to achieve it. They advocate for women in STEMM, empowering them to reach their full potential. They support women as they enter or advance in their STEMM careers and actively promote them in their workplaces and communities. They are genuine champions for others.
Because the form can only be filled out at one time and not able to be saved to return to at a later date, we recommend drafting your answers in a Word document and pasting each answer into the form fields below before submitting.
1. Briefly describe why you believe you should be recognized as the WiSTEMM Champion. Feel free to include accomplishments in your career as well as other areas of their life that wouldn’t be included in any of the following questions.*
2. Describe yourself in 3 words.*
3. Describe how you stand out as a leader amongst your peers in supporting and nurturing women in STEMM fields and why this is important to you. (Yes, please brag about yourself!)*
4. How are you a champion of women in STEMM? Specifically, how do you promote gender equality in leadership roles, support women entering or growing in STEMM careers, and celebrate women's achievements in STEMM? (Now, we really want you to brag!)*
5. What else have you done throughout your career or in the community that makes you a WiSTEMM Champion that is not mentioned above?*

Please note, we are asking all self-nominations to include at least one letter of recommendation from a colleague, supervisor, professor, or a close aquaintance you know in a STEMM related field. If you are self-nominating your company for the Corporate HERO or WiSTEMM Community Spotlight award, please provide references from other employees in your organization.

If you do not have a reference letter right now, please fill out the form today, and email your references to kerry@centralexchange.org before the submission deadline.
I am submitting my reference letter(s) today.I will email kerry@centralexchange.org my reference letter(s) before the submission deadline.I choose to opt out of providing a reference letter and understand that nominees with reference letters may score higher during the judging process.
Upload Reference Letter(s) Here

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Before submitting the form, please review all information as you cannot change your answers after you submit.
Specifically check your email address is typed in correctly for communication purposes.

A pdf of your submission will be emailed to you upon clicking the submit button.

If you have any questions about the STEMMy Awards or the nomination process,
please contact our Signature Event Manager, Kerry Gentry Hartnett at kerry@centralexchange.org.
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