STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIC LUSK

The 2025 ATHENA Awards were recently held at MTSU’s Grand Ballroom in Murfreesboro. This annual award program bestows a scholarship to women who have embodied ATHENA’s characteristics of wisdom, strength and justice in their own life and endeavors. Hundreds of guests assembled to support this year’s nominees, which included 10 area women who were nominated as the Traditional ATHENA, and eight who were nominated as the Young Professional ATHENA. Representing multiple Rutherford County organizations, this year’s ATHENA nominees included Shannon Bushman, Ronda Spivey, Esq., Trina Martin, Dr. Andrea Sheffield, Hanna Terletska, Kathleen Schmand, Michelle Howser, Esq. and Mary A. Evins, Ph.D. ATHENA Young Professional Award Nominees included Tosha Price, Chrisln Ledbetter, Taylor Worley, Julia Johnson, Samantha Johnson, Emily McKee, Brittany Stevens, Rachael Goonan, Ashley Carter and Andrea Bell.

For more information, visit www.rutherfordcable.org/ATHENA.