For Immediate Release
April 25, 2001

Local High Achievers Receive

Prestigious ATHENA Scholarship Awards

Three outstanding local young women have been selected to receive the annual ATHENA Scholarship Awards. The ATHENA Committee of Windsor & District Chamber of Commerce launched this scholarship program last year as a means of recognizing and supporting males and females who represent the values of the ATHENA Foundation.

Twenty applicants vied for the scholarship award opportunity this year. According to Lee Anne Doyle, ATHENA Committee Chair, every applicant was outstanding in the areas of scholarship, community service and leadership potential. “The judges had a tough job selecting recipients. The calibre of the applicants was indeed impressive,” reports Doyle.

In the end the judges selected Anne-Marie DePape, Chantelle Foreman and Francine Salinitri.

Anne-Marie DePape is presently completing a degree in Psychology and Anthropology at the University of Windsor. This year she placed on the President’s Honour Role of Scholars. She has also won numerous writing contests and her teachers refer to her as an original thinker.

Outside her academic pursuits Anne-Marie is active in the Community. She volunteers on the Psychogeriatric Unit at Windsor Western Hospital. She is also involved with the Downtown Mission, Windsor Public Library, House of Sophrosyne, and the Teen Health Centre.

In the future Anne-Marie is interested in exploring a political career.

Chantelle Foreman is pursuing a diploma in Journalism and New Media at St.Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology. Her first diploma was obtained in the Law and Security Administration Program.

Her extensive background, hard work, positive and ambitious attitude, has resulted in nominations for several awards in volunteerism. Furthermore, her outstanding academic record has led to numerous academic awards and distinctions.

Chantelle’s volunteer efforts include a wide range of activities. She was encouraged to contribute to the community by her parents at an early age.  In those early years she volunteered her time to Scouting. More recently she has been involved in the Security Society and Safewatch at St. Clair College, The Kidney Foundation of Windsor, and Tilbury North Soccer league.

She is highly regarded by her peers and staff at the many organizations in which she has served.  She is commended for her “unselfishness, dedication and her genuine caring attitude” which has benefited the Windsor area enormously.

Francine Salinitri is a graduate of the University of Windsor’s Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Education Programs. Paths in education and chemical research stimulated an interest in pharmacology. Francine is currently enrolled in the Pharmacy Program at Wayne State University.  She has been honoured with a Rho Chi award for scholastic achievement in Pharmacy.

Her education, employment experience, extracurricular and community involvement have provided her with the diverse and fundamental background to pursue a career in Pharmacy.  She hopes to develop additional clinical skills and knowledge to provide therapeutic health care information for physicians, health care providers and patients.  She intends to put these skills to work counselling young people in the area of teen drug awareness and prevention.

Her dedication to both the field of science and young people is evidenced by her volunteer work for the Let’s Talk Science Program, Windsor Regional Science Fair and the Great Lakes Science Olympiad. One professor describes her as “a natural teacher”.

Francine’s community efforts are exemplified through her involvement in the drug education and counselling programs at St. Anne High School through her dedication and commitment Francine is recognized as a wonderful role model for young women interested in science, a natural mentor and “an excellent advocate for young women in the community.”

In addition to the monetary awards, these three scholarship recipients will receive financial support to attend the international ATHENA conference, which will be held in Nashville, Tennessee from May 3- May 5^th.  “The ATHENA conference is an ideal opportunity for these young women to learn more about leadership and at the same time network with an international group of high achievers,” adds Doyle.

The recipients will formally be presented with their scholarship awards at a Chamber event which is scheduled to take place in the fall. 

The ATHENA Foundation was established to help open doors of leadership opportunity for women.  This scholarship awards program was created in keeping with the ATHENA philosophy, which maintains that by elevating people with potential and solid values, they will be exceptional role models and will inspire others to achieve excellence.