ANDERSON — A packed Anderson Country Club played host Tuesday night as Holly Renz emerged as the 2008 Athena award winner.

Renz, registered nurse and program director for the Madison County Sexual Assault Treatment Center at Alternatives Inc., serves on a number of area boards for organizations that serve women and children affected by sexual abuse.

Mary Jamerson of Myers Autoworld, which sponsored the event along with The Herald Bulletin, said Renz was a natural choice for the honor.

“She exemplifies Athena leadership,” Jamerson said.

In addition to her work as a nurse and program director, Renz serves Madison County Supporting Activities of Vital Emergency, the Madison County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team, the Prevent Child Abuse Council, the Madison County Child Sexual Abuse Task Force, the Indiana Chapter of the International Association of Forensic Nurses and the Vision Council of the United Way.

In 2007, Renz was appointed by Gov. Mitch Daniels to the Indiana Sexual Assault Standards Certification board.

Renz started Honor Our Children in 2003. The initiative brings together 50 Madison County organizations serving children and focuses on child safety, youth development and parenting.

In the next month, Renz will participate in a documentary which follows 13 students in an immersion class which covers various kinds of assault.

As the award recipient, Renz will receive a ring designed in the image of the Athena statue from Standts Jewelry. Steve Quirk of Standts said the ring was a 14-carat gold band with a single round brilliant diamond. The ring was designed by a Standts employee 24 years ago after the Athena was introduced to Madison County.

Upon winning the award, Renz said she could not have been successful in her efforts to help the victims of sexual assault without the support of the leadership at Community Hospital.

“Nobody does anything alone,” Renz said.

The ceremony honored all 16 nominees with framed articles from The Herald Bulletin honoring their achievements.

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Athena nominees for 2008:

Jan Koeniger, Mary Jo Lee, Holly Renz, Lyla Graddy, Tina Baker, Sena Kay Landey, Bobbette Snyder, Georgeann Whitworth, Marcy DeShong, Deborah Stapleton, Sherry Ousley, Judi Ritter, Blanca David, Margaret Dodd, Nancy Pitcock and Teresa Carter