Salute to Outstanding Women

You’re invited to join YWCA Mohawk Valley in celebrating the Outstanding Women in our community. Presented by Bank of Utica. Our 36th annual Salute to Outstanding Women awards ceremony and luncheon will honor eight local women for their contributions to the Mohawk Valley community. Each of our honorees will be officially inducted into the Salute Academy, a collective of 289 empowered women who have been honored since our first celebration in 1989.

The 2025 Class of Honorees and their award categories are:
– Shawna Candella-Papale: Business & Industry (sponsored by Utica National Insurance Group)
– Dr. Cheryl Beckett-Minor: Education (sponsored by Kristin’s Fund)
– Kathleen Rutishauser: Entrepreneur (sponsored by Adirondack Bank)
– Maria Kontaridis, Ph.D.: Healthcare (sponsored by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield)
– Kelly Walters: Human & Public Service (sponsored by Scalzo, Zogby & Wittig, Inc.)
– Adelynn Leslie: Outstanding Youth (sponsored by Adorino Construction, Inc.)
– Ace Morreale: Social Justice (sponsored by Fort Schuyler Club)
– Amy Singletary-Jaworski: STEAM (sponsored by Indium Corporation)

Reservations are required. To RSVP, visit ywcamv.org/Salute, email events@ywcamv.org, or call (315) 732-2159, ext. 235. Tickets are $75 and reservations must be made no later than March 14.