Several years ago the Chamber Board of Directors made a commitment to enhance our partnership with the local educational institutions and to build a better understanding of the importance of the business community and the role we play in the community. Through programs like Youth Leadership, Senior Projects, Career Fairs and the various committees we have business representatives on, we continue to build that strong partnership.
One of the ways we are able to highlight our partnership is tonight’s “Excellence in Education Banquet”. Through this public forum we are able to honor students in three different ways. This will be the 6th year for the Excellence in Education Awards & Ceremony.
First we will honor the 100 plus high school students from Superior High School who will be receiving one of the 60 plus scholarships that are offered all having a value of over $400,000 dollars. Superior High School has one of the largest and most financially strong scholarship foundations in the State of Wisconsin. Giving these students the community recognition they deserve is something the Chamber is very happy to do. The following list are the scholarships
that were awarded in 2011:
Second, we will be honoring those students who have been chosen by their high school to receive the Excellence in Education Award. The intent is to recognize a current senior student who has exhibited extraordinary qualities and effort, above and beyond what is considered normal or expected, and who is not necessarily a top academic achiever. The spirit in which this award is offered reflects recognition that success in life and in one’s job is often determined more by attitude, effort and the ability to
apply learning than by academic achievement alone. In turn, the students who receive these awards also pick a mentor, teacher, coach or parent who has helped them to Excel in Education.
Third, the seniors in The Chamber’s Youth Leadership Program have the honor of graduating. Counting this year’s senior group, we will have over 150 students from Superior, Northwestern, Solon Springs and Maranatha Academy who have graduated from the program. The Youth Leadership program is an educational program designed to nurture and enhance the skills of students from our community who wish to become involved in impacting the future. The program was developed by The Chamber and is endorsed by all
of the participating school districts. It offers students a rare opportunity to interact with community leaders and explore issues, concerns and activities within our community.
The goals of the program are:
• Present in-depth programs that acquaint participants with community needs, issues and resources
• Foster leadership development as a stepping-stone to being a community leader, or a leader in the student’s school or community
• Allow interaction with community leaders and decision makers
• Provide opportunities for students from different geographic areas to know one another and develop a level of mutual trust and respect and lasting relationships
• Foster students’ interest in community and volunteer activities
We have the opportunity to honor over 175 high school students and mentors and give them the community recognition they deserve. President Franklin D Roosevelt said, “We cannot prepare the future for our Youth, but we can prepare our youth for the future”. I believe tonight we have helped prepare the future for these young adults. Thank you for coming out tonight and helping us to honor these wonderful students and mentors and showing them that they have a community that cares about them and
wants to see them to succeed were ever their journey may take them.
Sincerely
David Minor
President/CEO
The Chamber