Trailblazer Award
The Trailblazer Award was created in 1994 to recognize a woman who is/was an influential community leader, is/was “the first” in her field, or made/is making a significant contribution toward elevating the image of women in business.
This is a wonderful opportunity to honor outstanding women who not only represent great accomplishments in their fields but further the reputation of St. Louis Forum as a remarkable organization.
Pictured left to right: Dawn Gipson (St. Louis Forum President) and Kristen Sorth (2025 Trailblazer).
Click the button below to submit a nomination for a trailblazing woman. Nominations will close on February 15, 2026.
Click Here to Nominate a Trailblazing Woman!
2025 Trailblazer: Kristen Sorth
Kristen Sorth
Director and CEO of St. Louis County Library
Past Recipients of the Trailblazer Award
| 1994 | Carolyn Losos | 2011 | The Founding Members |
| 1994 | Ruth Krause Jacobson | 2012 | Brenda Newberry |
| 1994 | Patricia Rich | 2013 | Margaret Donnelly |
| 1994 | Martha Rounds | 2013 | Paula Gianino |
| 1994 | Janet McAfee Weakley | 2013 | Gayle Jackson |
| 1995 | Susan Uchitelle | 2014 | Lesley Hoffarth |
| 1996 | Blanche Touhill | 2015 | Linda Goldstein |
| 1997 | Sue Clancy | 2016 | Patricia Rice Hellmuth |
| 1998 | Theresa Loveless | 2017 | Susan E. Block |
| 1999 | Jean C. Hamilton | 2018 | Lyda Krewson |
| 2000 | Dora B. Schriro, Ed.D | 2019 | Marie Casey |
| 2002 | Jo Ann Arnold (Harmon) | 2019 | Betsy Cohen |
| 2003 | Ellen Sherberg | 2019 | Martha Uhlhorn |
| 2004 | Marylen Mann | 2020 | Anna Crosslin |
| 2005 | Juliann Niemann | 2021 | Nicole Adewale |
| 2006 | Vivian Eveloff | 2022 | Frances Levine, PhD |
| 2006 | Marcia Mellitz | 2023 | Mary Alice Ryan |
| 2006 | Betty Van Uum | 2024 | Maxine Clark |
| 2007 | Judy Meador | 2024 | Laurna Godwin |
| 2008 | Karen Levin Coburn | 2024 | Toni Kutchan, PhD |
| 2009 | Pat Whitaker | 2025 | Kristen Sorth |
| 2010 | Joan Briccetti |
* Our Founding Members are Schuyler Gott Andrews, Joan Briccetti, Sue Clancy, Vivian Eveloff, Dee Joyner, Rosalyn Lowerhaupt, Judy Meador, Joan Newman, Pat Rich, and Ellen Sherberg.