Winnersville lived up to its name Thursday night during the Community Partners in Education Awards banquet at Lowndes High School.

Representatives from area businesses and schools  nearly filled the cafeteria and waited with anticipation as the many recipients were announced.

Before the overall winners were declared, Lowndes High School Principal Wes Taylor presented plaques to the 46 businesses who participate in CPIE for their 20 years of commitment and service.

The 2010 CPIE overall winners were: Large Business- Wingate by Wyndham (nominated by Westside Elementary School); Partner at Large- Papa John’s pizza (nominated by Hahira Middle School, S.L. Mason, Pine Grove Middle and Dewar Elementary School); Small Business- Starbucks (nominated by Westside Elementary School); Volunteer of the Year- Chris Feuerstein of the Valdosta Fire Department (nominated by Sallas Mahone Elementary School); and Coordinator of the Year- S.L. Mason team consisting of Mary Beth Secor, Jennifer Davis and Traci Gast.

Representatives from Starbucks on St. Augustine Road said they were very excited about receiving the honor for the second time.  “It’s really nice to be recognized by the community,” store manager Patricia Faulk said. “We actually do a lot for the schools. Education is very important so one of the things we do is give the teacher of the month a free beverage during the month he or she is being honored.”

Starbucks District Manager Anthony Brooks drove down from Atlanta to join Faulk and the other store manager JoAnn   Tillman. He added that he was just happy to be invited and represent Starbucks with the two (Valdosta) managers.

“It makes us feel good to be able to give back to the community,” Brooks said.

Starbucks had previous experience with winning the prestigious award, but for the CPIE coordinators of the year, this was their first show.

Mary Beth Secor, Jennifer Davis and Traci Gast barely contained their excitement long enough for this interview. The three bubbly young teachers at S. L. Mason Elementary School said they are not only a team in school but outside of school as well.

“We work very well together, and everything we do is for the kids,” Secor said.  Davis cheerfully added, “We have that Valdosta team spirit!”  The trio also gave credit to the other supporters who they said deserve to be recognized as well.

“Some of the ideas we came up with (for projects and events) came from other coordinators,” Gast said, “and all we did was tweak them a little to make them fit S. L. Mason. Our administrators have been flexible, helpful and very supportive as well.”

Smiling from ear to ear, Davis wanted a big thanks to go out to all the partners.

Before the night concluded, the acting CPIE Advisory Council Chair, Gloria Butler, passed the gavel to the new incoming chair, Valerie Swinson. She thanked the many supporters who made the program possible.

Community Partners in Education (CPIE) is a combined effort of the Lowndes County School System, the Valdosta City School System, and the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce, whose purpose is to encourage greater student achievement in school by developing partnerships between individual schools and area businesses, industries, civic, church and community groups.  The partners commit to specific activities intended to benefit students, improve student achievement and accomplish school improvement goals.

Today, CPIE has over 300 partnerships and new partnerships continue to be formed each year.  From spending an hour each week tutoring a student in reading to landscaping a schoolyard and making presentations on career readiness, CPIE partners make a positive contribution by helping to better prepare the leaders of tomorrow… the children.

If you would like to become a CPIE partner, call  Lynne Wilson, Lowndes County Schools System Coordinator at (229) 245-2250 or Jennifer Steedley, Valdosta City Schools System Coordinator at (229) 671-6065.