ATHENA Award® Application Form

The ATHENA International Awards® are brought to you by the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and its Women’s Council affiliate.

Application Deadline: October 23, 2023

 

Instructions

The ATHENA Award® actively supports and celebrates the ATHENA mission of supporting, developing and honoring achievements of exceptional women leaders, inspiring women to reach their full potential—creating balance in leadership worldwide. The ATHENA Award® honors individuals who strive toward the highest levels of personal and professional accomplishment, who excel in their chosen field, devote time and energy to their community in a meaningful way, and forge paths of leadership for other women to follow.  We encourage you to review all of the below information carefully.  However, please note several important items:

  1. Please tell the woman or women on whose behalf you wish to submit an application that you are doing so. This will ensure you have the most up-to-date information and resume materials, as well as important details about her career and successes that you may not be aware of.

  2. In the interest of fairness, once an application is submitted, you may not change or update any information once the applications are closed. The only exception to this rule is to update a finalist's job title or company change. Again, this underscores the importance of telling the applicant ahead of time of her application in order to ensure all information is accurate and applicable.

  3. We use the application materials to write the introductions for each finalist at the Awards Dinner and, as stated above, we do not accept additional information once the application window is closed. In order to develop introductions that are accurate and reflective of the finalist, please make sure you have created a thorough, detailed submission.

THE CRITERIA

You may apply yourself or on behalf of others using the following criteria, and you may also submit applications for multiple applicants in each category.  Also, please be as detailed as possible in order to give the selection committee enough information with which to consider the applicant. The more information, the better! 

Please note: an individual is ineligible if she has applied in the two consecutive years prior the current, anticipated application. For example, if the potential applicant also applied in 2018 and 2019, she is not eligible for a 2020 application. However, she may be considered for application again in 2021.  If you are unsure whether an applicant meets this criteria, please contact Cassidy Franklin at cassidy.franklin@greaterrochesterchamber.com or 585-256-4665.

Whether applying for yourself or on behalf of someone, you should address each of the following criteria in detail for the ATHENA Award® applicant:

I. PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP

Provide specific examples and detailed descriptions of how the applicant has demonstrated excellence, creativity and initiative in her business or profession as evidenced by:

  • A clear leadership role, personal accountability, and results

  • Impact on the revenue or financial condition of the company/firm/agency

  • Impact on the quality of products/services

  • Impact on customer, client, and/or employee satisfaction

  • Direction of the strategic positioning of the company/firm/agency

II. COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP:

List local, state, national and international level participation. Include length of service and offices held in civic and service organizations such as charitable activities, political pursuits, religious groups, chambers of commerce, merchants' associations, etc. as evidenced by:

  • A leadership role or service to an organization outside the bounds of her normal professional responsibilities

  • Providing a direct contribution to the revenue or financial condition of that organization

  • Providing a direct contribution to the quality of services provided that have made a difference to the organization and/or community a direct contribution to the quality of services provided that have made a difference to that organization and/or community

  • Providing a direct contribution to programs, policies, or initiatives that positively impact the status of a community issue/initiative

III. PERSONAL LEADERSHIP

Provide specific examples and detailed descriptions of how the applicant has assisted women in reaching their full leadership potential, and/or demonstrated support for their professional advancement as evidenced by:

  • Mentoring/coaching other women

  • Influencing and/or providing/encouraging career development/advancement of women staff

  • Volunteering with women’s organizations whose mission is, or is related to, the advancement of women

Online Submission Only

The more information provided allows the committee to more fully understand the contributions made by the applicant. Therefore, please provide as much information about the applicant as possible.  In order to provide such information, we strongly suggest you tell the applicant that you are submitting an application. Please be sure to review the sample application before you begin filling out the application form as they provide a clear framework of the level of specificity and level of detail required for each application.

THE SELECTION PROCESS

  • Rochester Chamber and The Women's Council ATHENA Awards Applications Committee pre-screens applications to ensure all required information is included.

  • Finalists are determined based on the award criteria, the level of detail in the application form submission, and supporting documentation provided.

  • Final selection of the ATHENA Award® recipient is made by a Selection Committee consisting of a diverse group of leaders from the Greater Rochester Area.

COMPLETING THE ATHENA AWARD® APPLICATION FORM

  • Please fill out the application form available below completely, in detail, and accurately. An option to send supporting documents (i.e., resume, letter of recommendation, awards and accomplishments) is available via email. Attachments should directly support the ATHENA Award® criteria.

  • For strongest consideration, you are encouraged to provide detailed supporting information about the applicant’s qualifications when submitting an application. Any additional information regarding the application that is not included within the application submission and supporting documentation will not be considered as part of the selection.

  • It is highly recommended that you review the application form with the applicant prior to submitting.

QUESTIONS?

For further assistance, please call our Affiliate Manager at the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce: cassidy.franklin@greaterrochesterchamber.com or 585-256-4665.

Any attachments (limit is 4) you wish to include in your application,
please send to  athena@rocwomenscouncil.org.