ATHENA Award

Donna Larson, Principal of DeKalb High School

Amy Oster, President of OC Creative

Jenna Spychal, Owner of Jonamac Orchard

Finalists will be recognized and the award recipient will be announced at the ATHENA Award Reception on October 15 at the Egyptian Theatre. Registration coming soon!

New for 2026! The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce’s Rising Leader Award recognizes a woman who is making a significant impact early in her career through professional achievement, creative leadership, and community engagement. The award celebrates women who are excelling today while demonstrating the potential to become influential leaders in their organizations and the DeKalb County community. A maximum of two honorees will be recognized.

Eligibility
Is 35 years of age or younger. Has a minimum of three years of professional experience. Is employed by or actively volunteers for a DeKalb Chamber member in good standing (for the current list of members click here). Demonstrates leadership within her profession and/or the community. Nominees cannot be running for public office at the time of their nomination.

Nomination Materials Due September 11, 2026
-Online nomination form
-Resume
-Two references (250-500 word limit) preferably from different organizations or relationships to provide a well-rounded perspective on the nominee’s leadership. Reference topics should include the nominee's professional accomplishments, leadership beyond their job responsibilities, positive influence in the workplace/community, and why you believe the individual represents a rising leader.

For a nomination to be considered, the nomination form, resume, and two references must be completed by Friday, September 11. Resume and references must be emailed to virginia.jimenez@dekalb.org. For any questions, contact Virginia Jimenez at 815-756-6306 or virginia.jimenez@dekalb.org.

To ensure a fair and impartial selection process, all completed ATHENA finalist nominations are reviewed and scored by other Chambers of Commerce across Illinois that have long-standing ATHENA programs of their own.

Each nomination packet is carefully evaluated based on established criteria that reflect the core values of leadership, mentorship, and community impact. These external reviewers do not have ties to local nominees, helping to maintain the integrity and objectivity of the selection process. Once all scores are submitted, the highest-scoring finalist is named the ATHENA recipient.

Unlike the competitive scoring process for the ATHENA Award, the Rising Leader Award is non-competitive and designed to celebrate the unique impact of each nominee.