35th Annual Nashville ATHENA Awards & Scholarship Gala


From its inception, the Nashville ATHENA Award Program has been and continues to be a unique community-supported program, organized and sponsored through the collaborative efforts of local women’s organizations in partnership with local businesses and individual sponsors, unlike other cities which rely upon their local Chamber of Commerce.

The ATHENA Award Program was originally organized under the auspices of the Nashville Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), a consortium of fourteen women’s organizations. NAWBO brought the ATHENA Award Program to Nashville in 1990. In 1995, through a recommendation approved by the boards of both NAWBO and Cable, annual organizing responsibility for the event transferred from NAWBO to Cable, where it continues today under the Cable Foundation’s 501(C)(3) and pursuant to a license from ATHENA International.

Chaired by Dr. Laquita Stribling and Novonda Lilly, we are excited to announce that the 35th Annual Nashville ATHENA Award and Scholarship Gala will be held on Thursday,March 27, 2025. Two recognitions will be presented at the ATHENA Award event: – the traditional ATHENA Award, which celebrates women who demonstrate excellence, creativity, and initiative in their profession, contribute to their community and mentor other women; and the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award, created in 2011 to highlight emerging women leaders between the ages of 25-40 who demonstrate excellence in their profession and improve the quality of life for others in the community while serving as role models for other young women both personally and professionally.

Become a 2025 ATHENA Gala Partner & Sponsor

Download the 2025 ATHENA Sponsorship Packet

2025 Nominations are Now Open!