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ATHENA Awards

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By Jo Ann Kirby | Photos by Tim Ulmer Photography

The 2024 ATHENA Awards Luncheon honored three fantastic women who are making a difference in our community. As always, it was sponsored by the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce and ATHENA International and held on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at the Stockton Golf & Country Club. The awards are dedicated to recognizing women leaders in the community who demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative while helping improve the lives of others and serving as role models. Three awards were bestowed at the event, including the ATHENA Leadership Award, the Young Professional Leadership Award and, for the first time, the Youth Leadership Award.

2024 ATHENA Recipient
Linda Luna, Stockton Chorale
Linda volunteers her time in retirement by serving as president and CEO of Stockton Chorale. Her professional career includes 37 years of public service in education, music and administration; she retired as a school superintendent in 2021. The first-generation college student graduated from the University of the Pacific’s Conservatory of Music and holds a master’s degree from CSU-Sacramento. Over the past several years at Stockton Chorale, Linda has elevated the auditioned community chorus as a forward-looking, purpose-driven and inclusive organization. A Stockton native, Linda served 26 years in Stockton Unified School District. The mother of two’s fondest memories of SUSD were serving as her son’s fifth-grade teacher and teaching the children of her former high school classmates. Her musical career includes being the worship director for 25 years, leading church choir and worship teams in her home church in Stockton, as well as performing with Stockton Chorale. She currently serves as a church pianist in Roseville.

2024 ATHENA Young Professional Recipient
Jordan Giannoni Harless, San Joaquin Delta College
Jordan is a San Joaquin County native who returned to Stockton ten years ago to begin a career at San Joaquin Delta College. An alumna of Delta College herself, Jordan feels a special connection to community college students. During her first two years employed with Delta College, Jordan served as the Classified Senate’s vice president and earned her master of business administration degree through UC Davis’s night and weekend program. The professor currently teaches courses in both business and English, serves as campus learning center coordinator, and participates in the shared governance process. In addition to teaching, she has served terms as a member of several of Delta College’s shared governance committees and was elected in March as the first woman to represent Area 5 on the San Joaquin County Board of Education. She is a board member of the World of Wonders Science Museum, Lodi House and Eleanor by Women United. During her acceptance speech, she announced the creation of a non-profit, Young Women Rising, dedicated to supporting and uplifting women in our community.

2024 ATHENA Youth Leadership Award Recipient
Gizelle Figueroa, Linden High School
Gizelle is a senior at Linden High School and is involved in her community in many ways, including the American Cancer Society: Relay for Life Event in Linden. She is the first recipient of the newly created ATHENA Youth Leadership Award and received a $2,000 scholarship. Read about Gizelle in our Spark Joy feature on Page 36.