Nominations for the annual Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce/Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hazleton "Athena Award" are now being accepted.

Click here to download an Athena Award nomination application.

The deadline to submit applications is Friday, October 8.

The award is presented annually to the "Businesswoman of the Year" in the Greater Hazleton Area. The presentation, which features a handsome bronze and crystal sculpture, is presented as part of the Chamber’s Awards luncheon on October 28^th at Edgewood in the Pines and for the first time is being sponsored by Lehigh Valley Hospital Hazleton. “ Recognizing the business acumen , achievement and impact from the Greater Hazleton Chambers women members through the sponsorship of this prestigious award is another part of being a good partner in our community” noted Terry Purcell, President of Lehigh Valley Health Network Northwest Region.

The Chamber "Athena" award will be given to the businesswoman who has demonstrated the "highest level of professional accomplishment" and is based primarily on professional competency, achievement and dedication. The "Athena" award is an internationally recognized award through the Athena Foundation that recognizes professional and civic achievement across a variety of professions. It is meant as a meaningful recognition of women as an integral part of the Hazleton Area workplace.

Any woman employed by a Chamber member firm may be nominated. Nominations can be made by employers, employees or friends. The ,Individuals who are nominated will be contacted by the Chamber for additional information necessary for the award judges to consider the nomination. Official nomination forms can be obtained by contacting the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce at 570-455-1509, ext 101 or emailing Mary Malone at . Official nomination forms are not necessary however, and individuals desiring to submit the name of someone for consideration can do so by forwarding the name, place of employment, position, and brief comments about the individual to the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce. The name and a contact phone number for the individual making the recommendation must accompany the nomination.

This year will mark the thirty fifth presentation of the award. Previous winners are, 1986: Lillian Paternoster, Case and Keg Beverage, 1987: Lorraine Shema Piehota, Bishop Hafey High School, 1988:Donna Jean Yannuzzi, Job Johnny of Hazleton, 1989: Mary Bollman, former Administrative Assistant for the Chamber of Commerce, 1990; Patricia Werner-Savage, Lutheran Welfare Services of Northeastern Pennsylvania, 1991: Theresa Raffety, Executive Secretary and Office Manager, Yamulla Trucking and Excavating Co., Inc, 1992: Martha Herron, Hazleton Area Manager, Pennsylvania Power and Light Company, 1994:Jo-Ann Yannuzzi, Hazleton Floral Design, 1996: Ruth Wimsatt, Wellife Health and Fitness, 1997: Molly Blasko, Sport Shack, 1998: Bettie Sitoski, PNC Bank, 1999: Linda Schreiber of the Hazleton YM-YWCA, 2000: Catherine Seamon of United Rehabilitation Services; 2001: Mary Jane Saras, Serento Gardens Alcoholism and Drug Rehabilitation Services; 2002: Atty. Sharon Evans, 2003; Dr. Geraldine Shepperson; 2004: Mary Malone of the Greater Hazleton United Way, 2005; Atty. Elizabeth Maguschak; 2006, Jennifer Sloot, Printmark Industries,2007, Paula Sagan Hahn of Fritzingertown Senior Living Community, 2008; Lonni Polli, Early-Polli Agency; 2009, Terry Moran Bauder, LCCC;2010, Dr. Deb Carr, Hazleton Area School District, 2011, Nancy R. Stasko, 2012, Jeannine Lesante Mazurkiwecz, SSPTV 2013, Dr. Kathleen Benyo, 2014 Donna Palermo, Retired President of the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce 2015 Elaine Judd, Arc Electirc, 2016 Jane Danish, Lehigh Valley Health Network – Hazleton, 2017 Carla Marie Thaller, Hamister Group, 2018 Krista L. Schneider, Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress, 2019 Donna Marie Barna, Billig-Helmes Insurance,and State Representative Tarah Toohil in 2020 No awards were presented in 1993 or 1995

Chamber President Mary Malone notes, "We are extremely pleased to be able to count on the support and sponsorship of Lehigh Valley Hospital Hazleton in presenting this most prestigious award. The past winners are a treasure to our community and Lehigh Valley sponsorship means this proud conditions will continue."

New this year, the Athena will be part of the Chamber’s celebration of Chamber Month and our annual awards recognition event. Registration for the event can be obtained by contacting Leann Fallabel at the Chamber office or by emailing . For information on the Athena Award, or Business , contact the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce at 570- 455-1509.