Nominations Open for the 24th Annual Mercy Otis Warren ‘Cape Cod Woman of the Year’ Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2025 (Barnstable, MA) – The Mercy Otis Warren ‘Cape Cod Woman of the Year’ Selection Committee is pleased to announce that nominations are now being accepted for the 24th annual award honoring a woman on Cape Cod. The recipient of this prestigious award demonstrates an outstanding contribution to her community.
The Mercy Otis Warren ‘Cape Cod Woman of the Year’ award recognizes a Cape Cod woman who has made meaningful contributions in one or more of the following areas: arts, business, education, community involvement, etc., while strongly embracing volunteerism. Recipients exemplify the spirit of Mercy Otis Warren, an early American patriot from Barnstable.
Nominations should be presented on one typewritten page, single-spaced with a maximum of 500 words, describing what qualifies the candidate and what makes her unique and deserving of such an honor. Submissions should include as much multifaceted information about the nominee as possible.
How to Submit a Nomination:
Nominations will be accepted until 11:59 PM on Patriots’ Day, Monday, April 21, 2025. There are three ways to submit a nomination:
- Submit electronically: Submit a nomination at https://www.capecod.gov/MOW-25. The electronic form will prompt you to upload a nomination letter.
- Mail: Send a nomination letter to:
Mercy Otis Warren Cape Cod Woman of the Year Selection Committee
c/o Barnstable County, P.O. Box 427, Barnstable, MA 02630
- Email: Send a nomination letter to mercyotiswarrencapecod@gmail.com
The 2025 recipient will receive a statuette of Mercy Otis Warren, crafted by local celebrated sculptor David Lewis, as have all past honorees since the award’s inception in 2002.
Recipients are also invited to participate in the 4th of July parade in Barnstable Village.
Award Ceremony Details
The 2025 award ceremony will take place on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at Tales of Cape Cod, located at The Olde Colonial Courthouse 3046 Main St, Barnstable, MA 02630. Admission to the Mercy Otis Warren event is free, and donations will be accepted.
More Information
Details about the award, its history, and its local sponsors are available online at https://www.capecod.gov/MOWAward
For additional questions, email the Selection Committee at mercyotiswarrencapecod@gmail.com.
About the Mercy Otis Warren Woman of the Year Award
Past recipients include: 2002 – Marion R. Vuilleumier | 2003 – Jean D. Gardner | 2004 – Eugenia Fortes | 2005 – Felicia R. Penn | 2006 – Bonnie M. Snow | 2007 – Lynne M. Poyant | 2008 – Josephine P. Ives | 2009 – Mary L. LeClair | 2010 – Gloria W. Rudman | 2011 – Susan A. French | 2012 – Judy Walden Scarafile | 2013 – Dorothy A. Savarese | 2014 – Mary Lou Petitt | 2015 – Michelle L. DeSilva | 2016 – Ann M. Williams | 2017 – Dolores Holden Daluz | 2018 – Nancy Viall Shoemaker | 2019 – Juliet Bernstein | 2020 – Mimi McConnell | 2021 – Wendy Northcross | 2022 – Angelina Chilaka | 2023 – Amanda Converse | 2024 – Cyndy Jones
About Mercy Otis Warren
Mercy Otis Warren was born in the village of West Barnstable in 1728. She was the third of thirteen children and the first daughter of James and Mary Allyne Otis. While her older brother, James (“The Patriot”), was recognized as one of the Sons of Liberty in the 1760s, Mercy Otis Warren has been called “The First Lady of the American Revolution.”
In an era when women’s education was limited, Mercy’s father, Judge James Otis Sr., allowed her to study alongside her brothers under the guidance of Reverend Jonathan Russell. She later married James Warren, and together they became deeply involved in revolutionary politics. Encouraged by her husband, Mercy wrote poems, plays, and pamphlets advocating for colonial resistance against British rule. She also championed the inclusion of a Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution and emphasized the importance of women’s roles in politics and society.
Recognized as one of America’s most influential women, Mercy Otis Warren was honored with the launch of the Liberty Ship SS Mercy Warren in 1943. She was posthumously inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2002.
MEDIA CONTACT: Sonja Sheasley, sonja.sheasley@capecod.gov
