Submit Your Nominations for Outstanding Woman Contest

March is Women’s History Month, a time when we remember important women who have made a difference in our lives. That can be a teacher, a mother, sister, friend — you fill in the blank.

And this month, I’m reaching out to you readers. Today marks the launch of our Outstanding Woman contest. Join the conversation by submitting stories about the inspirational women in your life. Share your story, or simply read each other's. At the end of the month, we'll round up all of our nominations, and voters will then choose who's the most fabulous woman in the community. The rules are simple: please nominate the women by first and last names, and we want to stay local, so make sure she either lives or works in Rohnert Park, Cotati or Penngrove. The winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to the venue of her choice. Need a spa day? A night out? Just let us know where you want to spend the fifty bucks. Heck, it's the least we can do to say thank you for everything you do.

For me, I know it is the women in my life who have made me the person I am today. My mom encouraged me to follow my dream of becoming a soldier since I was 10 years old. It was my grandma who taught me my hard work ethic, and the power of the truth. It was my aunt Juli who, after surviving what doctors said was terminal cancer, taught me the beauty of living every day to its fullest. I couldn't live without my sisters, and I wouldn't be a journalist if it weren't for my mentor Yvonne Daley.

But today, I want to tell you about my friend Shiloh Yard. I met Shiloh when I joined the 341st Military Police Company, out of San Jose, Calif., I 2002. A year later, we were deployed to Iraq together. She was an MP, I was the unit supply specialist. Shiloh is one of the strongest women I know.

Not only did she mobilize the entire unit of about 300 soldiers almost on her own, she kept me together through the rough days out there. We cried together, we shared the occasional bottle together, we grew up together. While it’s taken both of us longer than most people to get through college, to curb vices we may have had and to get through the feelings that come with fighting a war, none of it would have been possible without her.

Shiloh recently became a national registered Emergency Medical Technician, and just got accepted to a fire academy to become a firefighter. I’m happy to share her story with you readers — she fought our lives and now she'll be saving lives.

for offical contest rules.