The WOW Awards Guidelines
Eligibility & Nomination Guidelines
The Women of Worth (WOW) Awards celebrate women who make a meaningful impact in the Dripping Springs community through leadership, service, innovation, kindness, advocacy, entrepreneurship, mentorship, or simply by making the lives of others better.
To be eligible for nomination:
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Nominees must live, work, volunteer, own a business, attend school, or otherwise make a significant contribution within the Dripping Springs area, including the City of Dripping Springs, the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ), or the Dripping Springs Independent School District (DSISD) attendance area.
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Nominees may be recognized for professional achievements, community involvement, volunteer service, personal resilience, mentorship, advocacy, or other contributions that positively impact others.
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Individuals may be nominated by themselves or by someone else.
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Nominees may be nominated in more than one category; however, finalists will be placed in the category that best reflects their accomplishments and impact.
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Current members of the WOW Selection Circle are not eligible to participate in the judging of any category in which they have a personal or professional relationship with a nominee.
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Nominee must be 18 years or older.
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All nominations must be submitted by the published deadline and include sufficient information for consideration.
How Finalists and Winners Are Selected
Nominees are evaluated based on their leadership, impact, resilience, character, community involvement, and how well they embody the spirit of the award category.
The Women of Worth Awards are intentionally designed to ensure a fair, thoughtful, and unbiased selection process. Each category begins with a pool of community nominations, from which six nominees are selected. Those nominees are then reviewed by a dedicated WOW Selection Circle, an independent panel of women who live outside of Dripping Springs—bringing fresh perspective and no personal connection to the nominees. From the six nominees, the panel selects finalists and one winner in each category.
The Selection Circle looks beyond accomplishments alone, considering the heart behind each nominee's story and the positive difference she has made in the lives of others. The finalists will be selected and announced prior to the event and will receive a ticket to the event. The Women of Worth Award winners will be revealed live at the Women of Worth Luncheon on August 27, 2026.
A Little Note from WOW
The Women of Worth Awards are not about popularity, titles, job positions, or social media followings. They are about recognizing women whose actions, character, and contributions make Dripping Springs a stronger, kinder, more connected place to live, work, and thrive. 💜 Women of Worth is about shining a light on the women who make our community stronger, kinder, braver, and more connected. Some lead from a stage. Some lead from a classroom, a business, a volunteer role, a hospital room, a nonprofit, or a kitchen table. Every act of leadership matters, and every story deserves the chance to be told!
All Nominations must be turned in by July 5, 2026!
FAQs
Can I nominate more than one person?
Yes! We encourage you to nominate as many deserving women as you'd like. If multiple women have inspired, supported, or impacted you or the community, we want to hear their stories.
Can I nominate myself?
Absolutely. The Women of Worth Awards are about celebrating impact, not modesty. If you feel your story aligns with one of the award categories, we encourage you to share it. Sometimes the most powerful stories are the ones we tell ourselves.
Can someone be nominated in multiple categories?
Yes. A nominee may be submitted for more than one category. During the review process, the WOW Selection Circle may place a nominee in the category that best reflects her accomplishments, impact, and story.
Does the nominee need to live in Dripping Springs?
No, but she needs to be connected to Dripping Springs by living or working or volunteering. In essence, this is a woman who impacts Dripping Springs and is part of the community in some way. She must live, work, volunteer, own a business, attend school, or otherwise make a significant contribution within the Dripping Springs area, including the City of Dripping Springs, the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ), or the Dripping Springs Independent School District (DSISD) attendance area.
What if I don't know all the details of their accomplishments?
That's okay! Don't let that stop you from submitting a nomination. Share what you do know and why you believe this woman deserves recognition. The most meaningful nominations often come from personal stories and examples of how someone has made a difference in the lives of others.
Will they know if I nominate them? Will the nominee be told who nominated them?
No, we will keep the privacy of those who nominate. You are more than welcome to tell her that you nominated her! But we will not reveal to her who nominated her. However, everyone who is nominated will most likely know they were nominated, but not until closer to the WOW luncheon. We believe that simply letting her know she was nominated is important. It shows she matters and someone took the time to share that she matters. But she won't know who nominated her unless you spill the adorable badass beans!
When will finalists be announced?
Finalists will be announced prior to the Women of Worth Luncheon. Finalists will be selected in each category, and the WOW Award winners will be revealed live during the luncheon on August 27, 2026.
Do nominees have to attend the luncheon to win?
No. While we hope finalists and winners will join us for this special celebration, attendance is not required to be selected as a finalist or winner. 💜
