Inspire Awards celebrate women of leadership in Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Lincoln celebrated its eighth annual Inspire Awards commemorating the achievements and accomplishments of women in leadership.

The awards focus on honoring influential women in areas such as business, government, philanthropy, education, health care and aspiring future female leaders.

Nominees are considered based on their leadership, contributions to their communities, and ability to empower others.

“I have four daughters and I think being strong and keeping on your path, is so important even when things get so hard. You really have to believe in yourself,” said Tamara Sloan, awards finalist and owner of The Mill.

Sixty finalists and many more nominees were recognized for their dedication to the community and the impact they have on those around them.

“One of my favorite things that we do is ‘Inspire Girls,’ so really reaching down to the next generation of female leaders within our community,” said Natalia Wiita, president of Lincoln Journal Star.

During the ceremony, Angie Muhleisen of Union Bank & Trust was named woman of the year.

She was honored for her selflessness and dedication for over 40 years in the business.

Scholarships were also awarded to young women in the community, including a $5,000 scholarship from Union Bank and Trust.

“As I have reflected over these past couple of weeks, I realized that all of my growth and success could not have been without my parents, who immigrated from Darfur, Sudan, and try my best every single day to make their sacrifices worth it,” said Alaa Ismail, University of Nebraska-Lincoln freshman and recipient of the Inspire Scholarship.

Inspire has offered $50,000 to local university and high school students since its inception in 2015.

The group connects female leaders with regular events, a monthly newsletter, videos and interviews to build a growing network of extraordinary women.

For more information and a full list of awards and nominees visit: inspirelincoln.com.