Kathleen Berg named 2002 Athena Award recipient

By KEVIN SWEENEY

Journal Editor

NEW ULM -- Kathleen Berg thought she was meeting her grandson Michael Skillings for lunch at the Larkspur Market Friday.

Lunch was delayed a bit, though, when a crowd of well-wishers trooped in to tell her she was the recipient of this year's Athena Award, sponsored by Jensen Motors and the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce.

"I was totally surprised," said Berg after receiving the news.

The Athena Award celebrates women who "strive toward the highest levels of accomplishments; women who not only excel in their chosen fields, but who also open paths so that others may follow," according to the Chamber of Commerce.

Jeanne Albrecht, CEO of the chamber, said Berg's outstanding record of community involvement on numerous boards and committees made her a deserving choice for the award.

Among her many other committees, Berg is on the board of Minnesota Valley Testing Labs, which is owned by her husband, Tom Berg, and she is also chair of the board of directors of the New Ulm Community Foundation.

"I'm very proud of Kathleen," said Tom Berg. "She's someone who has a good sense of community. We're both New Ulm natives, and we both try to give something back to the community.

His wife is definitely the "good woman" who stands behind every successful man, Tom said. "It would be very hard to do the things I've been able to do without her support."

Past winners of the award include Mary Ellen Domeier, Dr. Ann Vogel, Janet Dempsey, Diane Debban, Vicky Pieser, Shirley Jo Meidl, Sharon Weinkauf, Ruth Ann Webster, Donna Lambrecht, and Sister Sharon Waldoch.

The formal presentation of the award will be made following the Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting, which will be held Aug. 22 at the Holiday Inn, starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the event are $20 and are available through the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce.