ATHENS, Ohio — The City of Athens will host the 12th annual Athena Award ceremony Wednesday, Nov. 4, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St. The event, which is free and open to the public, honors individuals who have made exceptional contributions to improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities in the greater Athens community.
Appetizers and drinks (iced tea, lemonade, and water) will be served starting at 5 p.m. and the ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. Sign language interpretation will be provided.
Presented by the Athens City Commission on Disabilities and Mayor Steve Patterson, the Athena Award is the only official award given by the City of Athens. Since its inception, the honor has celebrated residents who go above and beyond in their advocacy, service, and leadership to make Athens a more inclusive and accessible place for all.
The most recent Athena Award recipients include Adrienne Nagy (2025), Lisa Wigal (2024), William “Billy” Peacock (2023) — each recognized for their unique efforts to create a more equitable and welcoming Athens community.
Nominations for the 2026 Athena Award were accepted through Sept. 3, with community members encouraged to recognize those who demonstrate exceptional dedication to disability advocacy and inclusion. Nominees met one or more criteria, including improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities, volunteering to create positive change, developing new programs or services, offering exceptional customer service, or demonstrating innovation or entrepreneurship that benefits the disability community.
The 2026 Athena Award nominees are Dr. Lynn Harter, Elaine McCarthy, Lisa Roback, Erin Shultz, and Brian Woodyard.
“The public is invited to celebrate and honor all of the nominees for their service and dedication to improving the lives of people living with disabilities in our community. We are so proud to have a pool of excellent nominees and look forward to announcing the 2026 Athena Award recipient at the event,” Annah Korpi, chair of the commission on disabilities, stated.
The Athens City Commission on Disabilities, which oversees the award, works year-round to identify and remove barriers to full participation in community life. The commission also engages in education, outreach, and advocacy to ensure that Athens continues to evolve as a city that values and empowers residents of all abilities.
Community members interested in attending the ceremony are encouraged (but not required) to
RSVP via email at disabilitiescommission@ci.athens.oh.us. To seek more information or to request an accommodation, please contact the disability commission at disabilitiescommission@ci.athens.oh.us or the mayor’s office at 740-592-3338.
