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ATHENA Award

The ATHENA Award honors women who strive toward the highest levels of personal and professional accomplishment, who excel in their chosen field, and devote time and energy to their community. Since the program's inception in 1982, more than 7,000 exemplary leaders in over 500 communities have received the prestigious ATHENA Award in the United States, Bermuda, Canada, China, Greece, India, Russia, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. By honoring exceptional leaders, the hope is to inspire others to achieve excellence in their professional and personal lives.

The ATHENA Luncheon is hosted annually by the Athens Area Chamber and the past ATHENA recipients. It recognizes the current ATHENA Nominees, and celebrates the accomplishments of female leaders in the Athens area.

ATHENA Nominees must meet each of the following criteria:

· Achieve the highest level of professional excellence;

· Contribute time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community; and

· Actively assist others, particularly women, in realizing their full leadership potential.

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2024 ATHENA Honoree

Jennifer Zwirn Headshot
Jennifer Zwirn, Prodigies Child Care Management, 2024 ATHENA Honoree

Jennifer Zwirn is 25-year resident of Athens and a mother to four beautiful children: Conner, Emmie, Everett
and Tatum.

She is the co-founder and owner of five small businesses in the Athens area- RUSH Trampoline Park, Little
Prodigies, University Childcare, Piedmont Athens Child Development Center and the Busy Box Daycare with
her husband, Wes. In the last 13 years, these businesses have created hundreds of jobs in the Athens area.

Jennifer is an active community member who has served on a number of boards and committees including
the Classic Center Board Authority, the SPLOST Citizen’s Advisory Committee, the Mall Area Tax Allocation
District committee, LEAD Athens Steering Committee, FC-CIS, AthFest Educates, the Athens Downtown
Development Authority, and the Downtown Athens Business Association, to name a few.

Jennifer was most recently the campaign manager for Dexter Fisher in his successful race for District Five Commissioner and
worked to receive TSPLOST funds for the Jefferson Road safety improvements for $9 million.

In her spare time, Jennifer is a potter and chalk board artist.

Past ATHENA Honorees

ATHENA2023-Initial-10
2023 Alison Bracewell McCullick
2022 Julita Sanders
2021 Laura Whitaker
2020  Dr. Andrea Daniel
2019  Regina Quick
2018  Kathy Hoard
2017  Christy Terrell
2016  Rubielen Norris
2015  Andree Terry
2014  Joan Prittie
2013  Patricia Barron
2012  Marilyn Farmer
2011  Margaret Wagner-Dahl
2010 Flora Tydings
2009  Cheryl Legette
2008  Elaine Cook
2007  Sue Lawrence
2006  Nancy Denson
2005  Tammy Gilland
2004  Kathryn Fowler
2003  Vivian Fisher
2002  Janey Cooley
2001  Katy O'Neal Arrowood
2000  Maxine Pinson Easom
1999  Nancy Staton
1998  Christine Bates
1997  Mickey Yongue
1996  Elizabeth Dalton
1995  Barbara Smalley
1994  Martha Henderson
1993  Helen Mills
1992  Sharon Baker-Boykin
1991  Maxine Burton
1990  Carol Williams
1989  Lousie McBee
1988  Mary Betts
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