Bowling Green Human Rights Commission is seeking nominations for the 17th annual Women of Achievement Awards.

“It’s that time of year again where we try to acknowledge all the good things women do,” said Linda McCray with the Bowling Green Human Rights Commission.

The event will be at 6 p.m. March 28 at the Carroll Knicely Conference Center.

Letters were sent out across the community asking for nominations in January, McCray said. To date, about 20 have been received, but McCray said the organization is expecting the bulk of nominations to come within three to four days before the deadline, which is March 10.

“The nomination process can be time consuming,” she said. “When a person really wants to tell the story of an extraordinary women, it does take some time to write it all down and put it out there. We understand it is a process.”

Nominations for awards are being accepted in 16 different categories, including arts, business, community service, education, entrepreneurship, posthumous, science and health, “Women Reaching Higher,” “Women’s First,” woman of the year and lifetime achievement.

A $1,000 educational scholarship will be awarded to the youth achievement winner.

Tickets to the event are $35 a person or $280 for a table of eight. McCray said different businesses and community organizations help sponsor the event, garnering different levels of sponsorship.

Essay contest participants from Girls Inc. and the Housing Authority’s Learning Center attend the event with no cost – the winners of that contest receive an award, McCray said.

“This was a way for us to provide role models for young girls,” she said. “It’s a way for them to see people in their own community doing wonderful things, and we hope it inspires them to reach their potential.”

While last year’s theme was “Generations of Women Moving History Forward,” the 2008 theme for women’s history month is “Women’s Art: Women’s Vision.”

This year’s banquet will feature several local female artists. Some of those artists have donated pieces of their artwork to be auctioned during the banquet, McCray said.

The commission has a new partner in Women Who Can – a committee of business leaders and community members who want to address the challenges and issues women in Bowling Green might be facing.

McCray, who is a part of the committee, said it was sparked thanks to Independence Bank’s Bob Fitch.

“We want to focus in on what the needs are and how we can help,” she said. “ … A lot of women who might want to spread their wings, but don’t know how to get started, and this is an incubator to help women reach their potential personally and professionally.”

Since 1992, the commission has given more than 200 awards to women in Bowling Green and Warren County for their contributions in the 16 categories. The event started because women had not been recognized for their contributions, McCray said in a previous interview.

“We didn’t want the awards to be about someone who had already reached the pinnacle of success, but spotlight women who are doing extraordinary things. And we know they’re out there,” McCray said. “The purpose for the banquet is to honor the journey … It’s a wonderful night.”

— Nomination forms are available at the BGHRC office at 491 Double Springs Road. Call the commission at 782-7900 for a nomination form or for more information.