It was a record-breaking year when it comes to nominations for the annual K-W Oktoberfest Rogers Women of the Year Awards.
There were 72 nominations across nine categories.
The event will return to an in-person ceremony this year. It will be held Tuesday, May 17 at Tapestry Hall in Cambridge.
“It is always so inspiring to see the incredible women who get nominated each year. These past two years have been tough on everyone, yet these women have worked so hard and achieved so much to make this region a better place,” Allan Cayenne, festival president, explained in a news release.
Jackie Lauer is this year's guest speaker. She's a workplace culture expert and executive coach, who brings the science of neuroleadership and positive psychology to the workplace. The hosts for the ceremony Robin & PJ from “Mornings with Robin and PJ” on Country 106.7.
The nominees are posted below:
Arts & Culture (sponsored by Central Views Property Management) recognizes women for enriching the culture of our community through the creation or promotion of the arts on a volunteer or professional basis.
- Katie Billo
- Lucy Bilson
- Kristen Gottwald
- Betty Anne Keller
- Nichole Robertson
- Marswa Yarmeto
Community Service (sponsored by Rogers tv) recognizes women for generously volunteering time to programs and services that make our community a better place.
- Nadine (Udanapher) Green
- Mary Henein Thorn
- Mary Beth Kennedy
- Sheena Merling
- Sherryl Petricevic
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- Selda Sezen
- Heather Smith
Entrepreneur (sponsored by Piller's Fine Foods) recognizes women for initiating and/or administering an enterprise or business.
- Rachel Bartholomew
- Jessica Burman
- Janet Greener
- Donna Litt
- Ren Navarro
- Ainsley Poirier
- Jill Sadler
- Sabrina Sgandurra
- Sarah Tieleman
- Pandora Wilhelm
- Jessica Wylde
- Catherine Young
Group Achievement (sponsored by Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest) recognizes achievements by a group of women that impact and/or improve our community or society.
- 100+ Women Who Care Waterloo
- Canadian Arab Women's Association c/o Asma AlWahsh
- Canadian Federation of University Women Kitchener Waterloo (CFUW K-W) c/o Anita Davis
- Club 84 c/o Heather Lackner (Kitchener)
- Community Support Connections' Exercise Team c/o Jenn McDonald
- Gauntlet Tattoo c/o Ines Silva
- KW Business Women's Association (KWBWA) c/o Rachelle Garcia
- Waterloo District Women's Institute c/o Katherine Cressman
Health & Wellness (sponsored by Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce) recognizes women for promoting and helping others achieve and promote mental, physical or spiritual well-being in her career or community involvement.
- Jenna Gibbings
- Melissa Melnychuk
- Vickie Murray
- Rebecca Pister
- Rachel Radyk (WaabanoKwe)
- Lee-Ann Reuber
- Claudia Schubert
- Anita Venugopal
Lifetime Achievement (sponsored by Schlegel Villages) recognizes women for being role models, mentors and/or advocates for positive and social change throughout their lifetime.
- Janet Greener
- Betty Anne Keller
- Susan MacQueen
- Vickie Murray
- Adele Newton
- Sherryl Petricevic
- Ainsley Poirier
- Nichole Robertson
- Claudia Schubert
- Selda Sezen
- Mary Henein Thorn
- Tracy Valko
- Ashley Webber
Professional (sponsored by Home Hardware) recognizes women for dedicating themselves to the pursuit of excellence in their chosen careers.
- Elizabeth Allan
- Carla Beharry
- Amy Cyr
- Megan Eckhardt
- Cecelia Johnston
- Shelby Plaskett
- Alannah Robinson
- Ashley Webber
- Tracy Valko
Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (sponsored by Enbridge) recognizes women for outstanding advancement to the field of STEM.
- Suzanne Kearns
- Laura Lawlor
- Adele Newton
- Angela Pause
- Emily Pyke
- Margaret Tavares
- Montana Wilson
Young Adult (14 to 23) (sponsored by CHYM 96.7, Country 106.7 & CityNews 570)
recognizes young women for leading by example and being a role model to their peers. The winner of the Young Adult Award is presented with the Jennifer Campbell Youth Scholarship.
- Sky Elliott
- Afra Fatima
- Shayla Herold
- Camille Huo
- Ingrid Kaffka
- Genevieve Merz
- McKenna Murray
- Sarah Odinotski
- Llewellyn Robinson
- Emma Schuster
- Kenzy Soror
- Bohdana Tyshchenko
You can find ticket information by clicking here.
