2026 ATHENIAN Sam Schwoeppe: Open doors, give a nudge, elevate those around you

“I am here because someone opened doors for me, and each time I step through a door, I try to hold someone’s hand and bring them along on the journey,” Somula “Sam” Schwoeppe said during her acceptance speech after being named the recipient of the 2026 ATHENA Award.

“So think about who in your life needs an open door, a helping hand, or possibly even a gentle nudge to help them pass through,” she told the crowd.

Schwoeppe was named the recipient of the 14th Annual ATHENA International Leadership Award at Thursday’s banquet at the Huntingburg Event Center, before a crowd of roughly 300 people. The Rotary Club of Dubois County hosts the annual event celebrating exemplary women in Dubois County.

She was selected from a field of six finalists: Beatriz “Bea” Cobo-Becerra, Shannon Fuhs, Tammy Humbert, Susan Mann, and Paula Rasche.

Schwoeppe is an agricultural leader, advocate, and mentor whose career has focused on strengthening communities by connecting people, agriculture, and purpose. As Director of Industry Partnerships for Fresh Connect Central, the social enterprise of Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, she builds partnerships among farmers, food processors, nonprofits, and food banks to increase access to nutritious food for families experiencing food insecurity.

Previously, while leading agricultural engagement for Feeding America, Schwoeppe helped expand dairy access by more than one billion pounds through strategic partnerships across the nation’s food system.

A sixth-generation farmer, Schwoeppe has also become a nationally recognized champion for agriculture and women in leadership. She has served as President of Annie’s Project, represented the United States in PepsiCo’s global Closing the Crop Gap initiative, and became the first woman elected to an executive officer position in Prairie Farms Dairy’s more than 85-year history.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Schwoeppe has dedicated decades to mentoring youth, supporting 4-H, strengthening local schools, and advancing food security initiatives. Colleagues describe her as someone who sees potential in others before they see it in themselves.

Through her servant leadership, unwavering integrity, and commitment to developing future leaders, Schwoeppe continues to create opportunities that strengthen agriculture, empower women, and improve communities locally and around the world.

Schwoeppe said hearing her name called out as the 2026 ATHENIAN caught her completely off guard. “I was so completely surprised,” she said. “It was a huge surprise, and just such a humbling moment. I have so much gratitude for the community — thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

She said meeting the other finalists beforehand left her in awe of the range of work women across the county were doing. “You read everyone’s bio, and it’s like, wow, what an amazing group of women,” she said.

With the list of accomplishments of the other nominees, Sam said she wasn’t sure she needed to write down any acceptance speech.

Schwoeppe joins past recipients including Jane Chappell (2012), Brenda Stallings (2013), Kathy Tretter (2014), Nancy Eckerle (2015), Connie Nass (2016), Tonya Heim (2017), Kim Messmer (2018), Dr. Tracy Lorey (2019), Kelly Clauss (2021), Rossina Sandoval Monsivais (2022), Sister Rose Mary Rexing (2023), Jodi Routson (2024), and Laura Grammer (2025).

“Each of our finalists embody what the ATHENA Leadership Award is all about,” said Rotary Club of Dubois County ATHENA Event Chair Manda Combs. “This year’s ATHENA recipient, Sam Schwoeppe has opened doors, built meaningful partnerships, and used her leadership to create opportunities for others. From becoming a trailblazer for women in agriculture to mentoring young people and working to ensure families have access to nutritious food, Sam’s impact reaches far beyond her own accomplishments. She leads with humility, integrity, and a genuine desire to help others succeed, and we are incredibly proud to honor her as our 2026 ATHENA Leadership Award recipient.”

The event is not only a celebration of these women leaders in our community, but also a showcase of female role models for the younger generations.

Combs’ daughter, Mollie, now a senior at Forest Park, has attended the event annually for four years. She looks forward to learning about the nominees and meeting and hearing from the keynote speakers that have included Olympian Lily King, Pat Koch, and Susan Elkington, executive technical advisor, Toyota Global and North American Sustainability.

This year, Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush served as the keynote speaker. Rush, appointed to the Court in 2012 and named Indiana’s first female Chief Justice in 2014, told the crowd she was struck by the level of community support on display. “I’ve traveled the state as Chief Justice of Indiana… I’ve been in a lot of communities,” she said. “But I’ve never seen one that came together like this to recognize outstanding women in the community.”

Rush shared her own path to the bench — moving 16 times as a child before settling in Indiana at 16, starting college at Purdue in engineering before shifting toward law, and building a career centered on advocacy for domestic violence victims and abused and neglected children before her election as a juvenile court judge in 1997. She was appointed to the Indiana Supreme Court at a time when Indiana was one of only two states without a woman on its highest court.

“Chief Justice Rush’s story was a powerful reminder of the courage it takes to be a trailblazer,” said Derek Budd, President of the Rotary Club of Dubois County. “Throughout her career, she has broken barriers and helped create space for women in a field historically dominated by men. Her message about leadership, perseverance, and the responsibility we have to open doors for those who follow was especially fitting for an evening dedicated to celebrating women who are doing exactly that in our own community.”