News

ARTICLE
Date ArticleType
4/13/2011 Community/Chamber
Chamber Presents Business-Education Partnership Awards

Chamber Presents 2011 Business-Education Partnership Awards


Contact:  
Jessica M.L. Thompson, Communications Director
270-781-3200; jessica@bgchamber.com


BOWLING GREEN, KY-At a news conference today, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce presented three Business Education Partnership Awards to local businesses and schools, applauding them for working together during the 2010-2011 school year.


By fostering relationships between businesses and the future workforce, the Chamber aims to increase resources and opportunities for these entities. For this school year, the Chamber organized more than 30 Business-Education Partnerships with the help of the Business-Education Partnerships Sub-Committee of the Workforce Development Committee.


"It is very important for businesses and schools to partner together because these partnerships help students to learn about leaders in the community and for businesses to provide guidance to the future workforce," said Rodney Rogers, chairman of the Chamber Board of Directors.


The sub-committee reviewed summaries of the year's partnerships and selected three submissions as outstanding examples of partnerships between organizations and schools. Ellie Harbaugh, a member of the committee, presented these awards during the news conference. The award winners were as follows:


Tradition of Excellence Award
The Medical Center and Briarwood Elementary School received this award. The activities of this partnership include

  • Students made holiday cards for patients.
  • A member of The Medical Center's staff attended Briarwood's monthly Family Resource Center Advisory Board meetings.
  • A representative from The Medical Center presents at the "Wellness Wednesday" monthly programs for faculty, staff and students.
  • The Medical Center staff helped with Briarwood's school-wide food drive before Thanksgiving and will help at the Warren County Schools Family Resource Centers' district-wide baby shower in the spring.

Education Innovation Award
Bowling Green Municipal Utilities (BGMU) and T.C. Cherry Elementary School received this award for their activities, which include

  • BGMU employees greeted T.C. Cherry students on the first day of school and giving away back-to-school supplies.
  • BGMU hosted a Safety Day at T.C. Cherry in October, talking to students about backpack, fire and water safety.
  • A BGMU employee helped students on T.C. Cherry's Lego Team.
  • T.C. Cherry students entered their artwork in the Public Power Week contest to convey how they use electricity. Three students' artwork pieces were featured in BGMU's calendars and cookbooks in December.  These materials are distributed to the community in December. Students will also participate in National Drinking Water Week in May.
  • Students decorated Christmas cards for BGMU to send to soldiers serving overseas.
  • BGMU paid for the school's entry fee for the Christmas parade, purchased any float decoration supplies, and used a BGMU truck to pull the school's float.
  • BGMU will sponsor T.C. Cherry's attendance awards with bicycle giveaways.

Premier Partnership Award
The Barren River District Health Department (BRDHD) and Dishman-McGinnis Elementary School received this award for their partnership, which included these activities:

  • BRDHD led "First Day" activities and donated school supplies in August. They also hosted several drives throughout the year:
    • A bandage drive in October, giving packages of bandages to each classroom
    • A tissue drive, purchasing two cases of tissues to prevent the spread of cold and flu germs
    • A pencil and eraser drive, providing new supplies to classrooms in January because most supplies from the August giveaways had been depleted
  • A group of Dishman-McGinnis students helped the BRDHD staff transplant established plants on the BRDHD campus and plant new flowers.
  • Students continue to send class work and artwork to display in BRDHD's main hallway.
  • Students visited the BRDHD to sing Christmas carols.
  • BRDHD added five first-time mentors and five returning mentors to their school program.
  • BRDHD leads an aluminum can collection and uses the funds to purchase bicycles for T.C. Cherry students with perfect attendance.


The sub-committee also recognized Bowling Green High School, Bowling Green Technical College, First Choice Home Medical and Independence Bank for their participation in the program.


Ellie Harbaugh and Lynn Hulsey are the co-chairs for the Business Education Partnerships Subcommittee of the Workforce Development Committee.


"We congratulate the award winners today and thank all participants in the Business-Education Partnership program for their commitment to strengthening the relationship between our businesses and schools," said Barbara Johnston, chair of the Workforce Development Committee.


About the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce
Incorporated in 1935, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce is a 5-Star Accredited Chamber by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and was named the 2009 Chamber of the Year by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives. As the fourth largest chamber in Kentucky, the Chamber serves as a premier business advocate for its more than 1,300 partners and is the driving force for economic development in South Central Kentucky. Its primary goals are to promote growth and success in the business community, reaching its small business partners and those in large industries alike. With leadership programs, governmental relations projects, educational initiatives and involvement opportunities, the Chamber aims to support the community and its neighbors in order to enhance the business climate and continue to grow the region.