Nominations sought for Iris Awards

Nominations are currently being accepted for the Iris Awards, which celebrates “the lasting and far-reaching contributions of women in Southwest Washington.”

According to a press release from organizer Clark College, the awards honor women in four areas including service in the public and private sectors, philanthropic leadership, and leadership in the promotion of civil discourse, teamwork, collaboration and cooperation.

Nominations are also being taken for the Legacy Award, which is presented to previous Iris Award or Women of Distinction honorees who have continued to serve Southwest Washington.

Following in the tradition of the Southwest Washington Women of Achievement Awards, this year’s ceremony marks the 32nd anniversary of the college’s annual recognition of women’s contributions to the community.

The event began in 1985 at Clark College as a photography exhibit during Women’s History Week. Over the years, the event developed into a larger awards program and ceremony. In 2012, the Iris Awards were introduced with the same focus as previous events: celebrating the lasting and far-reaching contributions of women in Southwest Washington and beyond.

The winners will be announced at the end of January. Recipients will be honored in observation of International Women’s Day during a ceremony March 8 at Clark College.

Nominations are due by Friday, Jan. 27. Additional information and forms can be found at www.clark.edu/cc/irisawards.

In addition to Clark College, the joint effort is being organized by the Clark College Foundation, Vancouver Business Journal, H-RoC and the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce.

Last year’s Iris Award honorees were Vancouver City Councilwoman Anne McEnerny-Ogle and Katherine Garrett, the Housing First Program Director at Lincoln Place.