Golden Apple Award winners show off their certificates.

Jackson Chamber held its Quarterly Membership Breakfast on May 19 with its annual Education Recognition program. To show appreciation to our educators and business partners, Golden Apple Awards were presented to chamber business and school Partners in Education (PIE). Gary Grisham, The Bank of Jackson’s chairmanand CEO, addressed the crowd. The Bank of Jackson is the chamber’s Partners in Education sponsor. A panel discussion with leaders from the area’s local higher education institutions followed.

Panelists included: Dr. Allana Hamilton, president, Jackson State Community College; Dr. Logan Hampton, president, Lane College; Dr. Jeff Sisk, director, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jackson; Dr. Dub Oliver, president, Union University; and Dr. Niles Reddick, vice provost of the University of Memphis-Lambuth. The panel discussed topics related to student success and preparedness, as well as, the importance of business/education partnerships. Chamber Board President, Ben Ferguson recognized Dr. Verna Ruffin, superintendent of the Jackson-Madison County School System for her service to our community.

To receive a Golden Apple Award, a business or education partner must do at least 10 activities for their partner or partners. The information must be reported in writing to Vicki Bunch prior to the deadline in order for a Golden Apple Award to be given.

This event was sponsored by The Bank of Jackson, which also handed out a $500 award by random drawing from among Golden Apple school award recipients to South Elementary School. Express Employment Professionals won a promotional package from the Jackson Chamber in another random drawing among the Golden Apple Award winners.

If you would like to become a PIE Partner, this is a great way to volunteer time and resources for the betterment of public education, while demonstrating community involvement. Contact Vicki Bunch by email or call (731) 423-2200.

Congratulations to all of our Golden Apple Award winners. Winners are:

100 Black Men

Alexander Elementary School

Allegra

Andrew Jackson Elementary School

Ararat Baptist Church

Arlington Elementary

Armstrong Flooring

Bancorp South

Belk

Blue Scope Buildings

Cambridge LTD

Campbell Street Church of Christ

Casey Jones Home & Railraod Museum

Clayton-Little Attoneys

Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper

Community Montessori School

Delta Faucet

Denmark Elementary School

Double Tree Hotel

East Elementary

Englewood Baptist Church

Express Employment

First South Bank

FirstBank

Four Seasons Nursery

Gerdau

Hub City Blueprint

IAMJCM

Jackson Energy Authority

Jackson First Assembly

Jackson State Community College

Jackson-Central Merry Early College High

Jason’s Deli

Kelly Services

Kroger

Lane College

Leaders Credit Union

Liberty Technology Magent High School

Little Caesar’s

Lyondell Basell

Madison Academic High School

MCC of Jackson

Nell Huntspon Flower Box

North Parkway Middle School

Northside United Methodist Church

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity- Jackson Alum Chapter

Owens Corning

Parkview Baptist Church

Phi Delta Kappa

Pope Elementary

Sam’s Club

Shear Class

Simmons Bank

South Elementary School

Target

TBDN

Tenn Care Kids

Tennessee Industrial Printing (TIPS)

The Bank of Jackson

theCO

The Dermatology Clinic of Jackson

The Gap

The University of Memphis- Lambuth

Tim Ferguson Plumbing

Toyota Bodine Aluminum

Union University

Wal-Mart Supercenter, North (Emporium Drive location)

West Tennessee Center for Oral & Facial Surgery

West Tennessee Healthcare

Whitehall Pre-K at Nova