During the month of March, we celebrate the extraordinary achievements of women throughout history. And here in New York, what a very rich history that is. From the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 that mobilized women in the fight for equal rights, to the successful battle to pass new women’s equality laws that took effect this year, women have worked tirelessly to make society better.

Women’s History Month is not just a time to commemorate the women of our past, but is also a time to honor the women of our present who have a positive impact on our lives. With that said, I need your help in selecting nominees to be honored at my 4th annual Women of Distinction awards ceremony for their service in our community. Whether they volunteer their time to help people in need or excel in their profession, women who uplift our communities with hope and inspiration deserve our gratitude. I look forward to learning more about the many women who help make Central New York the great place it is. You can nominate someone you know online at assembly.state.ny.us/stirpe.

Last year, four exceptional women were presented with Women of Distinction Awards: Virginia “Ginger” Denny, board president of GRACE’S; Patricia Donnelly, a nurse practitioner and two-term president of the Nurse Practitioner Association of New York State; Jessica Falgiatano, a paramedic with Mercy Flight Medical Helicopter and SWAT nurse for the University Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Unit; and Heather Gangemi, a scientist within the Oncology Pharmaceutical Division at Bristol-Myers Squibb and volunteer firefighter with the North Syracuse Fire Department.

In the spirit of tradition, I’m also accepting submissions from middle and high school students in our area for my 4th annual Women of Distinction essay contest. Students are encouraged to submit a 500-word essay about a woman who has been an inspiration to them or has made a positive impact on society. Last year’s winners were Katie Lindsley, an 11th grader at East Syracuse Minoa High School, and Alexandra Patton, a seventh-grader at Chestnut Hill Middle School in Liverpool. I look forward to reading more about the women who inspire our young people.

This year’s Women of Distinction awards honorees and essay contest winners will be recognized during a ceremony on Saturday, April 16, at 11 a.m. at the Matilda Joslyn Gage House in Fayetteville – a venue that takes the name of a historical woman of distinction. Gage, an Onondaga County native, was a writer and speaker who fought alongside Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony to advance women’s rights. In honor of Women’s History Month, we should look to both the past and present with an eye toward the future in recognizing that the fight for full women’s equality is not over.

As always, my door is open. If you have any questions or concerns about this or any other community issue, please don’t hesitate to contact me at StirpeA@assembly.state.ny.us or by calling 452-1115.