Three young women have been recognized as this year's recipients of the Athena Award.
Erin Dufour, Holly Nicholson and Sydney Chapados have received the $5,000 scholarship for their community involvement, potential for leadership, academic excellence and inspiring women to reach their full potential.
Dufour is a masters student at the University of Windsor and says it's an honour.
"I'm overwhelmed with the amount of recognition because I don't know, I'm humbled by it, because it is crazy to think I am getting all this recognition for something I'm doing so naturally."
Nicholson graduated from St. Clair College in Business Administration and Human Resources and says she's in good company.
"It is such a big honour to be able to say that I'm an Athena recipient. All the women who have received it before me are such great people and to be able to say that I'm an Athena winner too is wonderful."
Chapados is doing her masters in sociology and studying women's health and says it was a bit of a shock to her.
"It is such a huge honour, I honestly didn't expect to get it when I submitted my application, I kinda assumed that it is not going to happen, but when I got the call I was ecstatic, excited, honoured and overwhelmed because it seems so prestigious."
This is the 19th year for the Athena scholarship.
A luncheon was held November 2 at the Fogolar Furlan Club.
— with files from AM800's Patty Handysides