“Passionate,” “committed,” “driven” and “selfless” are just a few adjectives repeated in the nomination letters for The Enquirer’s 42nd annual Women of the Year honors.

“We are very gratified by the hundreds of letters we received from our readers, telling us about the extraordinary women in our community. We were challenged to narrow the group down to 10 honorees for the class of 2009,” said Margaret Buchanan, Enquirer president and publisher.

“It will be a privilege for us to share their stories in our special WOY section on April 18, and at the award luncheon on April 28.”

Nominated by co-workers, volunteers, bosses and those who have benefited from their work, the women have volunteered their time and skills to various needs throughout the community, whether in the schools, arts or social-service organizations.

These 10 women will be honored at the April 28 luncheon at the Hyatt Regency, Downtown:

Suzanne Costandi, Hyde Park: Since arriving in Cincinnati in 1970, Costandi has worked to promote health education for children. The former director of programs and education at the Cincinnati Museum Center helped develop the Children’s Discovery Center and has organized the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s “Lollipops” concerts for children. Costandi, who has a nursing degree, has also led capital fundraising campaigns for Mercy and TriHealth hospitals, and worked to raise funding for the needs of elderly people.

Marian Cummins, Independence: Cummins, a nurse and faculty member at Northern Kentucky University, has devoted her time to improving the health of underserved people. In 2003, she started Health From the Heart – now the Nurse Advocacy Center for the Underserved. The program places registered nurses in women’s shelters in Northern Kentucky to care for basic health needs. Cummins continues to coordinate the volunteer nurses who staff the program, which has expanded to include residents of housing projects.

Yvonne L. Edmonds-West, West Chester Township: For more than 32 years, Edmonds-West has nurtured youth through various organizations. She helped bring the Cincinnati Opera’s outreach program – “Oh Freedom!” a musical tribute to African-American history – to schoolchildren across the community. As a member of the nonprofit service group Links Inc., she tutored students at Lincoln Heights Elementary School, and has conducted fundraising for the YWCA of Greater Cincinnati and the Healthcare Connection.

Crystal Faulkner, Hyde Park: Faulkner, a co-owner of the financial firm Cooney Faulkner & Stevens, has volunteered her time to make financial concepts more understandable for the general public. She is founder of Accounting for Kids, a program that introduces financial literacy to students; is a member of the board of trustees for the Economics Center for Education and Research at the University of Cincinnati; and helped develop a financial education program for Cincinnati Public Schools – the first urban school system in Ohio to commit to such a curriculum.

Suzette Fisher, Amberley Village: Fisher, who moved to Cincinnati in 1986, is a founding member of the Women’s Leadership Council for the United Way. She serves on the allocation committee for the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, and often visits the recipients of the organization’s family services. She also helped reshape the scope and structure of education at Rockwern Academy, a Jewish school serving preschool-grade 8.

Cheryl Hill, Colerain Township: Hill manages a global team as GE Aviation’s sourcing manager for China and India. She is also a volunteer board member for the General Electric Credit Union, where she started on the supervisory committee. She organizes the company’s volunteer work for organizations, including the Freestore Foodbank, St. Rita School for the Deaf and the March of Dimes, and mentors new employees and students in Aiken High School’s College Bound Program.

Rochelle S. Jeffries Johnson, North College Hill: While working for 35 years as a teacher and reading intervention specialist for the Cincinnati Public Schools, Jeffries Johnson provided students with the tools to pursue careers. She also raised record-setting donations for community projects supported by the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Since retiring in 2006, Jeffries Johnson has continued to tutor students of all ages, volunteers at the Springfield Township Senior Center and serves as a volunteer property manager for Lee Chapel A.M.E. Church.

Sister Janet Linz, Over-the-Rhine: While principal at St. Francis Seraph School in Over-the-Rhine, Linz is credited with turning around the grade school by establishing support programs and scholarships to help students continue at Catholic high schools. Now at Purcell Marian High School, Linz formed and leads the Lavatus Powell Urban Students Program to help guide students who are at risk of failing to graduate.

Elizabeth Tu Hoffman, Indian Hill: Tu Hoffman, who was born in the United States but received her primary education in Taiwan, has devoted much of her life to improving the ties between Cincinnati and China. She established E. Tu Associates in 1982, which has helped many small and medium-sized companies establish trade relations with Asia. Since 1976 she has volunteered her bilingual skills for community services, and has served as chair for the Cincinnati-Liuzhou sister-city program.

Ronna Willis, Amberley Village: Willis has chaired major fundraising events for Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati Opera and the Cincinnati Ballet, in addition to three galas for Jewish Hospital. While serving on committees for the ballet, Willis has supported the needs of dancers, providing Thanksgiving dinners and arranging housing when needed, and she started an education program for the dancers at Cincinnati State. .