The Greater Westerly-Pawcatuck Area Chamber of Commerce and Geraldine Cunningham Associates are co-sponsoring the Seventh Annual ATHENA Award and have announced the five nominees:

Jeanne Abate, Sr. Mortgage Officer, Westerly Community Credit Union
Elizabeth Johnstone, President, Recovery Yoga Inc and independent yoga instructor
Gloria Smith Russell, Reporter, Westerly Sun
Linda Spoonster Schwartz, Commissioner, CT Department of Veterans Affairs since 2003
Mary Jane DiMaio, retired real estate broker

All nominees have met the following criteria to be considered for the Award:

1. Nominee assists women in realizing their full leadership potential.  This can be done in the form of mentoring, providing employment opportunities, or any other demonstration of investment in the welfare, professional or otherwise, of women.

2. Nominee demonstrates excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession.

3. Nominee provides valuable service by contributing time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community.

4. Nominee must live and/or work in the Westerly, Pawcatuck, Richmond, Hopkinton, Wood River Junction, Wyoming community.

All nominees are to be revered for their fine contributions, and one will be honored in a special way at the ATHENA Award Dinner on September 29, 6:00pm at the Lake of Isles Golf Course.  The honoree will receive a 14 inch sculpture and the opportunity to join the hundreds of ATHENA winners worldwide at the national conference in Chicago in April of 2010.  Representative Diana Urban will be the keynote speaker for the event.

ATHENA Scholarship presentations will also be awarded that evening thanks to Zoe & Co. who sponsors this portion of the event each year.  An award of $1,500 will be given to local youths who have exemplary scholastic achievements and meet the requirements of community service and demonstration of ATHENA principles.

The event is open to the public. Tickets are $40 and are available on a first-come, first serve basis. For more information about the event, contact Lisa Konicki at 401.596.7761.