Nominations for the 2026 Inspire Awards will begin in April of 2026
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Excellence in Business (Small/ Medium – 100 employees or less)
A Lincoln-area female employee who works for a small/medium size business and makes a difference in the lives of her colleagues in the business or in her networking groups, who contributes to nonprofits, the local community or women’s/girls’ groups.
Excellence in Business (Large – 101 employees or more)
A Lincoln-area female employee who works for a large size business and makes a difference in the lives of her colleagues in the business or in her networking groups, who contributes to nonprofits, the local community or women’s/girls’ groups.
Excellence in Entrepreneurship
A Lincoln-area female business owner who excels in the business community, contributes to local organizations and nonprofits, encourages other business owners and/or her staff to develop, and shares her skills for the benefit of others.
Excellence in Government Service
A Lincoln-area female that works in federal, state or local government who contributes to the local community and nonprofits and shares her skills for the benefit of others.
Excellence in Education
A Lincoln-area female educator or administrator who has made a difference in the lives of other women or girls. She contributes to the local community and nonprofits, encourages colleagues, and shares her skills for the benefit of others.
Excellence in Philanthropy
A Lincoln-area philanthropist who has made a major difference to local charities or nonprofits through a donation of volunteer time, talent or financial contribution.
Excellence in Healthcare
A Lincoln-area female who excels in the healthcare industry. She contributes to the local community and nonprofits, helps her colleagues to develop, and shares her skills for the benefit of others.
Excellence in Nonprofit
A Lincoln-area woman who works for a nonprofit organization that helps improve the lives of others in the community. She goes above and beyond in her role at the nonprofit, and empowers her colleagues, and collaborates with other groups for the greater good.
Excellence in Women's Athletics
This award honors either female athletes, coaches, or individuals who have made significant contributions to women's athletics in the Lincoln area. It celebrates their achievements, leadership, and impact on the development and promotion of women's athletics.
Founders Award
This award will recognize a woman who has dedicated herself to leading a specific community event, project or fundraiser to benefit and improve the lives of women in the Lincoln-area. This will be focused on one project or effort rather than a compilation of work.
Young Leader’s Award
A Lincoln-area female who has contributed exceptionally in school activities, her local community and philanthropy or girls groups over the past year. She has a strong sense of self, a success-driven work ethic and great career aspirations.
Inspire Scholarship
A Lincoln-area female high school or college student who has contributed to her community, excels in the classroom, and has great career aspirations.
Wendy Birdsall, president of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, was named Woman of the Year at the 2016 Inspire – Celebrating Women’s Leadership Awards.
Watch Birdsall share her thoughts on leadership, work ethic and the need for female role models.
Lincoln Community Foundation President Barbara Bartle was named Woman of the Year on Wednesday at the third annual Inspire — Celebrating Women’s Leadership Awards.
Watch Barbara share her thoughts on leadership, the need for female role models, and what inspires her.
Martin was honored Wednesday during the fourth annual Inspire — Celebrating Women’s Leadership Awards.
Martin, who has been with Ameritas since 1984 and has served as the insurance company’s CEO since 2009, was one of 11 women honored for both their professional achievements and their contributions to the community.
Donde Plowman, dean of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business, was named Woman of the Year. She was honored for her efforts in raising $80 million in private donations to construct a new College of Business Administration building, which broke ground earlier this year. As dean of the College of Business, she has developed a lecture series for female students to learn from successful women in the community. She endorses and supports mentoring programs for women and freely gives her time to attend and speak at RISE and Women in Philanthropy events as well as sits on many boards that affect the community.
Dittman received her honor Wednesday during the fifth annual Inspire — Celebrating Women’s Leadership Awards at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Dittman worked at the bank her family owned for nearly 40 years, serving as president from 1975-92 and then serving another 21 years on its board of directors.
In 2011, she started a $1 million micro-lending program for entrepreneurs that’s administered through the Lincoln Community Foundation.
