The ATHENA Awards Program of Greater Pittsburgh distinguishes itself from other regional awards through its emphasis on women mentoring other women and girls.

ATHENA Award nominees must meet the following criteria:

• Actively assist women and/or girls in reaching their full leadership potential
• Provide valuable service to improve the quality of life for others in the community
• Demonstrate excellence, creativity, and initiative in their business or profession

Interested in submitting a nomination but don't know where to start?

Join us for a Nomination Writing Information Session on Thursday, May 21. At this session, you will learn more about the nomination process, eligibility criteria, and tips on writing a winning nomination. CLICK HERE to register!

Nomination form deadline: EOB Friday, June 26*
*Please note: this deadline will not be extended and all nominations must be submitted by 5:00pmET.

Save the Event Date: Friday, September 11, 2026
Click here to learn more about the ATHENA Awards!

Note: Self-nominations are encouraged and accepted.
Please be sure to review the Top 10 Tips on Writing Great ATHENA Nominations as well as the How to Write a Winning Nomination video tutorial below. Additionally, please be sure to include testimonials as part of your nomination paperwork in the About the Nominee section below.

Top 10 Tips on Writing Great ATHENA Nominations

Pittsburgh Magazine Publisher Betsy Benson has shared this advice on writing
nominations for the ATHENA Award and the ATHENA Young Professional Award.

1. Tell the nominee what you’re doing. This can’t be a surprise; you will need to interview her and people who know her.
2. Ask for help reviewing the nomination. Even editors need editors.
3. Share the load. The marketing, public relations, or human resources departments in the nominee’s organization may be available to help.
4. Consider hiring a freelance writer, especially if you’re pressed for time.
5. Skip the adjectives and focus on anecdotes and examples. One potent verb is worth three clichéd adjectives.
6. In that same vein, focus on results – not superlatives.
7. Don’t exceed three pages of text. (Each selection committee member will review 30+ nomination packages.)
8. Don’t focus exclusively on the present. Try to establish a pattern of achievement over time. For example, what was the nominee doing as a young adult? Leadership examples from her time in college or from early work experience just may give her the edge.
9. Include direct quotes about the impact the nominee has had on individuals you interviewed.
10. Remember: ATHENA Awards go to women who "actively assist women in realizing their full leadership potential." Invest time to quantify that; it can make the difference when the selection committee is deciding among the top candidates.

Click here for more information on How to Write a Winning Nomination with examples from past Awardees' nomination forms. 

Questions about this form or the ATHENA Awards?
Email us at: mcolf@pghtech.org