Gala Raises More Than $56,000 For Students, Teachers

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CANTON, GA -- The Cherokee County Educational Foundation’s second annual Celebration of Education Gala brought in a record amount of donations to benefit the Cherokee County School District.

The black-tie optional event held March 12, co-hosted by CCEF and presenting sponsor Northside Hospital-Cherokee, netted more than $56,000 and was attended by more than 350 guests.

Festivities included dinner, awards, a silent auction and the CCSD’s Got Talent high school student talent show.

The nonprofit, charitable organization raises awareness and funds to support district schools, students and teachers. All money raised through the Foundation's fundraisers benefits CCSD schools, students and teachers through grants and other support. Since its establishment in 2012, $120,000 has been awarded to local schools, students and teachers.

“The Gala’s success is growing each year thanks to our community’s outstanding support,” CCEF Board President Billy Hasty said. “We are so grateful to have the opportunity to support our school district.”

The CCSD’s Got Talent grand prize winner, Woodstock High School’s duo of Katelyn Nacon and April Schlinkert, won a $1,000 grant for the school; and the runner-up, Creekview High School’s Men’s Chorus, won a $500 grant. Each of the schools received an honorarium for participating in the competition.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower was honored as the event’s honorary chair, and other special guests included the the district's Teacher of the Year, Media Specialist of the Year, Counselor of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Partner of the Year.

Foundation board members Amanda Arnold, Vice President for Credit Union of Georgia, and Debbie Rabjohn, school district parent and PTA volunteer, served as Gala Committee co-chairs.

The gala also presented the second annual Alumni of the Year Awards, which honor at least one high school alumnus and one alumna each year for outstanding professional and civic contributions.

The recipients were Frankie Shepherd, a lifetime educator who retired as Principal of her alma mater, Ralph Bunche High School (now Center), and has volunteered in numerous community service roles; and Gene Norton, a lifetime educator who served as Cherokee County superintendent of schools and in roles for the Georgia Department of Education and Reinhardt University.

Both honorees were applauded with standing ovations, and Hasty presented them with plaques featuring CCEF medallions made by Creekview High School teacher Linda Nicholson and her students.

Whenever an Alumni of the Year also is a retired educator, such as both of this year’s honorees, they will be added to that year’s class for the Cherokee County Educators Hall of Fame, a new initiative announced at last year’s gala by CCEF.

The Hall of Fame will open next year in the Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo Educational Services Complex now under construction at The Bluffs in Canton. The community will be invited to make nominations of retired educators for a new class of inductees each year, and the winners will be recognized with a ceremony and the addition of their names to the Hall of Fame plaque displayed at the new complex.

During the Gala, Arnold made a surprise announcement: the CCEF Board had unanimously voted to make recently retired Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo a member of the Hall of Fame’s charter class to be inducted next year.

“While this is a surprise announcement, it should come as no surprise to everyone here who knows and appreciates Dr. P’s legacy,” Arnold said of the recognition. Dr. Petruzielo, who was a guest at the gala, then received a standing ovation.

A new project being undertaken by CCEF also was announced at the gala: the establishment of the CCEF Technology Challenge Grant, which will be piloted at Hasty Elementary School Fine Arts Academy.

Teachers will have the opportunity to apply for this competitive grant to earn tablet devices for every child in their class to use, and the teacher will receive Microsoft Innovative Educator certification and other special training.

“We’re starting this grant with enough funding, $9,500, for one classroom at one school,” Hasty said, noting that Aramark Education Management already has pledged financial support. “We hope that with more businesses’ support, we’ll be able to grow this grant to even more classrooms and schools."

The evening included many special recognitions of educators and students including the cocktail hour music provided by Mill Creek Middle School students, the second year of service by Indian Knoll Elementary School Assistant Principal John Carter as master of ceremonies and the centerpieces created by Cherokee High School agriculture teacher Ashton Meeks and her students.

The Foundation presented grants to all of these schools, as well as the Creekview High’s art department, as honorariums of appreciation for their participation.

For more information about the Foundation, visit its website or Facebook page.

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Photo 1: Cherokee County Educational Foundation ‘Celebration of Education’ Gala Co-Chairs Amanda Arnold, left, and Debbie Rabjohn, congratulate Woodstock High School’s April Schlinkert left, and Katelyn Nacon for winning the “CCSD’s Got Talent” high school student talent show held as part of the second annual event on March 12 at the Cherokee Conference Center. As first-place winners, the school received a $1,000 grant from the Foundation and a trophy.
Photo 2: Foundation Board President William ‘Billy’ G. Hasty Jr. presents an Alumni of the Year Award to Frankie Shepherd.
Photo 3: Foundation Board President William ‘Billy’ G. Hasty Jr., right, listens as Alumnus of the Year Gene Norton speaks.
Photo 4: Foundation Board Vice President Billy Hayes, left, CEO of presenting sponsor Northside Hospital-Cherokee, speaks during the program, as President William ‘Billy’ G. Hasty Jr. looks on.
Photo 5: Woodstock High School’s April Schlinkert, left, and Katelyn Nacon perform, ‘Toxic vs. Sweater Weather,’ which earned their school the top prize in the ‘CCSD’s Got Talent’ competition and a $1,000 grant from CCEF.
Photo 6: Creekview High School’s Men Chorus, which performed ‘Tell My Father,’ was named runner-up in the ‘CCSD’s Got Talent’ competition and won a $500 grant from CCEF for the school.
Photo 7: Cherokee High School’s Shandrea Tolbert performs ‘I Know Where I’ve Been.’
Photo 8: Etowah High School’s Brandon Cali and Kristina Welch, perform ‘Never Be Jealous Again’ from ‘The Pajama Game.’
Photo 9: River Ridge High School’s Percussion Quintent presented ‘Bounce’ for its entry in ‘CCSD’s Got Talent.’
Photo 10: Sequoyah High School’s Nikki Johnson, John Haas and Eli Wheeler perform ‘Don’t Stop Believing.’
Photo 11: Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower served as Honorary Chairman of the event.
Images via LifeTouch