Description

Join us at the historic Egyptian Theatre for the annual ATHENA & Women of Accomplishment Award Reception, a special evening recognizing remarkable women making a difference in our community. The evening kicks off with a cocktail hour at 6:30 p.m., followed by the awards program at 7:15 p.m. A cash bar will be available.

Support a Lasting Legacy. Become a Sponsor!

Join us in honoring 35 years of women who lead, serve, and uplift our community. Your sponsorship not only supports the event, but helps shine a spotlight on their impact and inspires the leaders of tomorrow. Click "Sponsor Registration" to support today!

Tickets

Early bird tickets are available for $18 through October 10th. Regular tickets are available online the week of the event or at the door for $25. Click "Register" to purchase tickets.

What is the ATHENA Award?

The ATHENA Award is part of an international program honoring women who demonstrate professional excellence, community service, and a commitment to mentoring and empowering other women. The Woman of Accomplishment recognition, created by the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, honors retired women who made a meaningful impact in their careers and continue to serve their community in significant ways.

Congratulations 2025 ATHENA Award Finalists!
Devyn Grzywa - Community Mortgage Lender, FNBO
Donna Larson - Principal, DeKalb High School
Rylie Loucks-Kues - Director of Community Programming & Outreach, Family Service Agency
Linda Sherman - Director of Admissions, DeKalb Area Retirement Center (Oak Crest)

Congratulations 2025 Woman of Accomplishment Honorees!
Kathy Dombek
Donna Willrett

Scoring and Selection Process

To ensure a fair and impartial selection process, all completed ATHENA finalist nominations are reviewed and scored by other Chambers of Commerce across Illinois that have long-standing ATHENA programs of their own.

Each nomination packet is carefully evaluated based on established criteria that reflect the core values of leadership, mentorship, and community impact. These external reviewers do not have ties to local nominees, helping to maintain the integrity and objectivity of the selection process. Once all scores are submitted, the highest-scoring finalist is named the ATHENA recipient.

Unlike the competitive scoring process for the ATHENA Award, the Woman of Accomplishment Award is non-competitive and designed to celebrate the unique impact of each nominee.