The Greek goddess Athena was a symbol of wisdom, intelligence, the arts and sciences and is the namesake of the KC Chamber’s annual ATHENA Awards, presented at a reception every autumn.
Two awards are presented: the ATHENA Leadership Award and the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award. They are presented to honor an individual’s professional excellence, community service, and for a commitment to opening doors for women. The Awards program originated with ATHENA International, with more than 8,200 award recipients across the world to date.
2025 – Christine Kemper
2024 – Qiana Thomason
2023 – Marian McClellan
2022 – Dr. Marjorie Williams
2021 – Sherry Turner
2020 – Karen Daniel
2019 – Kathy Nelson
2018 – Anita Bajaj Newton
2017 – Carol Hallquist
2016 – Debby Ballard
2015 – Dianne Cleaver
2014 – Betsey Solberg
2013 – SuEllen Fried
2012 – Jan Kreamer
2011 – Mary Kay McPhee
2010 – Adele Hall
2009 – Mamie Hughes
2008 – Susan Stanton
2007 – Karen Pletz
2006 – Governor Kathleen Sebelius
2005 – Roshann Parris
2004 – Mayor Peggy Dunn
2003 – Julia Irene Kauffman
2002 – Anita Gorman
2001 – Beth Smith
2025 – DePrice Taylor
2024 – Kamera Meaney
2023 – Lauren Conaway
2022 – Pooja Shah
2021 – Michele L. Watley
2020 – Chelsea Laub
2019 – Caitlin O’Byrne Waters
2018 – Adrienne Haynes
2017 – Jessica Nelson
2016 – Chandra Clark
2015 – Sunita G. Lavin
2014 – Marshaun Butler
2013 – Susan Leonard, Ph.D.
2012 – Katie Dunn Fitzgerald
2011 – Mary Bosco Heinrich
2010 – Marie Farrell