Celebrating ordinary women, creating ExtraOrdinary legacies. Nominate an ExtraOrdinary Woman today!
Celebrating ordinary women, creating ExtraOrdinary legacies. Nominate an ExtraOrdinary Woman today!
Congratulations to our 3rd Quarter 2025 Honoree Martha A. Hillmer
By Emma Stanford, EOW intern
Extraordinary doesn’t always mean famous. Sometimes, it looks like quiet strength, a steady hand that builds stability in the midst of constant change. For Martha A. Hillmer, that word fits perfectly. As a military wife who packed up her family 18 times in 30 years, she learned to turn upheaval into opportunity and challenge into compassion. Every move meant starting over — new homes, new schools, new communities — yet Martha never stopped giving back. From leading Girl Scouts overseas to volunteering in her children’s classrooms and later serving the Bloomington community she now calls home, she has spent a lifetime lifting others wherever she landed.
Pictured left, Martha A. Hillmer and husband, Bob
Welcome to The ExtraOrdinary Women Project
At The ExtraOrdinary Women Project (EOW), we believe every woman carries within her the power to transform ordinary lived experiences into extraordinary legacies. Our vision is to create a space where women come together in celebration and sisterhood — sharing stories, offering mentorship, and inspiring one another toward greater possibility.
Each quarter, one honoree will be selected from nominations and featured here on our website and with our local media partners. All submissions are reviewed blindly to ensure fairness, and every nomination remains active for one full year.
Through storytelling, recognition, and collective encouragement, the EOW Project seeks to uplift women who might otherwise go unnoticed, reminding us all that the extraordinary often begins in the everyday.
We are accepting nominations for our 4th Quarter 2025 EOW Honoree.
4th Quarter Nomination Period is Sept. 16 - Nov. 15. The 4th Q. Honoree Recognition Ceremony is Jan. 13, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.
All nominations submitted are considered for one full calendar year from time of nomination. Thank you for all of your extraordinary nominations so far!
How do I nominate an ExtraOrdinary Woman? Simply visit our Nominate Tab above to nominate online!
Special thanks to our partners who make our events possible, including: The Pantagraph, EOW Board of Directors, Fr. Patrick, St. Bede Abbey, Blue Skies Counseling, LLC, Barb Carr, Norma Roberts, That’s What She Said, Brenda Baker, Kroger’s Flower Shop, Catherine Porter of Carle Health and Fitness Center and anonymous donors.
Let’s keep bringing out the hidden #GirlPower in Blo-No.
We are celebrating the ExtraOrdinary among us.
Calling everyday heroes.
We are accepting nominations on a continual basis. Deadlines for nominations are:
1st Quarter Nomination Period is Now - March 15; Presentation April 8 at 5:30 p.m.
2nd Quarter Nomination Period is March 16 - June 15; Presentation is July 8 at 5:30 p.m.
3rd Quarter Nomination Period is June 16 -Sept. 15; Presentation is Oct. 14
4th Quarter Nomination Period is Sept. 16 - Nov. 15; Presentation is Jan. 13, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.
Please note that all nominations will be considered for one full calendar year.
The ExtraOrdinary Women Project (EOW) recognizes the immense potential women have to take their ordinary lived experiences and create extraordinary legacies. The EOW Project’s Vision is to bring women together in celebration and in sisterhood through sharing stories, providing mentorship, and creating space for collective inspiration.
All submissions will be reviewed quarterly and one ExtraOrdinary Woman honoree will be featured on our website and by our local media partners. Submitted nominations not chosen to be featured will be considered for a full year. All submissions are reviewed blindly with identifying information removed to retain an unbiased review.
Celebrating women. Sharing stories. Inspiring others.
The Pantagraph, September 1, 2021
Contact
Feel free to contact us with any questions by filling out our form. We can also be reached by email or via Facebook.
Email
extraordinarywomenBN@gmail.com
@ExtraOrdinaryWomenProjectBN