Sorry, but this is absolutely rediculous...and, IMHO, un-American.
If these women, or any other, achieve technological innovation or excellence that benifits the nation, then by all means, honor them nationally...their skin color, race, haricolor, eye color, the size of their thighs, etc. ad nauseum not-with-standing.
By doing this, the foolish, mushy, liberal minds that came up with it are perpetuating the thought and myth that woman of color MUST be classed apart because they are somehow unable to compete when grouped with everyone else. They are not only disciminating against woman who are not "of color", they are discriminating against and demeaning the very people who get such awards.
Either their ideological blindness and emotion prevents them from seeing this...or, more likely, they are doing it with a will.
It seems condescending to me.