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Athena Award Program

The ATHENA Award honors individuals who strive toward the highest levels of professional accomplishment: women who excel in their chosen field, have devoted time and energy to their community in a meaningful way and also open doors so that others may follow in their path.

Qualifications:

  • Nominee must have a proven record of contribution to the business and/or financial growth of her company or organization.
  • Nominee must demonstrate in her career ongoing advancement or progressive job growth, as well as significant leadership accomplishments and other achievements and milestones along the way.
  • Nominee must possess a minimum of five years of professional business experience.
  • Nominee is not required to be a member of the Chamber or to be employed by a Chamber member firm. However, her employment must be within the Chamber service area encompassing the Mahoning Valley.
  • Nominee may be from either for-profit or not-for-profit sectors.
  • Previous ATHENA nominees are eligible for nomination.
  • ATHENA Award Co-Presenter, The Vindicator/vindy.com, ATHENA Committee and Selection Committee members are not eligible for nomination.
Athena 2016 Keynote Speaker Agnus Berenato, 2016 Athena Award Recipient Kathy Cook, and Regional Chamber Chairwoman Martha Bushey

Evaluation Categories and Criteria

Nominees will be evaluated according to the following categories:
  • BUSINESS/PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS 60%
    Demonstrated significant, measurable achievements that have produced exceptional organizational impact. Areas of concentration include profitability and/or financial impact, quality, customer/employee satisfaction and strategic planning.
  • COMMUNITY SERVICE 20%
    Provided valuable leadership service to the community.
  • SUPPORT FOR PROFESSIONAL WOMEN 20%
    Exhibited active support for and involvement in the goals of professional women (beyond daily/regular job responsibilities).

Selection Process

A Selection Committee comprised of prominent business leaders from our community and past ATHENA recipients will review all nominations to ensure that candidates fit the qualifications of an ATHENA nominee. All finalists will receive a confirmation letter and ATHENA Nominee Questionnaire by Monday, March 20, 2017 and must be available for orientation on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.

All ATHENA nominees will be recognized, and the 2017 ATHENA Award recipient will be announced, at the ATHENA Award Dinner to be held on Thursday, May 18, 2017 at Mr. Anthony's in Boardman.

Separate invitations will be mailed in April for the dinner.

Nomination Procedure

  • Nominator is required to make a “courtesy call” to Kim Calvert, Vice President of Marketing & Business Services at the Regional Chamber, at 330.744.2131, ext. 1235, to prevent the duplication of nominees, as well as to ensure that a potential nominee fits the criteria if nominator is unsure.
  • Complete the nomination form as thoroughly as possible to ensure a comprehensive profile of your nominee.
  • A CURRENT RESUME must accompany all nomination forms.
  • Completed nomination forms must be received NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017.

Selection Process and Nominating

Click here to download the 2017 Athena Award Nomination Form

Completing the form:
Nominations for the ATHENA Award should be submitted using the nomination form above. Please save a copy of the completed form and email to Kim Calvert. If necessary, one additional typed page of information may also be submitted. WE CANNOT ACCEPT HANDWRITTED DOCUMENTS.

Click here to download the 2017 Athena Partnership Form

Sponsorship Opportunities:
Participating as a sponsor for the 2017 ATHENA Award Program not only will help honor your nominee, but is also a powerful marketing opportunity to enhance your organization’s visible commitment to the community, leadership development and our Valley’s success stories.

ATHENA SCHOLARSHIP 2017-2018

  • The ATHENA Award Program honors exceptional professional women for their career successes, service and leadership to the community and their empowerment of other professional women through active mentorship. The ATHENA scholarship has been established to further the goals of the ATHENA mission and to promote education.
  • Applicants must be either a high school senior planning to attend -- or already enrolled at -- Youngstown State University, Kent State University's Regional Campuses (East Liverpool, Salem or Trumbull) or Eastern Gateway Community College; or a student currently enrolled full- or part-time at Youngstown State University, Kent State University's Regional Campuses (East Liverpool, Salem or Trumbull) or Eastern Gateway Community College.
  • Download the ATHENA Scholarship Form 2017-2018
  • Applications for the 2017-2018 ATHENA Scholarship must be received by Wednesday, March 1, 2017.
  • Submit applications to: Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, 201 E. Commerce Street, Suite 150, Youngstown, OH 44503 / info@cfmv.org