*NOMINATIONS OPEN* 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.
Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2025 ATHENA Leadership Award. Please submit nominations no later than September 17, 2024.
2024 ATHENA Honoree
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
