SAVE THE DATE

The 2026 Pinnacle Awards will be hosted on Friday, March 27, 2026. More details to come!

2025 Pinnacle Awards

Thank you to everyone who donated and supported YWCA Tulsa & the Pinnacle Awards!

  • Three women standing on a stage, with the woman in the middle holding an award, all smiling.

  • An older woman with glasses and jewelry speaking at a clear podium with a microphone against a dark background.

  • A group of six women wearing traditional Indian dance costumes in green and pink, along with a man in a dark suit, standing on stage with dark curtains and blue lighting in the background.

  • Three women standing on a stage during an award ceremony, one holding a glass award and smiling at the camera.

  • A group of women dressed in formal gowns standing on stage at an event with a large screen behind them displaying logos of YWCA Tulsa and Tulsa City.

  • Three women in formal dresses standing on stage, smiling, with one holding an award.

  • Five women in colorful dresses smiling at a social event

  • Three women standing on stage, woman in the middle holding an award, smiling for a photo.

  • Three women standing together on stage at a formal event, dressed in elegant attire, with a large yellow structure and floral arrangement in the background.

  • A woman singing passionately on stage, holding a microphone, wearing a blue blazer and earrings.

  • Three women standing on stage, smiling, with the woman in the middle holding an award.

  • Three women standing on stage at an award ceremony; the woman in the middle is holding a trophy.

  • A man in a dark suit and tie speaking at a podium with a microphone, gesturing with his hands in front of a black background.

  • Three women standing on a stage, dressed in formal attire, smiling for a photo. The woman in the middle holds a glass of wine or champagne. There is a floral display on the right side of the stage, and a dark backdrop behind them.

  • A woman with curly hair wearing a red dress stands at a podium and speaks into a microphone at an event, with flower arrangements in the background.

Join us on Friday, April 4, 2025, at the Arvest Convention Center, Legacy Hall, 100 Civic Center, Downtown Tulsa, for an unforgettable evening!

Doors open at 5:00 PM, with complimentary valet parking available for your convenience. Your ticket includes a delicious meal, wine service, exciting entertainment, and a captivating awards program. In addition, enjoy the thrill of a silent auction and wine pull, with plenty of opportunities to participate.

Dress to impress in cocktail attire, and get ready for a night of celebration and unforgettable memories!

2025 Pinnacle Awards event poster, hosted by YWCA Tulsa and the Tulsa Women's Commission, celebrating women's achievements. Event date: April 4, 2025, at Arvest Convention Center, Tulsa. Doors open at 5:00 PM, event starts at 6:00 PM. Logos for YWCA Tulsa and City of Tulsa included.

2025 Pinnacle Award

Honorees Announced!

Group of men and women posing in front of a "City of Tulsa" backdrop.

In 1987, the Pinnacle Awards was established by the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women (now the Tulsa’s Women Commission) to celebrate the important contributions of women to the City of Tulsa. The event honored women who were exemplary leaders in the Tulsa community and demonstrated both professional success and commitment to service.

In 2015, the Tulsa’s Women Commission, forged a partnership with YWCA Tulsa’s event Women of the Year recognizing women who were role models and embodied their mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, standing up for social justice, and helping families. Over the last thirty-seven years we have collectively honored more than 250 women, sharing their stories, amplifying their voices, recognizing their service, and congratulating them on their achievements. 

2025 Honorees

  • Portrait of an older woman with short gray hair, wearing glasses, a teal blazer, and a blue floral blouse, against a plain white background.

    Carmelita Wamego Skeeter

    Anna C. Roth Award

    Read Bio
  • A woman with curly brown hair, wearing a navy top and a colorful, tweed blazer with gold buttons, smiling against a plain white background.

    Littleton Legal

    Corporate Champion

    Read Bio
  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a black blazer, black top, and gold belt, accessorized with colorful earrings, smiling against a plain white background.

    Sarah Gilpin

    Community Service

    Read Bio
  • A woman with shoulder-length auburn hair, wearing a cream-colored sweater, smiling against a plain white background.

    Luisa Krug

    Arts & Humanities

    Read Bio
  • Portrait of a woman with dark, wavy hair, smiling, wearing a red blazer and black top, standing against a plain white background.

    Laura Bellis

    Health & Wellness

    Read Bio
  • A smiling woman with shoulder-length hair, wearing a bright blue blazer over a black top, standing against a plain white background.

    Stephanie Jackson

    Entrepreneur

    Read Bio
  • A woman with dark, curly hair styled in loose ringlets wearing a black and white striped jacket with gold buttons and a gold headband, smiling against a plain white background.

