For six decades Glamour has honored trailblazing women who have pushed our culture forward, and the brand's 2017 class of campus changemakers is no exception. This year's winners include a transgender rights activist, an environmentalist, and a two-time NCAA Division I women's basketball champion. All 10 honorees are featured in Glamour's May issue, on national newsstands April 11. They will also be honored at an awards ceremony luncheon presented by L'Oreal Paris on April 25 in New York City.
Glamour's College Women of the Year competition recognizes students from across the country for campus leadership, scholastic achievement, community involvement, and unique, inspiring goals. Past winners have included businesswoman and media mogul Martha Stewart, best-selling author Curtis Sittenfeld, and former Dallas mayor Laura Miller. All winners will receive a cash prize, a trip to New York City, introductions to top professionals in a variety of fields, national recognition in the magazine, and hair styling and makeup for the awards-ceremony luncheon complements of L'Oréal Paris. This 60th anniversary year, Glamour selected Mount Holyoke College senior Ellen Chilemba as the $20,000 grand-prize winner for her work helping Malawian women get the tools and training they need to become entrepreneurs through her organization Tiwale. Additionally, L'Oreal Paris will present a College Woman of Worth award and cash prize at the event on April 25 to the woman who exemplifies the strongest charitable spirit.
Click here to read the story on glamour.com: www.glamour.com/story/2017-college-women-of-the-year-winners .
Glamour's 2017 College Women of the Year are listed below, along with information about their achievements and a quote from each.
Ellen Chilemba, Mount Holyoke College
Founder of Tiwale, an organization that helps Malawian women get training and a secondary education to start their own businesses, and Glamour's $20,000 grand-prize winner:
"I want to help underserved women change their lives."
Sarah Clements, Georgetown University
Cofounder of the Jr. Newtown Action Alliance, #Fight4AFuture Network, and Georgetown Against Gun Violence:
"My mom survived Sandy Hook. I don't want another mass shooting to happen."
Rebecca Dharmapalan, University of California at Berkeley
Filmmaker of International Boulevard, an award-winning documentary that looks at child sex trafficking in Oakland:
"I love making films that make a difference."
Eli Erlick, Pitzer College
Founder of Trans Student Educational Resources, the only national organization led by trans youth:
"I want trans students to feel safe at school."
Angela Jin, Boston College, and Nishiki Maredia, The University of Texas at Austin
Best friends and co-owners of pop-culture and social-justice lifestyle brand 1950 Collective:
"We're breaking the mold of white guys with business ideas."
Marjorie Kirk, University of Kentucky
Editor-in-Chief of The Kentucky Kernel who exposed allegations of sexual assault on campus:
"I won't allow universities to hide sex offenders."
Samantha Marquez, Yale University
Scientist and creator of the Celloidosome, a living container made of cells that has a variety of medical uses:
"I want to inspire the next generation of Latina scientists."
Kia Nurse, University of Connecticut
Two-time NCAA Division I Championship—winning basketball player:
"I want young female athletes to defy the odds."
Destiny Watford, Towson University
Environmentalist and cofounder of Free Your Voice, a human-rights group based in Baltimore:
"We all have a stake in the air we breathe."
