Scholarships
and Awards
Women’s Network Scholarships
Each year Women’s Network awards one scholarship to the Chamber of Commerce Leadership Columbia program. This scholarship is designed to increase the visibility of the network in the community and allow a member with financial limitations to participate in this excellent program.
The Leadership Columbia scholarship was originally established in the name of Ron Marley, a local Shelter Insurance agent who understood the power of what Women’s Network had to offer and had the courage to become our first male member. Ron and several members of his family passed away in a car accident in 1991. His memory lives on through this important scholarship for women’s advancement.
This scholarship is on hold for the 2021-22 program year.
Criteria for Eligibility
Women’s Network member
Company must be in good standing with the Chamber of Commerce
Women’s Network Awards
Debin’s Legacy
Debin Benish started Delta Systems Group at a time when women were not encouraged to venture out on their own, not to mention in a technology field. During her 18 years in business, Debin and her staff trained thousands of people in Mid- Missouri on many different software programs and provided computer network support to hundreds of companies.In addition to achieving great success in her company, Debin was actively involved in the Chamber and Women’s Network. She served on the Chamber Board of Directors, Accreditation Task Force, Business Conference and Showcase Committee, Government Affairs, Education, Leadership Columbia, Women’s Network Business Owners Committee, and Ambassadors.
Debin had a philanthropic heart. She and the Delta Systems staff quietly assisted many charities and non-profits with their technology needs, such as the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri, as she served on countless technology committees and boards. Among the most noteworthy accomplishments are the revolutionizing of the registration process for the biannual MU blood drives by creating the system that is still used to this day to assist in minimizing donor wait times. For all these reasons and her corporate mantra of providing excellent customer service and caring for projects, the Chamber honored Debin and Delta Systems as the 1992 Small Business of the Year and again in 2005 as a Small Business of the Year Finalist.
Nomination Criteria
exhibits leadership in supporting small business
has a record of volunteering in the community
is a mentor to other business women
owns (or is employed by) a Chamber-member business, preferably a Women’s Network member
Past Recipients
2005 Lili Vianello, Visionworks Marketing Group
2006 Lynda Baumgartner, Retired, Greater Missouri Leadership Foundation
2007 Melody Parry, Zimmer Communications
2008 Kim Trabue, PW Architects Inc
2009 Rose Ditter,
2010 Karen Miller, former Boone County Commissioner
2011 Michele Spry, Midway Electric, Inc.
2012 Anne Williams, Job Finders
2013 Mary Ropp, Central Bank of Boone County
2014 Susan Hart, Reinhardt Construction
2015 Nancy Fay, Mary Kay Cosmetics – Fay
2016 Nancy Allison, Retired, Shelter Insurance Agent
2017 Erica Pefferman, COMO Magazine and Columbia Insurance Group
2018 Lindsay Young-Lopez, The Food Bank of Central and NE Missouri
2019 Michele Batye, Dave Griggs Flooring America
2020 Jennifer Schenck, The Connection Exchange
2021 Dr. Janice Dawson-Threat, Grade A Plus Incorporated
2022 Dr. Arminta Phelps, Achieve Balance Chiropractic
ATHENA International’s mission is to support, develop and honor women leaders, inspire women to achieve their full potential and create balance in leadership.
The ATHENA Leadership® Model focuses on personal traits of strong, successful leaders. The model captures the spirit and collaborative leadership style often exemplified in women leaders, while also recognizing the importance of traits such as courageous acts and fierce advocacy in the pursuit of excellence.
Women’s Network awarded the first ATHENA Leadership® Award in Columbia, MO in 1995 to Linda Arnold. Since then, the Special Events committee has annually honored a business leader from the community at the ATHENA International Award Banquet.