    Dr. Delia Kimbrel

    Education

    Read Bio
  • Professional woman with dark hair, wearing a black blazer and yellow blouse, smiling against a white background.

    Jhoanna Astudillo

    Corporate Business

    Read Bio
  • A smiling woman with shoulder-length reddish-brown hair, wearing a dark green top, standing against a plain white background.

    Whitney Cipolla

    Rising Star

    Read Bio
A woman with short curly hair wearing a colorful, patterned dress with a beige belt, smiling brightly.

2025 Pinnacle Chair

Toneille Bent

A proud 5-year board member of the YWCA Tulsa, Toneille is devoted to building community and connection across lines of difference. After coming to the U.S. as a young girl, Toneille has spent the bulk of her life in Tulsa and has worked and served across many sectors including education and non-profit.

After a 9 year stretch with the national education non-profit City Year, Toneille recently began a role with Family and Children’s Services as Executive Vice President of Culture and Engagement, focused on supporting the agency’s priority to further its inclusive equity-focused culture.

In her “spare time” Toneille is completing a doctoral degree at Oklahoma State University and is the owner of Essencetial Truths Coaching and Consulting, LLC, a firm focused on personal coaching and leadership coaching and development. 

Toneille says by far her favorite role is that of "auntie," and her “guiltless pleasures” include long brunches, being on the water and live music.

2025 Honoree Announcement

  • Group of nine diverse women standing in front of a blue city of Tacoma backdrop for a photo, smiling.

  • Group of diverse women and men in business attire standing together in front of a blue backdrop that reads 'City of' for a photo at a professional event.

  • A woman in a teal suit holding a blue folder, standing in front of a blue backdrop with "CITY OF TULSA" text, speaking at a press conference with two people in the background, one woman in a pink dress and one man in a gray suit, in a modern office with large windows.

  • A woman in a bright pink dress speaking at a podium with multiple microphones, standing in front of a blue backdrop with the logo of the City of Tulsa.

  • Man in suit speaking at a podium during an event with an audience, facing a blue backdrop with logo and text, and a sign on a stand promoting the 2025 Pinnacle Awards.

  • A woman and a man shake hands in front of a blue backdrop that reads 'CITY OF TULSA'. The woman has long blonde hair and wears a pink blazer, while the man has short dark hair and wears a dark suit. They are in a conference or press event room with an audience seated in front of them.

  • A woman speaking at a podium during an award event with a backdrop displaying 'City of Tulsa' and a sign for the '2025 Pinnacle Awards' for Tulsa's women of the year.

  • Two women standing inside a well-lit restaurant or cafe, dressed professionally and smiling at the camera.

  • Two people hugging in an office setting, with one person holding a folder and the other wearing a striped blazer.

  • A woman holding a document, standing between two seated men at a formal event, with microphones on a stand in front of her, and a large blue background with white text behind them.

  • Three people standing at a press conference, two women smiling and hugging, one man holding a folder. There are microphones on the table in front of them, and a large blue backdrop with the text 'CITY OF TULSA' behind them.

Additional Information

  • The Pinnacle Awards recognizes women who are exemplary leaders in the Tulsa community, who have served as role models, and whose contributions have made a long-lasting impact.

    Women can be nominated in one of the following categories:

    Arts & Humanities

    Recognizes the achievement and leadership of women whose contributions in arts, culture, and heritage inspire and benefit our community.

    Health & Wellness

    Recognizes successful and community-focused leadership in health and wellness fields. This award will honor those that improve community health outcomes, address health inequities, or lead in any major research field that connects community to better health habits.

    Corporate Business

    Recognizes leaders in the professional or business sector who are role models in their careers and community involvement. Also recognizes leaders in the skilled trades, industry, or service sector whose achievements have broken down barriers and inspired positive change.

    Entrepreneur

    Recognizes impactful and successful women entrepreneurs and small business owners. Leadership and impact are core tenants of this award. This award will honor those that innovate, create, and change our communities for the better.

    Community Service

    Recognizes influential community builders and leaders in the public sector whose professional or volunteer leadership and contributions help create a community in which everyone can thrive.

    Education

    Recognizes exceptional educators in schools, institutions, or community programs who are role models in their profession and community involvement, leading and inspiring positive change.

    Rising Star

    Recognizes a young woman under 40 who is making significant contributions to her school, community and/or work place. She demonstrates maturity, innovation, and leadership and inspires others to follow her example.

