Women's History Project of the Akron Area, Inc.

2026 Women's History Project Woman of the Year Awards will be held on Wednesday, March 25th at the St. George Fellowship Centre on Ridgewood Road. 

The Women's History Project of the Akron Area committee members adopted the newly announced national theme of "Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future" to be used at the local program.

Doors open at 11:30 a.m. with the luncheon beginning at noon. Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro is the presenting Women's Empowerment sponsor. Categories are available at many levels that include ads in the event booklet, seating and more. If you would like to sponsor the event, click here. Individual tickets will be sold separately at a later date.

2026 Recipients include the following:

Sarah Abood - Initiative
Laura Davis - Perseverance
Khatonia Ford - Woman to Watch
Lillie Jackson - Pioneer
Lois Matney - Inspiration
Miriam Ray - Imagination
Kathy Ress - Faith
Jane Startzman - Creativity

2026 Women's History Project Committee:
Theresa S. Beyerle, Ph.D., chair
Carrie Burrier
Katie Byard Carney
Kathleen "Kitty" Endres, Ph.D.
Amy Freels
Carrie Herman
Holli Mallak
Judy James
Towanda Mullins
Karen Hrdlicka
Rose Vance-Grom
Zulekha Sharp
Willette Riley
Leianne Neff Heppner

**The Women’s History Project of the Akron Area, Inc. became a program of the Summit County Historical  Society of Akron, OH in 2013.  The merger occurred during the 30th anniversary year for the Women’s History Project and in anticipation of the Society’s 90th anniversary in 2014.