Six women were recognized for their accomplishments in the community and workforce at Wednesday's Indiana Women of Achievement ceremony at Ball State University's Alumni Center.
Selection Committee Chairman Fred Meyer said they had sent out a call for nominations in early March.
"It's an exciting process to make the selection because we have such a rich pool of nominees," he said.
Meyer said the ceremony provided the 60 students in attendance a great mentoring experience.
After mingling, the honorees and the rest of the assembly proceeded to the dining room for dinner, with harp music in the background, and the presentation of the awards.
During the ceremony, recipients were asked to tell the crowd about themselves and offer the crowd some advice.
Award recipient Joan Austin said she still struggles with the acceptance of criticism even though she is an accomplished researcher of epilepsy in youth.
"Take criticism, and take it as free consultation," she said. "Once I get over being angry, I use [criticism] to improve."
Sheryl Conley, another receipt, who plays a prominent role in a company focused on designing and creating orthopedic joints, said in life, one never knows what will happen.
"Stay flexible," she said. "Whatever your big plan is, it isn't going to turn out."
The recognition of women is very important for the university, Meyer said, because women still do not hold many prominent positions.
"Women are still underrepresented in boardrooms and other places of power," he said.
Annette Craycraft, a recipient of the Indiana Women of Achievement award, said women deserve recognition because of the barriers they have broken, and the difficult paths they have traveled.
"I think it's important to recognize what they contribute to their community or state or workforce," she said. "Women don't always toot their own horn."
Craycraft said as a Ball State alumna it was especially important for students to have role models.
President Jo Ann Gora said the ceremony gave students an opportunity to listen to the stories of the women being honored and share their stories as well.
"Here we have an opportunity to ask past honorees what it takes to be a leader," she said. "What we try every year is to inspire young women to achieve."
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