    Corporate Champion

    Recognizes a business in Tulsa, Oklahoma that is exemplary for developing women as leaders, creating an inclusive work environment, and has dedicated resources to ensure a safe and equitable workplace for all.

  • Nominations Open – September 1, 2024

    Nominations Close – October 1, 2024

    Winners Notified - November 2024

    Winners Announced – November 2024

    Winners Celebrated - March 2025

    For date related questions, email Kyle Rutledge, click here.

  • What if I don’t know the answer to a question on the nomination form?

    Ask the woman or company you are nominating. Most nominees are happy to hear you are thinking of them and won’t mind answering a question! A complete form with detailed answers will help our selection panel in making the best choice. The selection panel is only able to score a candidate based on what is included on the nomination form, so do your best to answer all questions fully.

    Can I nominate someone for more than one category?

    Yes, you may nominate a woman for more than one category, but you will have to submit a nomination form for each category you would like to nominate them for. We encourage you to consider where they are the best fit and will be the most competitive.

    Can I edit or add to my nomination form once it has been submitted?

    Unfortunately, once your nomination has been submitted you will not be able to access the nomination form again. We encourage you to draft your nomination in a Word document and then copy and paste into our form so that you have the time to make changes before you submit.

    Does nominating someone more than one time increase their chances of winning?

    No, this will not influence a nominee’s chances of being selected.

    Can I nominate someone who has won an award in a past year?

    If a woman has already been recognized in a past year we will not consider them again, even if they are nominated in a different category. You can refer to our past winners list if you don’t know if they have received an award.

    Can YWCA or Tulsa Women's Commission staff or board members be nominated?

    No, they cannot.

    How are award winners selected?

    Each year a selection panel comprised of members of the Tulsa Women's Commission, YWCA Board of Directors reads and scores each nominee. Nominee applications are not discussed amongst the committee prior to or during scoring. The selection panel does not see who has made the nomination. They are asked not to do any additional research or use any prior knowledge of the applicant when scoring. They are only scoring based on what has been submitted in the nomination form.

    When will I hear who has been selected?

    Pinnacle Awards winners will be announced in a press release in November 2024. After the winners are announced, we will contact all nominees to let them know they were nominated.

    Any other questions?

    Contact our Individual Giving Manager, Kyle Rutledge, at krutledge@ywcatulsa.org or (918) 858-2372.

  • View a sample individual nomination form here.

    View a sample corporate nomination form here.

  • For a full list of past winners dating back to 1987, please view here.

    2024 Pinnacle Awards

    Gail Lapidus, Anna C. Roth Legacy Award

    Susan Neal, Arts and Humanities

    Dr. Martha Zapata, Community Service

    Molly Jarvis, Corporate Business

    Dr. Ebony Johnson, Education

    Lorena Rivas, Entrepreneur

    Anne Bogie, Health & Wellness

    Brandi Payton, Rising Star

    KKT Architects, Corporate Champion Award

2024 Pinnacle Awards

  • Woman wearing glasses and a sequined top speaking at a podium with a microphone, with the words 'KUMA ROBERTS' visible on a screen behind her.

  • Woman speaking at podium with a large screen behind her displaying 'prince awards 2024'

  • Three women standing close together smiling, one woman holding an award, at an event with a dark background.

  • An African American woman with short gray hair, wearing glasses, hoop earrings, and a shiny, sequined top, stands at a podium with her right arm raised in a fist, expressing a triumphant or determined gesture.

  • A woman in a beige blazer and black hijab stands smiling at a podium on stage. A large screen behind her displays a blurry image of her standing at the podium.

  • A woman is speaking at a podium in front of a large screen displaying a woman with long dark hair, wearing earrings, a sash, and a necklace, with pink and white background text reading 'RISING STAR AWARD.' The silhouette of the speaker is visible against the display.

  • Woman in red dress speaking at a podium during a presentation, with her image projected on a large screen behind her.

  • An elderly woman with glasses and short blond hair giving a speech at a podium, with her reflection visible on a large screen behind her.

  • Three women standing together on stage at an award ceremony, smiling, with a large screen behind them. The woman in the middle is holding a trophy and wearing a pink blazer. The woman on the left has short gray hair and is wearing a black dress with sheer sleeve details. The woman on the right has curly hair and is wearing a black top with a light-colored skirt.

  • Three women standing together on stage, smiling, with one woman holding a clear trophy or award.

  • A woman in colorful patterned clothing speaking at a podium on stage, with her reflection visible on a large screen behind her.