Dearborn Brings Home Top Business Awards

Dearborn Public Schools recently received two honors, including first place recognition as 2014 Michigan Business Champion of the Year and an Education Excellence award, at the Best of MichBusiness Awards presented by the Michigan Business and Professional Association.

Awards were made in 15 categories that cover the many varieties of companies, organizations and individuals who are making a significant impact on Michigan’s economy both now and into the future.

During an online voting period, the public helped award judges to identify three champion award finalists in each category and then select one overall winner. Top awards were given to companies in three size groups.

Dearborn Public Schools received the first place large employer Business Champion of the Year award for its innovative partnership called Henry Ford Collegiate Academy, where students receive a high school diploma and an associate’s degree in five years at no cost to them.

Runner up large business finalists with more than 250 employees were Chase Bank and Red Cross Southeast Michigan Region.

Before being considered as a finalist for the Business Champion top honor, the Dearborn Public Schools Henry Ford Collegiate Academy was selected as the winner in the Education Excellence category of the awards program, followed by Walsh College, A Beautiful Me, Detroit 90/90, and PALS International.

The Henry Ford Collegiate Academy is a unique program started in the fall of 2013 through a partnership between the Dearborn Public Schools and Henry Ford College. The Collegiate Academy is an opportunity for students to attain both a high school diploma and a two-year associate’s degree in only five years, as opposed to six, at no cost to the student or parent.

Beginning in eleventh grade, Collegiate Academy students begins taking college courses on the Henry Ford College campus. However, at their home high school, students can still be involved through their senior year in athletics, band, homecoming, prom, commencements and all the other activities associated with the high school experience.

College credits earned in the program will transfer to all colleges and universities in the state including University of Michigan and Michigan State. Students choosing to transfer to a four year university upon completion of the program are still eligible for scholarships.

The Dearborn Public Schools was nominated by Maria Dwyer, a graduate of Fordson High School who has a child at Howard Elementary. She is an attorney at Clark Hill, PLC and serves as a member of the Dearborn Education Foundation board of directors.

“The Henry Ford Collegiate Academy provides an innovative educational opportunity which will keep the District at the forefront of education in this state,” Dwyer stated. “As a board member for the Dearborn Education Foundation and a product of the Dearborn Public Schools, I was so pleased that the District was honored in two categories by the Michigan Business and Professional Association for its Collegiate Academy.”

Dearborn Public Schools Superintendent Brian Whiston noted, “On behalf of our partner, Henry Ford College, we thank MichBusiness for recognizing this very unique program and want to thank all the hard working staff and students who have made the Collegiate Academy a success.

“We constantly strive to offer innovative educational options to our students. Our hope is this program will encourage them to earn their degrees and enter the work force right here in the great state of Michigan,” Whiston added.

Jennifer Kluge, MBPA president and CEO, noted, “The Best of MichBusiness focused on finding and honoring the best of Michigan business and the individuals who make that happen. We were so happy to share the success of this year’s honorees.”

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Photo: The Dearborn Public Schools’ recently received two honors, including first place recognition as 2014 Michigan Business Champion of the Year and an Education Excellence award, at the Best of MichBusiness Awards presented by the Michigan Business and Professional Association. The awards recognize the district’s innovative partnership called Henry Ford Collegiate Academy, where students receive a high school diploma and an associate’s degree in five years at no cost to them. The District was nominated for the award by (from left: Eddie Fakhoury, Executive Director, Dearborn Education Foundation and Maria Dwyer, Education Foundation board member. Attending the event and representing the Dearborn Public Schools were Dr. Gail Shenkman, Associate Superintendent; David Mustonen, Communications Director; and Brian Whiston, Superintendent.