Scholarships and Awards
Women’s Network Scholarships
Leadership Columbia
Each year Women’s Network awards one scholarship to the Chamber of Commerce Leadership Columbia program. This scholarship is designed to increase the visibility of the network in the community and allow a member with financial limitations to participate in this excellent program.
The Leadership Columbia scholarship was originally established in the name of Ron Marley, a local Shelter Insurance agent who understood the power of what Women’s Network had to offer and had the courage to become our first male member. Ron and several members of his family passed away in a car accident in 1991. His memory lives on through this important scholarship for women’s advancement.
Women's Network Scholarship
The intention of this scholarship is to provide the opportunity for underrepresented individuals that work for a Chamber-member business to experience Women's Network to see the value of being a member of the Network. This scholarship will include entry into all of the luncheons and the Holiday Party.
Leadership Visit Scholarship
Women’s Network provides a yearly scholarship to one Women’s Network Member to attend the annual Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Visit. The scholarship covers the entire registration fee which covers all costs for the event.
Criteria for Eligibility
- Women’s Network member
- Company must be in good standing with the Chamber of Commerce
Women’s Network Awards
Debin Benish Outstanding Businesswoman Award
To honor Debin Benish’s memory of volunteering and supporting small businesses, the Women’s Network, in conjunction with Delta Systems Group, selects a businesswoman who has achieved great success in her business to receive the annual Debin Benish Outstanding Businesswoman Award.
Debin’s Legacy
Debin Benish started Delta Systems Group at a time when women were not encouraged to venture out on their own, not to mention in a technology field. During her 18 years in business, Debin and her staff trained thousands of people in Mid- Missouri on many different software programs and provided computer network support to hundreds of companies. In addition to achieving great success in her company, Debin was actively involved in the Chamber and Women’s Network. She served on the Chamber Board of Directors, Accreditation Task Force, Business Conference and Showcase Committee, Government Affairs, Education, Leadership Columbia, Women’s Network Business Owners Committee, and Ambassadors.
Debin had a philanthropic heart. She and the Delta Systems staff quietly assisted many charities and non-profits with their technology needs, such as the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri, as she served on countless technology committees and boards. Among the most noteworthy accomplishments are the revolutionizing of the registration process for the biannual MU blood drives by creating the system that is still used to this day to assist in minimizing donor wait times. For all these reasons and her corporate mantra of providing excellent customer service and caring for projects, the Chamber honored Debin and Delta Systems as the 1992 Small Business of the Year and again in 2005 as a Small Business of the Year Finalist.
Nomination Criteria
A Columbia business woman who:
- Exhibits leadership in supporting small business
- Has a record of volunteering in the community
- Is a mentor to other business women
- Owns (or is employed by) a Chamber-member business, preferably a Women’s Network member
Past Recipients
2005 Lili Vianello, Visionworks Marketing Group
2006 Lynda Baumgartner, Retired, Greater Missouri Leadership Foundation
2007 Melody Parry, Zimmer Communications
2008 Kim Trabue, PW Architects Inc
2009 Rose Ditter, KeLani Salon & Spa
2010 Karen Miller, former Boone County Commissioner
2011 Michele Spry, Midway Electric, Inc.
2012 Anne Williams, Job Finders
2013 Mary Ropp, Central Bank of Boone County
2014 Susan Hart, Reinhardt Construction
2015 Nancy Fay, Mary Kay Cosmetics – Fay
2016 Nancy Allison, Retired, Shelter Insurance Agent
2017 Erica Pefferman, COMO Magazine
2018 Lindsay Young-Lopez, The Food Bank of Central and NE Missouri
2019 Michele Batye, Dave Griggs Flooring America
2020 Jennifer Schenck, The Connection Exchange
2021 Dr. Janice Dawson-Threat, Grade A Plus Incorporated
2022 Dr. Arminta Phelps, Achieve Balance Chiropractic
2023 Adonica Coleman, A2D Events/COMO 411
2024 Mary Wilkerson, Central Bank of Boone County
2025 Rachel Flynn, Betz Jewelers
ATHENA Leadership Awards
ATHENA International’s mission is to support, develop and honor women leaders, inspire women to achieve their full potential and create balance in leadership.
The ATHENA Leadership® Model focuses on personal traits of strong, successful leaders. The model captures the spirit and collaborative leadership style often exemplified in women leaders, while also recognizing the importance of traits such as courageous acts and fierce advocacy in the pursuit of excellence.
Women’s Network awarded the first ATHENA Leadership® Award in Columbia, MO in 1995 to Linda Arnold. Since then, the Special Events committee has annually honored a business leader from the community at the ATHENA International Award Banquet.
ATHENA Leadership® Award
ATHENA Leadership® Award recipients are chosen for displaying excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession, providing valuable service to improve the quality of life in their community and helping women reach their full leadership potential.
What is an ATHENA?
The ATHENA Award is presented each year to a woman, ally, or organization that meets the eligibility criteria, lives or works in Boone County for the betterment of the county. The nominee should embody The Eight Principles of Enlightened Leadership as described by ATHENA International.
*You do not need to be a member of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce or a member of Women’s Network to nominate or be nominated.
ATHENA Young Professional® Award
The ATHENA Young Professional® Award is presented to an exceptional individual who is an emerging leader in her/his business or profession, who gives back to the community in meaningful ways and who clearly serves as a role model for young women both personally and professionally.
What is an Athena Young Professional?
The Athena Young Professional Award is presented each year to a woman, ally, or organization that meets all the eligibility criteria. Nominees must be between 21-45 years of age, live or work in Boone County for the betterment of the county, and should represent The Eight Principles of Enlightened Leadership as described by Athena International.
*You do not need to be a member of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce or a member of Women’s Network to nominate or be nominated.
Past Recipients- ATHENA Young Professional
2008 Elizabeth Mendenhall
2009 Kelley Marchbanks
2010 Kerrie Bloss
2011 Shelly DeVore
2012 Shatenita Horton
2013 Lindsay Young Lopez
2014 Jessica Macy
2015 Billie Connally
2016 Michele Spry
2017 Heather Hargrove
2018 Sarah Dubbert
2019 Dr. Laine Young-Walker
2020 Sarah Hill
2021 Brooke Berkey
2022 Michele Curry
2023 Megan Steen
2024 Kasey Hammock
2025 Dr. Arminta Phelps
Past Recipients- ATHENA
1995 Linda Arnold
1996 Dr. Muriel Battle (Deceased, 1930-2003)*
1997 Vicki Dunscombe
1998 Susan Stalcup Gray
1999 Patsy Ponder Dalton
2000 Elinor Arendt
2001 Vicky Riback Wilson
2002 Ann Covington
2003 Richard Mendenhall
2004 Karen Taylor
2005 Pat Hostetler
2006 Ellen Roper
2007 Dr. Wendy Libby
2008 Cindy Mustard
2009 Teresa Maledy
2010 Sabrina McDonnell
2011 Karen Miller
2012 Lynda Baumgartner
2013 Natalie “Nikki” Krawitz
2014 Barbara Hodges
2015 Janice Schuerman
2016 Dr. Dianne Lynch
2017 Vicki Russell
2018 Dr. Bea Smith
2019 Jan Grossmann
2020 Jill Cox
2021 Susan Hart
2022 Eryca Neville
2023 Heather Hargrove
2024 Ann Merrifield
2025 Jen Hedrick
