Wayne County ATHENA Leadership Awards will accept nominations beginning today (April 29) for its ATHENA Leadership Award, ATHENA Young Professional Award, and the ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award.

Nominations will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 7.

Nomination forms are available at waynecoathena.com.

All ATHENA award recipients will be announced before the dinner. The awards will be presented at the annual dinner at 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 8, at Forest Hills Country Club, located at 2169 South 23rd St. in Richmond, Indiana.

The ATHENA Leadership Award® will be presented to an exemplary leader who has achieved excellence in their business or profession, served the community in a meaningful way and, most importantly, actively assisted women to achieve their full leadership potential.

Previous award recipients include Mary Jo Clark, Jackie Carberry, Kim Poinsett, Angie Dickman, Janis Buhl-Macy, Melissa Vance, Tracie Robinson, and Kathy Girten.

The ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award celebrates emerging leaders. ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Nominees are 18-35 years of age. Nominees demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession. They provide valuable service to improve the quality of life for others in their community and clearly serve as role models for young women both personally and professionally.

Previous award recipients include Jessie Pilewski, Ashley Sieb, Roxie Deer, and Tai Muldoon.

The ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award recognizes businesses and organizations that ignite, amplify, and celebrate leaders that are women. ATHENA organizational nominees are businesses or organizations, in the profit or non-profit sectors – who create an organizational culture that encourages women employees to achieve their full leadership potential or gives back to the larger community of women and girls by providing and/ or supporting leadership development opportunities and initiatives.

Previous award recipients include Girl Scouts – Wayne and Union County Service Unit and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wayne County.

ATHENA International is a catalyst for developing diverse, transformative leaders worldwide through experiential programs that ignite, amplify, and celebrate girls, women, and allies —from young scholars to seasoned professionals.

At the heart of everything we do are the Eight Principles of Enlightened Leadership™ (ATHENA Leadership Model®): Live Authentically, Learn Constantly, Build Relationships, Foster Collaboration, Act Courageously, Advocate Fiercely, Give Back and Celebrate.

ATHENA is driven to bring empathy based, compassionate, and inclusive leadership culture to the workplace, educational institutions, and individuals.

For over four decades, ATHENA International has recognized exceptional women and pioneering leaders with ATHENA Leadership Awards on global, national, and community levels. Their impact extends to nearly 8,000 award recipients who stand as change-makers and trailblazers, opening doors of leadership opportunities for girls and women in communities worldwide.

The program is facilitated locally by Wayne Bank and Indiana University East, licensed ATHENA host organizations.

Nominations are sought throughout the community and recipients are selected by a diverse group of community leaders based on the criteria above.

ATHENA Leadership Award® recipients hail from all professional sectors. The award’s rich history, international scope and emphasis on mentorship make this award unique and amongst the most prestigious leadership awards one can receive.  Award recipients demonstrate The Eight Principles of Enlightened Leadership™ in all aspects of their life.

Wayne Bank and Indiana University East are honored to bring this award to Wayne County, established locally in 2014. ATHENA Leadership Award® recipients are presented with a hand-cast, bronze or crystal sculpture that symbolizes the strength, courage, and wisdom of ATHENA recipients.

Proceeds benefit local organizations dedicated to serving leadership building for women of all ages. To nominate visit waynecoathena.com.

For more information contact JoAnn Spurlock, Vice President, Director of Operations at Wayne Bank, at (765) 259-0209, jspurlock@waynebnk.com, or IU East Office of External Affairs at (765) 973-8492 .