Old National Bank's Jane Wittmer Kuhn named Athena Award winner

Jane Wittmer Kuhn, vice president of human resources at Old National Bank, was selected winner of the 2005 Athena Award at the Athena Award luncheon in Evansville Thursday.

She was among 12 finalists for the award, which recognizes Evansville area women for their personal ideals, professional excellence and assistance to other women in achieving their goals.

"This is awesome," Kuhn said on receiving the award. "You don't know how much this means to me."

Kuhn, started her banking career 26 years ago at Old National and was the bank's first woman management trainee.

In addition to her work at the bank, Kuhn is vice president of the Lampion Center, president of the YWCA board, and a board member of the Carver Community Board and the Girl Scouts. She is a former board member of A Network of Evansville Women (ANEW) and a member of the Evansville Human Resource Association.

She is involved in the YWCA Live Yer's Program, which mentors at-risk third-, fourth- and fifth-graders from Culver Elementary School. That program, started in 1991, now includes 250 girls and offers a scholarship.

Kuhn is also involved with the University of Evansville's Leadership Luncheon Series, which helps college students develop personal and professional skills.

Kuhn thanked her family, her employer and her co-workers Thursday for giving her the support and opportunity to win the award, which was given in part for serving as a mentor to other women employees of Old National Bank. "There's nothing more rewarding than seeing my associates accomplishing their goals," Kuhn said.

The award program is conducted by the Metropolitan Evansville Chamber of Commerce and A Network of Evansville Women (ANEW). It was part of the Today's Woman Professional Conference and Exposition at the Centre in Downtown Evansville. About 1,200 attended the luncheon.

Nominations for the Athena Award were submitted by the public, and the field was narrowed to 12 by a committee.

Kuhn said Thursday she "was truly honored to be considered in the category" of the other nominees.

Other finalists for the award were Carol Braden-Clarke, executive director of the United Way of Southwestern Indiana; Allison Comstock, attorney and partner in Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Khan; Lois Duncan, benefits administrator of Whirlpool Corp.; Kathy Ettensohn, vice president of Harding, Shymanski & Co.; Cathlin Gray, assistant superintendent of federal projects for Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corp.; Susan Hardwick, vice president, controller and assistant treasurer of Vectren Corp.; Sally Rideout Lambert, community relations manager for Alcoa Warrick Operations; Barbara Miller, executive director of Albion Fellows Bacon Center; Dr. Lynn Penland, dean of the college of education and health sciences at the University of Evansville; Lu Porter, assistant vice president, community development officer at Integra Bank; and Christina Ryan, chief executive officer of The Women's Hospital.

The Athena committee also presented an award to the Ozanam Family Shelter of Evansville and a $1,000 scholarship to Dani Beatty of Jeffersonville, Ind., a full-time nursing student at the University of Evansville.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.