SAVE THE DATE

The 2026 Pinnacle Awards will be hosted on Friday, March 27, 2026 at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel.

More details to come!

2025 Pinnacle Awards announcement with fireworks background, celebrating Tulsa's Women of the Year, and indicating nominations are now open.

Nominations Open Sept 2!

2026 Pinnacle Award

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. 

Nomination Forms

Professional woman with shoulder-length hair, wearing a black blazer with a gold belt buckle and colorful earrings, smiling against a plain light background.

2026 Pinnacle Chair

Sarah Gilpin

Sarah Gilpin is a seasoned communications strategist and community advocate. As Brand Manager in Communications and Strategic Development at Williams, Sarah leads a dynamic and creative team that helps the company deliver its global energy story—centered on sustainability, reliability and innovation. Her professional work is complemented by a strong dedication to civic leadership.

Within Williams, Sarah is actively involved in several Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), contributing to initiatives that foster inclusion and elevate diverse voices across the organization. 

Sarah’s civic engagement reflects her commitment to systemic impact. She is the founding Chairwoman of Tulsa’s Asian Affairs Commission, where she leads strategic efforts to support Tulsa’s Asian communities through advocacy, data-driven policy and cultural programming. Under her leadership, the Commission launched Tulsa’s first Lunar New Year celebration and established initiatives to recognize Asian-identifying leaders and businesses, while also funding scholarships for emerging student leaders.

She serves on the River Parks Board of Trustees, helping guide the development and accessibility of Tulsa’s outdoor spaces. Sarah also contributes as a board of Tulsa Girls Art School, supporting programs that teach art principles to young girls and build confidence through creative expression. Her work with the Route 66 Marathon’s “Kicks for Kids” organization empowers elementary students to set goals, train and complete a race—building resilience and discipline.

Sarah advocates for arts access and equity, helping create platforms for women and diverse communities to thrive through artistic engagement. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to celebrating women’s achievements and amplifying voices.

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:

    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.

    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 13-30 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 2, 2025

    Nominations Close – October 2, 2025

    Winners Notified - November 2025

    Winners Announced – November 2025

    Winners Celebrated - March 2026

    For date related questions, email Wendy Bishop, 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 2025. After the winners are announced, we will contact all nominees to let them know they were nominated.

    Any other questions?

    Contact Wendy Bishop, at wbishop@ywcatulsa.org.

  • 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.

    2025 Pinnacle Awards

    Carmelita Wamego Skeeter, Anna C. Roth Legacy Award

    Luisa Krug, Arts and Humanities

    Sarah Gilpin, Community Service

    Jhoanna Astudillo, Corporate Business

    Dr. Delia Kimbrel, Education

    Stephanie Jackson, Entrepreneur

    Laura Bellis, Health & Wellness

    Whitney Cipolla, Rising Star

    Littleton Legal, Corporate Champion Award

    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

2025 Pinnacle Awards