Lori Guitson, President, of SUN Buick-Pontiac-GMC, presents the 2007 ATHENA Award to Joanne D. Arduino, Artistic Director of Ballet Theatre of Scranton,

at the November 7, 2007 Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce annual membership luncheon, held at the Hilton Conference Center, Scranton, PA.

THE ATHENA AWARD is presented annually by chambers of commerce, women’s organizations and universities. The award is established through local host organizations in partnership with ATHENA International’s national underwriters, local businesses and individual sponsors. 

Nominations are solicited and an ATHENA sculpture is awarded to an individual in the community who meets specific criteria listed below. 

Since the program’s inception in 1982 more than 5000 awards have been presented in over 500 communities in the United States, Canada, China, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and most recently the United Kingdom. By honoring exceptional leaders, the ATHENA Award® Program seeks to inspire others to achieve excellence in their professional and personal lives.

THE CRITERIA
ATHENA Award Recipients are individuals who 

  • Demonstrate excellence, creativity, and initiative in their 
    business or profession.
     
  • Provide valuable service by contributing time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community.
     
  • Actively assist women in realizing their full leadership potential.
     

THE BENEFITS
Involvement with the ATHENA Award® Program benefits your organization and your community.
 

  • Your organization and community provide an environment where women’s accomplishments and contributions are valued.
     
  • Recognizing outstanding individuals in your community clearly defines role models for others to emulate.
     
  • Affiliation with an international network of women and men who work together to create leadership opportunities for women encourages the empowerment of women leaders.
     
  • Sizable attendance at award events by community and business leaders promotes positive relations and networking opportunities. 
     
  • Substantial media coverage results in exposure for sponsoring businesses and organizations.

The ATHENA Award is represented by an original bronze and marble sculpture inspired by the goddess of Greek mythology known for her strength, courage, wisdom and enlightenment—qualities embodied in the ATHENA leadership model. The Award is unique in both scope---local, national and international---and the ATHENA mission upon which it is based. The ATHENA Award is presented to a woman ---or man--- who is honored for professional excellence, community service and for actively assisting women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills.

The ATHENA Award actively supports and celebrates the ATHENA mission of supporting, developing and honoring women leaders, inspiring women to achieve their full potential--creating balance in leadership worldwide. The ATHENA Award honors individuals who strive toward the highest levels of personal and professional accomplishment, who excel in their chosen field, devote time and energy to their community in a meaningful way, and forge paths of leadership for other women to follow.

ATHENA nominees must demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession, provide valuable service to improve the quality of life for others in their community, and assist women in reaching their full leadership potential.

The second annual ATHENA Award was presented in 2006 to Rosemary Broderick, Chief Corporate Executive of Advanced Imaging Specialists. The ATHENA Award, started in Lansing, Michigan in 1982, is presented in hundreds of cities in the United States and Canada. The award takes the form of a hand-cast bronze sculpture symbolizing the strength, courage, and wisdom of the recipient.

The Chamber supports the values underlying the ATHENA Foundation’s philosophy that incorporates 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 Program is nationally underwritten by the Oldsmobile and Pontiac GMC Divisions of General Motors, and National City Bank. Local sponsorship is provided by Sun Buick Pontiac GMC in Moosic.

Sponsored by: Sun Buick Pontiac GMC