BROOKINGS – South Dakota State University’s annual Dr. April Brooks Women of Distinction Awards have changed slightly since their inception in 2001. This year, the event adds the ally category to its list of administration, professional staff/nonfaculty exempt, faculty, civil service staff and student awards.

The awards ceremony will be March 17 in the University Student Union’s Lewis and Clark Room. A panel discussion starts at 3 p.m. and will be followed by the awards ceremony. In addition, the recipient of the Dr. April Brooks Memorial Scholarship will be recognized at the awards ceremony.

Presented by South Dakota State University’s women, gender and sexuality studies program, these awards recognize the outstanding accomplishments of women and those who promote opportunities for historically marginalized groups at the university, including through community activism and service.

In addition, the awards will be part of a daylong celebration of the centennial of U.S. women’s suffrage. The panel discussion will discuss the current status of voting rights in the United States, the status of the women’s movement in 2020 and how they tie back to the women’s suffrage movement.

“The ally award is to honor any person or organization on or off campus that contributes to the mission of our program, which is to educate the public about these issues related to women, gender and sexuality, overarching diversity issues,” said Becky Kuehl, director of the  women, gender and sexuality studies program. “We hope to get a number of applications for the award as we have a number of individuals and organizations in Brookings that contribute through innovative research, teaching and outreach.”

Nominations are due at 5 p.m. Feb. 21 for all categories. Submit nominating materials electronically as a single attachment to Rebecca.Kuehl@sdstate.edu. For more information on the nomination requirements, visit https://www.sdstate.edu/events/2020/03/dr-april-brooks-women-distinction-awards.