October 15, 2019
Media Contacts:
Mark Miller, Administrator, Office of Public Information, 410-313-2022
Cheryl Mattis, Executive Secretary, Howard County Commission for Women, 410-313-6427 (voice/relay)
Nomination deadline is November 21 at 5:00 p.m.
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County’s Commission for Women is seeking nominations for outstanding women to be inducted into the 2020 Women’s Hall of Fame (WHOF). This annual event honors Howard County women who have made significant contributions to the lives of others in Howard County, the State of Maryland and/or the nation through their leadership, professional and/or community service. The nomination deadline is Thursday, November 21, 2019 at 5:00 p.m.
“Howard County is home to many remarkable community leaders who help contribute to a better quality of life for others. Each year, the Howard County Commission for Women honors the women in our community who have made a significant impact,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. “I encourage all county residents to nominate a leading woman in their lives who deserves recognition for their positive influence in our community.”
To be eligible for the Howard County’s WHOF, nominees may be either living or deceased and must have lived in Howard County for at least 10 years. Up to five women will be selected for induction at the Commission’s annual Women’s Hall of Fame in March 2020, held during National Women’s History Month.
To obtain a copy of the WHOF nomination form, visit the Department of Community Resources and Services’ website at www.howardcountymd.gov/cfw or contact the Department at 410-313-6400 (voice/relay) or email [email protected].
The Commission will also sponsor an essay contest for Howard County middle and high school students to mark National Women’s History Month. The 2020 theme is “Valiant Women of the Vote,” which celebrates women who fought for a woman’s right to vote in the United States and the centennial of the 19th Amendment. Essays may either discuss the accomplishments of women from the original suffrage movement and/or highlight 20th and 21st century women who have continued the struggle – such as fighting against poll taxes, literacy tests, voter roll purges and other more contemporary forms of voter suppression – to ensure voting rights for all.
In addition to the WHOF inductees, essay contest winners will also be recognized by the Commission for Women at the 2020 WHOF induction ceremony. For essay contest rules, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/cfw; the entry deadline is January 10, 2020.
Created in 1980 to promote the social, economic and political equality of women, the Commission for Women will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2020. The WHOF was created to leave a historical legacy of the accomplishments of Howard County women for future generations.
For more information about the Commission for Women or the WHOF, contact Cheryl Mattis at 410-313-6427 (voice/relay).