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Business Partnership Gives Annual Recognition and Awards
Through Cooperation BEST, businesses and organizations are paired with schools or educational programs to assist in preparing students for tomorrow. Recently, representatives from the 180 Cooperation BEST Business Partners of Papillion La Vista Community Schools gathered together for a special recognition from the PLC Schools. At the reception, Cooperation BEST handed out their annual awards recognizing community/school partners for all they do for PLC Schools students. Thirteen business partners that were new for the 2015-2016 school year were recognized. Eight business partners were recognized for 10 years of participation and six business partners were recognized for 20 years of participation. During the event, the following awards were handed out to business partners:
The Superintendent’s Award is given to a community partner who has used their time, talents and resources to enhance the education of students across the District.
- The first Superintendent’s Award recipient is a business that is committed to education and sharing resources to better educate our students and this is evident by their involvement in many programs, many schools and the overall district. This year’s first Superintendent’s Award was given to Shadow Lake Hy-Vee.
- The second Superintendent’s Award recipient is a business that has small numbers of staff, but has a large impact on every elementary school. Throughout the school year, this business runs a reward system called “Cash for Class”. “Cash for Class” is a program that allows families to hand in receipts from shopping at stores in the Shadow Lake Towne Center Mall and then at the end of the year they reward schools with the most percentage of receipts. At the end of the year they donate over $8,000 throughout the elementary schools. This year’s second Superintendent Award was given to the Shadow Lake Towne Center.
The Principal’s Award is given to a business partner nominated for their contributions and commitment to their building or school.
- The Principal’s Award recipient is a business that jumped in with our newest elementary school, Prairie Queen, before the school even opened. They donated personalized t-shirts to every student and staff member in the school so there could be the first school-wide photo taken. This business also comes to the school every other week to help students with counting money and money saving skills as they help students run the bank in their building. This year’s Principal’s Award was given to Access Bank, nominated by Pan Lowndes, Prairie Queen Principal.
The Teacher’s Award is awarded to a business for their individual classroom involvement.
- The first Teacher’s Award recipient is a business that has made a difference with students throughout the District, but specifically with the middle school HAL students. They worked with these students on an original art project that was the highlight of their year. The first Teacher’s Award was given to Twisted Vine, nominated by Dr. Beth Maloney, Middle School HAL teacher.
- The second Teacher’s Award recipient is a business that took on a larger role in a classroom this year. They took extra time to send working with students in an Exploring Business class by sharing their knowledge of banking and financial institutions. The second Teacher’s Award was given to American National Bank, nominated by Bruce Nissen, teacher at La Vista Middle School.
The Student Impact Award is given to a business for the impact they have had on individual students.
- The first Student Impact Award recipient is a business owner that not only helped in the area of her expertise, but also helped in additional roles in schools. This person has spent time coming and talking to students in classrooms, welcoming students to her business to see it first hand, and then also volunteering her time to help lead new book clubs at Carriage Hill Elementary. The first Student Impact Award was given to Dr. Kathy DeFord, Deford Family Dental, nominated by Kim Hilbers, Media Specialist at Carriage Hill Elementary.
- The second Student Impact Award recipient is a business that has really made a difference in the lives of students at Project Search. They have taken in students throughout the past two years as interns. This has helped the Project Search students learn valuable skills to help them succeed in life. The second award was given to Lori Placzek, La Vista Runza, nominated by Jackie Brown, teacher at Project Search.
The Rookie of the Year Award is given to a business that goes above and beyond in their first year of partnership.
- The Rookie of the Year Award recipient is a business that has opened her doors to students in the District within days of opening her business. Throughout the short time she has been a BEST partner she has helped with presentations to students, hosting students at the business and so much more. The Rookie of the Year Award was given to Gina Vanderheiden, Gina V Physical Therapy.
The Staff Award is given to an individual staff member, who is an advocate for the Cooperation BEST program.
- The Staff Award recipient is a principal that embraces the Cooperation BEST program in every way possible. When she started at her building, but partners weren’t as engaged as they are now, so she worked hard to strengthen those relationships and get the businesses more engaged with students. The Staff Award was given to Dr. Anne Harley, Principal at Patriot Elementary.