Community honors NIU staff members

STAFF REPORTER

JEAN VOLZ

The privilege of winning a woman of the year award could belong to one of two NIU staff members nominated for the Athena Award.

Joan Watson, chair of this year’s Athena Award Committee, said the cosponsors of the award are Mike Mooney Oldsmobile and the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce.

This year’s Athena Award had 12 nominees, she said.

Nancy K. Clemetsen, staff secretary in the assistant dean’s office in the College of Education, and Kathy Hotelling, director of NIU’s Counseling and Student Development Center, have been nominated for the award.

She said, “The award acknowledges the professionalism and extra effort made by the women of the community.”

Watson said nomination forms are available to the community in mid-August of each year and must be returned by the Oct. 1 deadline.

The nomination process entails filling out a form and describing how the woman fits the criteria set forth by Athena Award Committee, she said.

Criteria include four distinct traits the woman should exhibit, she said.

Among them is the shown support of the goals of professional women and the providing of valuable service to her workplace and the community, the nomination form stated.

The winner will be announced Nov. 6 at a ball at the DeKalb Park District, she said.

“It will be a nice elegant affair. Men will be in tuxes and women in their best dresses and dancing shoes,” Watson said.

She said cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served at 6:30 p.m. and there will be a harpist to set the mood for the evening.

The nominees will be presented and the winner will be honored around 8:30 or 9 p.m., she said.

A disc jockey also will provide music for the evening’s festivities, Watson said.

She said tickets to the event will be available until Oct. 27 for $30 for anyone wanting to attend.

Although a decision has not been made regarding this year’s recipient of the Athena Award, Watson said, “Just being a nominee is an honor.”