The 2011 ATHENA Award recipient will be announced by Nashville Mayor Karl Dean at a gala celebration Thursday, March 31^st, 2011, at the Parthenon. The nominees include women from this community.

Doors open at 5:30 PM with the program beginning at 6:00 PM. A reception follows immediately.

Complimentary Gray Line buses will circle the park, helping guests to and from their cars. Tickets are still available from www.NashvilleATHENA.org or by calling (615) 269-7489.

This grand finish will be the culmination of a full year’s effort by over 50 volunteers on behalf of the Nashville ATHENA Award and Scholarship Program. Led by Chair Deborah Faulkner and Co-Chair Jan Maddox, more than 30 women’s organizations participated in the 2010-2011 program. In addition, 40 business and professional organizations provided sponsorship support.

Six scholarships, totaling $21,000, and the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award were presented in separate events earlier this year. This was the first time the latter award has been given in Nashville.

The ATHENA Award recipient will be chosen from a field of 28 outstanding professional and business women who were nominated by their sponsoring organization.

The International ATHENA Award Program was established in 1982. Today, it is celebrated in more than 500 communities in five different countries, including the United States, Canada, China, Russia, and the United Kingdom. 2011 is the 21st year the Nashville ATHENA Award has been given in conjunction with Women’s History Month.

The Nashville ATHENA Award and Scholarship Program honors business and professional women for their career successes, service to community, and encouragement of women. It seeks to inspire others to achieve excellence in their professional and personal lives. The Scholarship Program recognizes women who have chosen to continue their education.

The nominees for the 2011 ATHENA Award are:

Shana Alford, Vice President, The Comfort Group, Inc. Sponsored by Junior League of Nashville.

Angelina Armstrong, Team Manager, State Farm Insurance. Sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Pi Nu Omega Chapter.

Christine Bradley, Vice Chancellor for Community and Government Relations, Vanderbilt University. Sponsored by Nashville Women's Breakfast Club.

Reverend Patricia Brock, Chaplain, Southern Hills Medical Center. Sponsored by Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

Reverend Dr. Judy Cummings, Senior Pastor, New Covenant Christian Church. Sponsored by Women In Numbers.

Joanne Ettien, Women’s Hospital Administrator & COO, Centennial Medical Center. Sponsored by YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

Dr. Cherae Farmer-Dixon, Dean for Student Affairs; Professor and Chairperson, Department of Dental Public Health, Meharry Medical College, School of Dentistry. Sponsored by Jack and Jill of America, Inc., Nashville Chapter.

Tonya Y. Foreman, Director, Medical/ Vital Records, Privacy Officer, Metro Public Health Department. Sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Alpha Delta Omega Chapter.

Stacey Garrett, Member and Chair, Board of Directors, Bone McAllester Norton PLLC. Sponsored by Links, Inc., Hendersonville Chapter.

Carrie Gentry, Retired Educator. Sponsored by Davidson County Democratic Women.

Harlyn Hardin, Director of Programs, American Diabetes Association. Sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Kappa Lambda Omega Chapter.

Helen Hemphill, Author and Teacher. Sponsored by Women's National Book Association.

Kimberley LaMarque, Professor, Director of Forensics, Executive Producer—Eye of the Tiger Television Talk Show, Tennessee State University. Sponsored by Links, Inc. Music City Chapter.

Joy Mangrum, Director of Information Technology, LoJac. Sponsored by Women In Technology of Tennessee.

Cleatrice Campbell McTorry, Director Of Pre-Release And Transition Services, State Of Tennessee Department Of Correction. Sponsored by Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. Nashville Capitol City Chapter.

Rita Mitchell, Senior Vice President & Manager of Private Client Service, Davidson & Williamson Counties, First Tennessee Bank. Sponsored by Tennessee International Women's Forum.

Elizabeth Moss, President & Founder, WholeCare Connections, Inc. Sponsored by National Association of Women Business Owners, Nashville Chapter.

Dottie Northam, Sr. Financial Services Representative, Principal Financial Group. Sponsored by National Association of Women in Construction.

Dr. Shelia Peters, Associate Professor of Psychology, Fisk University. Sponsored by Links, Inc., Parthenon Chapter.

Tracy Rode. Sponsored by Nashville Women's Political Caucus.

Sonya Sardon, Author, Editor, Opera Singer, Vocal Coach, Moving In My Gifts, LLC. Sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Upsilon Psi Omega Chapter.

Jean Schmidt, Vice President, Chief People Officer & Corporate Secretary, ENA, Inc. Sponsored by CABLE - Nashville Chapter.

Daphne Smith, Assistant Commissioner for Securities, Tennessee Securities Division, Dept. of Commerce and Insurance. Sponsored by Links, Inc. Nashville Chapter.

Rep. Janis Sontany, State Representative, District 53, State of Tennessee. Sponsored by Women's Economic Council Foundation.

Kathryn Stephenson, Assistant General Counsel for Labor and Employment, Corrections Corporation of America. Sponsored by Lawyers' Association for Women.

Terri Sterling, President, Sterling Communications. Sponsored by CABLE - Rutherford Chapter.

Carol Westlake, Executive Director, Tennessee Disability Coalition . Sponsored by League of Women Voters of Nashville.

Veronica Williams, Owner, Reminisce Multimedia Productions. Sponsored by Silhouettes of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Hendersonville Chapter.