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The ATHENA Award recognizes exemplary achievement among women who have consistently invested in themselves, their profession, their community, and especially other women. More so, it challenges its recipients with a continued sense of responsibility, support and leadership.
Other categories included Private Sector and Young Professional leaders. All finalists were chosen in their respective categories for demonstrated excellence in business and leadership, dedication to the community, and support and mentorship of other women.
“I was truly honored to be an ATHENA nominee; to be chosen as the Public Sector recipient, from among such an accomplished group of my peers, is an esteemed reminder of the important responsibility that we have as women to lift each other up and blaze the trail for those who come behind us just as those before us did.”
To receive an ATHENA award nomination, recipients must demonstrate consistent success within their profession and community and have mentored other women throughout their career. Harper-Marinick has been a formal mentor in the Maricopa Community College District’s Women Leadership program for 15 years and an informal mentor for countless people who aspire to achieve higher education. “I consider the community at large my ‘work space’,” she said. “Mentoring and learning together with others is a lifelong commitment.” On the national level, she is currently a mentor with the National Community College Hispanic Council Fellows program and the Aspen Institute Presidential Fellowship.
In accepting the award, Harper-Marinick said, “[This award] makes me even more responsible for continuing to do the good work that I’ve been chosen to do. Everyday I get up, grateful that I have an opportunity to serve the community.”