The Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce announced Monday that Denise K. Young has been selected as the 2012 Athena Award recipient.

Mrs. Young, executive director of the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization, was nominated by Samaritan Medical Center President and CEO Thomas H. Carman.

According to a released statement the chamber issued, the Athena Award is a “nationally and internationally recognized program introduced in Jefferson County in 1991, which celebrates the potential of all women as valued members and leaders of the community and recognizes those who support them.” People who receive such an award are honored for striving toward the highest levels of professional accomplishment.

Mrs. Young was hired in 2007 as the Health Planning Organization’s first executive director. The organization has accomplished numerous tasks and projects, including more than $84 million in master-planned upgrades to five hospitals in the Fort Drum health service area; a $500,000 commitment from the state to address growing behavioral health needs; four newly licensed and operational outpatient mental health clinics and an additional 70 Tricare credentialed behavioral health providers; more than $16 million in secured technology infrastructure upgrades; more than $648,000 in state and local investment to improve coordination and delivery of emergency medical services surrounding Fort Drum, and mobilization of $4.1 million in community, state and federal grant investments for physician and allied health professional recruitment in the region.

She also has many personal commitments to community agencies.

In statement, Mrs. Young said she was “humbled and honored to be selected.”

“There are so many outstanding role models in my life who have mentored and guided me,” she said in the statement. “Truly, anything that has been accomplished has been through the hard work and dedication of an extraordinary team of people and the support of my family. It is they who deserve to be recognized.”

The 2012 award is presented and sponsored by the chamber, Bernier, Carr & Associates, PC; Timeless Frames Décor & Expressions and WWNY television.

Mrs. Young will be presented with the award at a Sept. 13 dinner at Ryan’s Lookout, Henderson Harbor. Reservations may be made by contacting the chamber at 1241 Coffeen St. or online at www.watertownny.com.

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