​Minneapolis Athena Awards

In 1972 the Sports and Attraction Committee, Women’s Division Greater Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce had as their motto: “To sponsor, encourage, and develop sports activities for members and the community”. The committee had held such events as: Sportarama, Night out with the Twins, and Night Out with the North Stars.

 

The group felt another meaningful project was needed. We found the answer as we met at the Press Club, spring of 1972, to listen to a talk given by Dorothy McIntyre, Minnesota State High School League. She described how difficult it was for young women athletes who were trying to achievce excellence in their sports to find an arena/area in which to practice their sport. The gym time allotted for women was from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., and there was little money allotted for their athletic budget by the schools.

 

Also, every year at virtually every high school in the greater Minneapolis and suburban areas, half of the students (women) were overlooked when it was time to present deserved recognition.

 

The Athena Awards was founded because we believed the recognition was long overdue. Beginning in 1972, we hoped to correct that oversight and prepared a plan to encourage and recognize young women athletes. We sought advice and guidance from Dorothy McInyre and Giffy

O'Dell, Director of Athletics, Minneapolis Public Schools.

 

Athena, a goddess of Greek mythology, was chosen as the symbol of the outstanding young women athlete award. Athena was brave, chaste and dauntless. Each year athletic events were held in her honor.

 

As one of the twelve Olympian deities in Greek Mythology, Athena was the child of the brain of Zeus and became known as the goddess of wisdom. She encouraged law and order and presided over agricultural inventions. Brave, chaste, dauntless, she is the essence of all that is noble. She was born in armor to signify that her purity and virtue were unassailable. Majestic in appearance, she carried her aegis and a golden staff which possessed the gifts of dignity and youth.

 

Athena created the olive tree and the City of Athens was named in her honor as the deity who had given mankind a gift of plenty and a symbol of peace. In design, Athenian coins frequently used the owl, which is the wisest of birds and sacred to Athena.

 

Athena's most celebrated temple was the Parthenon, her principle festival the Panathenaea, which was celebrated each year in July. The festival lasted three days and included both city and country people. It began with a torch race, followed by athletic competitions. Prizes were olive wreaths, in honor of Athena.

 

Thus, the Athena Awards Committee as a part of the Women's Division of the Chamber, was formed with 40 members. The first Awards Luncheon was held on February 7, 1973, at the Minneapolis Athletic Club to honor the outstanding senior women athlete from each of the Minneapolis city and suburban high schools for the athletic achievements.

 

When the Women's Division of the Chamber was dissolved in June of 1973, the Athena Awards Committee was made a subcommittee of the Sports and Attractions Committee of the Chamber. In 1974 our Committee was questioned on the intent of commercial promotions regarding a Civil Liberties Union inquiry. Our answer to the inquiry was, "As it has been in the past, we do not give out any information on the Athena winners and we do not give our approval of any outside commercialism." Our only aim is to honor the young women and present the Athena Award to them.

 

Thanks to Bob Stocke, Director of Bands, Edison High School, who in 1977 located the music "Palace Athena" which we have since used to herald the beginning of the processional into the dining hall.

 

In 1990, the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce decided to cancel all involvement in sports related activities. Thus the Athena Awards Committee was left to become its own body. It incorporated in the State of Minnesota as the Athena Awards Committee and became its own 501(c)(3) organization under the federal classifications for nonprofits.

 

Ray Christensen of WCCO Radio was the Master of Ceremonies since the inception of this event until 1996. He was to MC the 1997, 25th Anniversary program. Just prior to the banquet, he had surgery and was unable to actually MC; but he had written his script which was used by Allie Cronk. The committee honored Ray with and engraved watch that summer for his 25 years of service to the committee. Currently, Allie Cronk, announcer for the state volleyball tournament, is the MC.