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Community partners honored for contributions to student success
Nearly two dozen community organizations – including four Community Partners of the Year – were honored last month for their ongoing, generous contributions toward student achievement during Folsom Cordova’s yearly recognition ceremony.
The fifth annual Community Partners Luncheon was an opportunity for Folsom Cordova school leaders to recognize local businesses, nonprofits and faith-based organizations for being valued collaborators in student success. Through myriad contributions in and out of the classroom – volunteer mentors, donations, materials and programs – Folsom Cordova’s community partners help students develop the skills and character to become contributing members in a rapidly evolving world.
This year’s Community Partners of the Year were:
2015 Faith-Based Partners of the Year
Folsom’s Hope and Cordova Neighborhood Church, were nominated by Sutter Middle School and Mills Middle School, respectively. In her nomination of Folsom’s Hope, Sutter Principal Keri Phillips recognized their contributions to a mentor program called SMAK, which provides “weekly mentors and meals for students in our community who are at-risk and need an adult to be a role model for them.” Mills Principal Peter Maroon selected Cordova Neighborhood Church for its contributions to bullying prevention and STEM programs.
2015 Nonprofit Partner of the Year
Dignity Health was nominated by both Mather Heights Elementary School Principal Jim Cagney and Cordova Villa Elementary School Principal Jessica Hutchinson. Cagney recognized the organization for its contributions to the school’s recent Kindness Week, while Hutchinson expressed gratitude for the organization’s contributions of school supplies and holiday dinners for students and families at her school.
2015 Corporate Partner of the Year
Train Hard or Go Home was nominated by Walnutwood High School’s Charlie Linebarger for “offering weekly physical training and nutritional education as a volunteer to the teen parents in Walnutwood High School's Adolescent Parent Program.” In addition, the small business sponsored a Toy Drive Boot Camp for the past two Decembers.
Award recipients were selected by Superintendent Deborah Bettencourt from among nominations submitted by school principals. Among the nominees also recognized were:
- The Palladio
- Intel
- Round Table Pizza
- ECMC
- Crocker Art Museum,
- SMUD
- Aerojet
- Kaiser Permanente
- Walmart
- Horace Mann
- Raley's
- Breathe California of Sacramento Emigrant Trails
- Mollie Lyon Yoga
- the Community Development Team of the City of Rancho Cordova
- Folsom Rotary Club
- Folsom Kiwanis Club
- Rancho Cordova Rotary Club
- Rancho Cordova Kiwanis Club
- City of Rancho Cordova
- Folsom Cordova Community Partnership, Rancho Cordova Fire Dept. Station 61
- Department of Social Work at Sacramento State
- Sun River Church
FCUSD’s annual luncheon is a student-led event: The ceremony was catered by Cordova High School’s Culinary Academy; music was provided by Folsom High senior and guitarist Aaron Vaca; and the event was planned and coordinated by students participating in the District’s Communication Internship Program.
PHOTOS: See snapshots from this year’s event on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/FolsomCordova!