Nominate an ExtraOrdinary Woman today!
Nominate an ExtraOrdinary Woman today!
We are accepting nominations for our Second Quarter 2025 EOW Honoree.
2nd Quarter Nomination Period is Now - June 15. The 2nd Q. Honoree Recognition Ceremony is July 8 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!
Congratulations to our Fourth Quarter 2024 Honoree Dr. Kimberly Ku
By Sarah Lynn Burkhardt
Kimberly Ku: A Journey of Authenticity, Reinvention, and Empowerment
A Foundation of Authenticity: The Early Years
Kimberly Ku’s life story is one of resilience, curiosity, and deep introspection. Raised in Troy, Michigan,
a suburb of Detroit, Kim was the middle child in a Chinese immigrant family. Her father, a mechanical
engineering professor at Wayne State University, and her mother, who worked in food services while
raising the family, instilled in her the values of hard work and authenticity. These early lessons would
later shape her personal and professional growth.
“My mom really put into me this lesson of like, ‘do what you want to do, be authentic to you,’” Kim
recalls. “There’s going to be a lot of pressures that you’re going to feel like you have to submit to, but
ultimately, if it feels like it’s not you, then you’ve got to do the best you can to just stop doing that, no
matter how easy it might seem to just keep doing it.”
This guidance, combined with her natural curiosity, formed the foundation for Kim’s path forward.
From a young age, she was fascinated by the world around her, always asking questions and exploring
different paths. “Literally everything fascinated me,” she reflects. “I spent a lot of time reflecting and
trying to understand things, and I tried lots of things and learned a lot from messing up.”
Special thanks to our partners who help sponsor the ExtraOrdinary Women Project: The Pantagraph, EOW Board of Directors, Limited Magazine, That’s What She Said, Fr. Patrick, St. Bede Abbey, Blue Skies Counseling, LLC, Rob Dob’s Restaurant, Brenda Baker, Kroger Flower Shop, Barb Carr, Rev. Dr. Norma Roberts, Feli Sebastian 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