The Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce is currently seeking nominations for its three 2026 ATHENA Awards.
The chamber announced on July 15 that nominations are being accepted for the 2026 ATHENA Leadership Award, the 2026 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award and the 2026 ATHENA Youth Leadership Award. Nominations must be submitted for the ATHENA Award and ATHENA Young Professional Award by 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 14. The ATHENA Youth Award nominations must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 16.
"These awards honor exceptional individuals who demonstrate outstanding leadership, mentorship, and dedication to the community. If you know someone who embodies these qualities and deserves recognition for their contributions, now is the time
to nominate them for this esteemed accolade," the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce said in a news release. "Join us in celebrating excellence and shining a spotlight on the remarkable individuals who make a difference in Stockton."
Nominees for the awards must meet the following qualifications.
- ATHENA Leadership Award (there is no age restriction)
- ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award (must be under 40 years old on Oct. 1, 2026)
- ATHENA Youth Leadership Award (must be younger than 19 years old on Oct. 1, 2026)
The ATHENA Awards nominees must also meet the following criteria.
- Demonstrates "The Eight Principles of Enlightened Leadership" in all aspects of life
- Demonstrates excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession
- Provides valuable service to improve the quality of life for others in the community
- Actively assists women in achieving their full leadership potential
"The Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce is home to one of the longest running ATHENA programs in the nation, with the first Stockton ATHENA Award being presented in 1986," the news release states. "The ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award was introduced locally in November 2010 and the ATHENA Youth Leadership Award was introduced both locally and nationally in 2024 with Stockton presenting the first ever ATHENA Youth Leadership Award in ATHENA International history."
How to nominate an ATHENA candidate
To nominate someone for the ATHENA Awards visit the ATHENA Awards on the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce website, and fill out one of the nomination forms.
"By nominating an individual for the ATHENA Awards, you become an active participant in celebrating excellence and acknowledging those who have made a significant impact in Stockton," the news release states. "Your nomination has the power to inspire others and uplift the community as a whole. Don't miss this opportunity to honor the remarkable leaders who go above and beyond to make our city a better place."
Family Resource Center CEO, Kay Ruhstaller was names the 2025 ATHENA Leadership Award honoree. Stephanie Braithwaite, founder and program manager of Lotus Rising Recovery Services and facility director at Lily Pad Living was named the 2025 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award recipient. In the same year, Linden High School student Abigail Coussons won the 2025 ATHENA Youth Leadership Award.
This year’s ATHENA Awards is set to be from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19. The location has not been announced.
To learn more about the ATHENA Awards, visit stocktonchamber.org.
Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers business and community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. To support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce seeks 2026 ATHENA Awards nominees
