Youngstown Teacher Recieves 2014 Athena Award
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Holly Welch, curriculum supervisor and teacher for the Youngstown City Schools, is the recipient of the 2014 Athena Award, presented by the Regional Chamber in co-sponsorship with The Vindicator/Vindy.com. The award was presented before a crowd of 600 gathered last night at Mr. Anthony's Banquet Center for the annual event.
The ATHENA Award recognizes area business and professional women who have demonstrated excellence in their chosen career, provided leadership in the community and mentored or contributed to the growth of other professional women.
In 2006, Welch started the district’s biotechnology tech-prep program in the basement of the Choffin Career and Technical Center. Although she only had a small classroom with one outlet and no sinks, her vision of the program was clear, notes the chamber in its announcement of the award. Today Choffin is home to a $500,000 laboratory with a waiting list to get into the program, as students earn up to 19 semester hours to Youngstown State University through the program.
Diana Tremblay, vice president of Global Business Services at General Motors and a former resident of the Valley, was the evening’s keynote speaker.
In addition, the seventh annual Athena Scholarship -- a $1,500, one-time award created in partnership with the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley -- was presented to South Range High School senior Emily Erb. Erb has received numerous awards, participates in many extracurricular and volunteer activities, such as raising money to donate blankets to cancer victims and survivors, and plans to major in biology/pre-med at Youngstown State University.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield also presented scholarships in the amount of $1,250 apiece to West Branch High School senior Breanna Winters and Boardman High School senior Katherine Auth.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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