Awards And Achievements
Brenda has a new friend! She was visited by the FFA (Future Farmers of America) goat. The goat left only after receiving a donation check!
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Brenda Gammon named 19th member of ATHENA Society of Burleson
Some, William Shakespeare decided long ago, are born great, some achieve greatness and others have greatness thrust upon them. Some are even recognized for their greatness. Awards are often given to the greatest of the great — those who breathe rare air. The award can become iconic, and the recipient, similarly, attains larger-than-life stature.
Some of the most notable awards are the Nobel Prize, which has awarded upwards of 100 of its gold-coin medals since the early 20th century. Not far behind is the Pulitzer Prize with its 87 awards. The Academy Awards have 83 times recognized the best in motion pictures, and the Emmys have followed suit on 62 occasions. And, of course, the coveted Heisman Trophy has represented the pinnacle of college football greatness for 76 years.
But for Burleson businesswomen, there’s a sorority whose membership has only reached 19, and all of them had to have been nominated and then elected based on their merit to the community. It’s not recognition which can be bought, but one earned through demonstrated excellence, creativity and initiative in the recipient's business or profession. Worthiness for the award is judged by contributing time and energy to improving the quality of life for others in Burleson. And it is an honor forged through actively assisting women in realizing their full leadership potential.
For Burleson businesswomen, it’s one word by which greatness is measured: ATHENA.
Although the selection criteria for membership in the ATHENA Society of Burleson is well established, a common characteristic among those selected each year by the Burleson Area Chamber of Commerce is humility.
“I don’t have a clue why I was chosen,” confesses Brenda Gammon, the 19th and most recent ATHENA selection. “I’m not in the same category with these other women,” all but two she says she knows personally.
A native of Dallas — “it’s my favorite place, except for Burleson” — Brenda and Gregg have been married for 28 years, and moved to Burleson from Fort Worth in 1998. “We love it here! We’re havin’ the time of our lives!”
Her exclamation reminds her not only of an opportunity for others to have the time of their lives, but also her role with ATHENA’s biggest fundraiser of the year. “I’ve got Mardi Gras tickets, raffle tickets, Texas Hold ‘Em tickets for sale” for the Saturday, March 5, gala at the Mountain Valley Country Club.
After more than an hour of conversation, Brenda returns to the crux of her interview — her new frontier as an ATHENA. “I think I’ll fit in all right,” she decides. “These are such fun women.”
And there are only 19 of them in Burleson.
For the full story, pick up the February 27 edition of the Burleson Star. To receive current hometown news delivered to your mailbox, subscribe on this website by clicking the My Star link on the left or by calling 817-295-0486
By LYNN ADAMS
burlesonstar@thestargroup.com
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