BEND, OR -- The Bend Chamber is taking applications for their first ever "Woman of the Year" awards. Connie Druliner with Express Employment Personnel is one of the judges who will help decide who wins. She says the chamber came up with the idea following some popular talks.  "As a result of the successful women roundtable series, the powers that be started thinking -- how to put together something to honor women," Bruliner tells KBND News. "So they're doing it in 2015."

The chamber will be handing out awards for "Women of the Year" and "Young Woman of the Year" as well as "Community Hero of the Year." Nominations are due February 20th, and are available either at the Bend Chamber business location or on their website.

"I think we've had more and more women that have taken higher and higher leadership positions," Druliner says. "And we all know these people. Heroes you hear about. There are also unsung heroes in our community who you haven't heard about yet."

The awards ceremony will be held at the Tower Theater on March 11th.