The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce and Mike Mooney Oldsmobile are sponsoring The Athena Awards banquet to women who reach the apex of professional excellence.

The Athena Award also is designed to recognize and celebrate all women for being valued members and leaders in their community.

Nominations for this award are due Oct. 1 and the banquet will be held Nov. 6. Nomination forms can be obtained at the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce.

In order for a person to qualify for this award, the individual must meet certain criteria.

The nominee should demonstrate support of the goals of professional women and unselfish assistance in their behalf and provide valuable services to businesses and the community.

The individual also should exhibit initiative and creativity in enhancing the stability and improvement of the community.

According to Joan Watson, Athena Committee chair, anyone from the public can nominate someone. However, the applicant must live and work in DeKalb.

“We would like as many people as possible to know that a prestigious award such as the Athena Award exists, and that anyone in the public can nominate someone in hopes that they would be honored by such an award,” Watson said.

The Athena Award program was started in 1982 by the Lansing, Michigan Regional Chamber of Commerce. Today there are more than 1,600 recipients of Athena Awards nationwide.

Some past recipients of the Athena Award include Dianne Leifheit, general manager of DeKalb Radio Studios in 1992 and Jan Bradbury, director of development at Kishwaukee College in 1991.

For additional information or questions, contact the Chamber at 756-6306.