Katelyn Umholtz | The Valdosta Daily TimesMargo Braski of Chick-fil-A received the Coordinator of the Year award at the Community Partners in Education awards ceremony Aug. 30. 

VALDOSTA — Valdosta City and Lowndes County schools joined forces to recognize the community partners that have supported the school systems during the 2017-18 school year.

The Community Partners in Education awards reception was held in the new Valdosta High School cafeteria at 5:30 p.m., Aug. 30.

Both school systems presented awards to businesses who partnered with or supported the systems and students during the previous school year.

Presented awards included: CPIE Small Business of the Year, CPIE Large Business of the Year, Partner at Large of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Coordinator of the Year.

The large business award went to ERCO Worldwide which has funded J.L. Lomax Elementary School’s Cat Cash Store.

Funding the Cat Cash Store has served as an incentive for the students, said Kimberly Hall of Proficient Pool and Landscaping.

“Students get to shop at the Cat Cash Store every other month to spend the Cat Cash they receive from making good choices, demonstrating positive behaviors throughout the school building as well as showing leadership qualities in the classroom,” Hall said.

The Pinevale Alumni Association received the small business award for supporting Hungry at Home boxes for students in need and STEM initiatives.

The organization was nominated by Pinevale Elementary School.

“They are always checking in to ensure that we have enough supplies and support,” said Jessica Catlett of Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority. “As a group, they go above and beyond to ensure our students are taken care of inside and outside of school.”

Partner at Large of the Year went to the Langdale Company, Volunteer of the Year to Margo Braski of Chick-fil-A and Coordinator of the Year to Rena Taylor, an art teacher at Clyattville Elementary School.

The CPIE 2018-19 school year kickoff luncheon will be held at the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority office Wednesday, Sept. 5 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Katelyn Umholtz is a reporter with the Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256.