Wayne Bank and Trust Co. and Indiana University East are pleased to announce the annual ATHENA Leadership Award® Dinner to be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 22, 2017, at Forest Hills Country Club, located at 2169 South 23rd St. in Richmond, Ind.

The event will recognize women leaders who motivate, inspire and create positive change in the community. Previous award recipients include Mary Jo Clark, Jackie Carberry and Kim Poinsett.

Nominations are now being accepted for this year’s ATHENA Leadership Award® which will be presented at the dinner to an exemplary leader who has achieved excellence in their business or profession, served the community in a meaningful way and, most importantly, actively assisted women to achieve their full leadership potential.

To learn more about the nomination process, an optional nomination workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, March 24, 2017, at the Innovation Center in Richmond, Ind.

Founded 30 years ago, ATHENA International is a women’s leadership organization that supports, develops and honors women leaders through the programs it administers. ATHENA’s flagship program, the ATHENA Leadership Award® Program, has honored over 6,250 women leaders from hundreds of cities and eight countries since its inception in 1982. The program is facilitated locally by Wayne Bank and Trust Co. and Indiana University East, licensed ATHENA host organizations. Nominations are sought throughout the community and recipients are selected by a diverse group of community leaders based on the criteria above.

ATHENA Leadership Award® recipients hail from all professional sectors. The award’s rich history, international scope and emphasis on mentorship make this award unique and amongst the most prestigious leadership awards one can receive.

Wayne Bank and IU East are honored to, once again, bring this award to Wayne County. ATHENA Leadership Award® recipients are presented a hand-cast, bronzed and crystal sculpture that symbolizes the strength, courage and wisdom of ATHENA recipients. The Wayne County recipient will be invited to join ATHENA Leadership Award Recipients and other leaders at the annual ATHENA International Women’s Leadership Summit held each year.

Wayne Bank and IU East believe in the values underlying ATHENA International’s philosophy of incorporating the talent and expertise of women into the leadership of our businesses, our communities and our government. Reflective of a quote attributed to Plato, “What is honored in a country will be cultivated there,” the ATHENA Leadership Award® honors and illuminates the leaders and leadership styles of individuals others would emulate.

ATHENA International is nationally underwritten by KMPG. Local sponsorship is provided by Wayne Bank and Trust Co. and Indiana University East. Event proceeds will benefit a non-profit organization to be determined.  Event proceeds will equally benefit the IU East Center for Service Learning and the Wayne County Boys & Girls Club.

Nominations will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Friday, April 28. To register for the workshop or for nomination and registration information, visit waynecoathena.com or contact JoAnn Spurlock, assistant vice president, internal auditor and digital banking specialist at Wayne Bank and Trust Co., at (765) 259-0209 or jspurlock@waynebnk.com or Terry Wiesehan, director of Alumni Relations at IU East, at (765) 973-8221 or twiesaha@iue.edu.