Photo

Marilyn Winkleby, a public health researcher who founded the Stanford Medical Youth Science Program, has been selected to receive the 2008 Athena award, a Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce spokeswoman announced Wednesday.

The youth program, launched in 1988, recruits low-income high school students to attend a five-week summer biomedical program at Stanford led by undergraduates. Out of the 405 program participants, all have graduated from high school and 81 percent have earned a four-year degree, according to Winkleby's research.

Winkelby has numerous acacdemic degrees and honors for her volunteer work. She received a Ph.D. in epidemiology from University of California, Berkeley, and the Judith Poole Award from the Northern California chapters of the Association for Women in Science.

The national Athena honor, awarded by local organizations, recognizes women who have "demonstrated excellence, creativity and initiative," who have devoted time to improving life of others and who help other women leaders.

Former Palo Alto honorees include designer Carroll Harrington, former mayor and Stanford executive Jean McCown, Garden Court Hotel General Manager Barbara Gross, Community Breast Health Project Executive Director Karen Nierenberg and jewelry store owner Georgie Gleim.

A luncheon in Winkleby's honor will be held Wednesday, Sept. 10 at the Garden Court Hotel. Tickets are available through the Chamber of Commerce.