Nominations being accepted for ATHENA Award

Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2015 ATHENA Award. This annual award is given to an exceptional individual who has achieved excellence in her/his business or profession, has served the community in a meaningful way and has assisted women in their attainment of professional goals and leadership skills. The award will be presented at a breakfast honoring the recipient at the Brown Estate May 14.

The ATHENA Award was first presented in 1982 in Lansing, Michigan and has grown to include presentations to more than 5,000 individuals in hundreds of cities in the United States as well as in Canada, China, Russia and the United Kingdom. The award takes the form of a hand-cast bronze sculpture symbolizing the strength, courage and wisdom of the recipient.

Our community believes in the values underlying ATHENA's philosophy of incorporating the talent and expertise of women into the leadership of our businesses, our communities and our government. The spirit of the ATHENA Award Program is captured in a quotation from Plato, "What is honored in a country will be cultivated there." By honoring exceptional leaders, others will be encouraged to excel.

The ATHENA Award has been presented in the Greater Orange area since 1993. Past recipients are: Pam Crew, Gisela Houseman, Anna Jean Caffey, Marcelle Adams, Louise Maberry, Alexine Adams, Jane Whitfield, Cecily Varner, Eula Hoffpauer, Mary McKenna, Vivian Kelly, Pauline Hargrove, Debbie Hughes, Betty Harmon, Beth Rach, Katherine Frey, Ruby Wimberly, Theresa Beauchamps, Cecil Broom, Nancy Vincent, Mary Behnke and Beverly Perry.

Please return your nomination by April 15.

Local sponsorship of the ATHENA Award is provided by First Financial Bank, NA.