Patricia Scott wins 2008 Athena AwaRD (cont.)
by Jack McLaughlin, HBL Editor

at the Maryland Golf and Country Clubs by the Business Development Center's Women's Business Assistance Program and the County Harford County Department of Community Services' Commission for Women. The list included working with the Bush River Yacht Club to provide a boating outing for men and women who are patients at the Perry Point VA Center. She assists the organizers of the annual Ripken Little League World Series Aberdeen, serving on the event's business development committee and providing a home each year for visiting players. Scott, whose A Better Answer, Inc., has won several awards from the Association of Teleservice International, also has been involved with the Moose Club, the local Heart Gala and a number of other activities. "I just go about the day doing the things I do. I don't think about doing them," she said, noting others up for the award have some very impressive credentials.

The other nominees were: Harford County Superintendent of Public Schools Jacqueline Haas; Cathy Frazier of United Way of Central Maryland; Claudia Holman of the Aberdeen Proving Ground Federal Credit Union; Maria "Doe" Ladd of Addiction Connections Resource; Debora Merlock of the Greater Edgewood Education Foundation; Marge Pearce of A Polished Image; Kathy Wajer, of the Harford County Office of Economic Development; Sabrina White, an Aberdeen Proving Ground chemist, and Dr. Mary Teddy Wray of Laurel Bush Family Dentistry.

Harford Cable Network's Kristie Breslin was emcee for the evening. Music was provided by artists from the Maryland Conservatory of Music.

The Athena Award is presented in communities around the world, including China, Russia and the United Arab Emirates. The first was presented in 1982 after Lansing, MI Realtor Martha Maywood Mertz noted the local Chamber of Commerce had given a community service award to a woman only once in 75 years.

The Athena Award was given in Harford County from 1985 to 1994. It was restarted by Marlene Lieb of Harford Community College in 2002. It is given by the Women's Business Assistance Program of the Small Business Development Center at Harford Community College and the Harford County Dept. of Community Services' Commission for Women.

Sculptor Linda Ackley named the award for the Greek goddess Athena, known for her wisdom and courage.

The marble base of each statute represents the solid foundation of the recipient. The texture of the bronze varies with each statue as the life experiences of the recipients differ. The cut crystal symbolizes the facets of human character and the light emanating from the award winner. The outstretched arms represent celebrating achievement and reaching out to others.