CITIZEN OF THE YEAR:
Rhonda Gilbreath
Rhonda Gilbreath
This year's Annual Dinner was on January 26, 2022. Along with great entertainment provided by Upstage Productions, We took a look back at 2021 with laughs and celebrated our community outreach efforts.
EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR:
Mark Minor
Mark Minor
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:
LaFiesta Mexican Restaurant
LaFiesta Mexican Restaurant
2021 "OF THE YEAR" NOMINEES
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR
1. Rhonda Gilbreath : Graduated from Benton Community High School. President of FBLA and was also a member of the Nation Honor Society. Graduated from Rend Lake College with a Secretarial and Accounting Degree. Worked for Arondelle & Venegone in Christopher. Has been employeed by State Bank of Whittington for the last 20 years. Mariied to Dwight Gilbreath for 40 years and has a son Shawn Gilbreath. Been involved with fundraisers for the american Cancer Society, and Casa. Served as Sergeant in Arms & Treasure for the Benton Rotary Club. Served on the Board of Directors for the Benton West City Area Chamber of Commerce for many years, 3 of which was served as President. Served and volunteered on Rend Lake Car Show, Rend Lake Water Festival, Rend Lake Fireworks, Golf Scramble and Annual Dinner Committees. Always humble and grateful to her family and community.
2. Rachel Gartner: Rachel Gartner was born and raised in Franklin County, graduated from Christopher High School and has primarily worked in marketing and communications her entire professional career. She graduated with her Masters (thesis incomplete) from Southern Illinois University Carbondale 2004, and immediately took a job with WSIL TV3 as senior reporter, where her reporting typically centered around the happenings in Franklin County. After a short break to begin a family, Rachel became regional editor for The Gazette for a year, reconnecting with contacts and reporting on a county-wide level. A year stint with The Gazette led her to work for the City of Benton in 2017, when she officially transplanted to town, and she and her children became Rangers. The work she did with the City that made her the proudest are city-wide festivals and developing long-lasting relationships with businesses and residents across town. Rachel also made civic work her priority while with the City. In 2020, COVID and remote schooling forced her to leave the City, on good terms, and temporarily stay home to do school work with her three children. Following her departure from the city, during the same Spring, Rachel launched a volunteer window painting campaign in the downtown area, of which numerous businesses and residents participated. Since leaving the City, Rachel has made sure to stay fully connected with civic organizations. She continues to be a member of the Benton Rotary, a very active member of the Rend Lake Area Tourism Council, and recently elected Vice President of the Benton/West City Area Chamber of Commerce. She also stays incredibly busy at her full-time job with J & L Custom Automotive, her new venture with Liz Greenwood-Allen with “Greenwood & Gartner Consulting”, launching her marketing/consulting business “Blended Media”, raising her three children and enjoying life with her amazing partner, Bart Bradley.
3. Andy Lamont: Studied at Rend Lake College. Night Manager at the Benton Save A Lot. Creator and Manager of Do Your Part Recycling.
4. Brook Craig: A life-long resident of Benton, graduated from Benton Community High School, and graduated from Rend Lake College. I worked for SIH as a medical transcriptionist before I started working for the City of Benton in 2006 as the Water Clerk and Deputy City Clerk. In 2013 I became the Benton City Clerk. In 2015 I spearheaded the Fall Fest and Festival of Lights activities for the City of Benton that had been missing for years. Along with community involvement this was a huge success. I helped complete the 2020 census for our community working hard to count as many as possible and have hosted numerous vaccine clinics at the City Hall. I work behind the scenes to get the necessary permits for road closures and to make sure our festivals and parades happen in town. I do my best for our businesses and am continuing to work on economic development to bring new businesses to our town. I love the sports programs in our community and over the years have volunteered with parent clubs feeding our athletes and decorating our city as well as helping to put on wrestling tournaments for our athletes. My husband and both my children are very involved in sports as coach and athletes; it is a family affair. We are proud to call Benton our home!
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
1. Benton Super Lube:
2. LA Fiesta Benton: La Fiesta has been in business in Benton for 18 years now.
Woe, that is a lot of Mexican food and margaritas over the years!
We love being here local and the community that we live in. La Fiesta is proud to be here to honored to help as much as we can with school functions, community events, and special fund raisers. We love being a part of Benton / West City has to offer. We are very proud to be a part of Ranger Nation and a member of the Chamber of Commerce.
So, to talk about Arturo, we are going to turn the tables just a bit. He does not know that I’ve added this part into this bio. Arturo loves his community, his customers, and his staff. Arturo likes to help in any way he can to make sure that the person that is in need gets it. If you would say I need a T-shirt he would take the one off his back and give it to that person. Arturo does not like to take any kind of credit or any spotlight.
The staff of La Fiesta wants to say thank you Arturo for making us feel loved and to give us a fun environment to work and a place to call home!
3. Franklin Hospital: Critical access hospital in Benton, Illinois offering walk-in clinics, emergency department, radiology, and senior services. Franklin Hospital is dedicated to providing quality care close to home. We collaborate with specialists throughout Southern Illinois to provide their services in Benton. The first official hospital in Benton was the Moore Hospital, which opened its doors in 1920. It was located on the sixth floor of the Wood Building on Benton's Public Square. In 1926, Dr. J. B. Moore constructed a new hospital facility on North Main Street. It remained operational until the late 1950's and served as a nursing home before demolition.
In the early 1950's the residents of 11 out of 12 townships in Franklin County voted to create a hospital district. In 1955 the Franklin Hospital began operation with 115 beds. Over the years as healthcare has changed so, too, has the Franklin Hospital. Now a 16-bed Critical Access Hospital, we have taken great strides to improve the quality of healthcare services offered to the small rural communities that we serve.
Franklin Hospital partners with SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in nearby Mt. Vernon, Illinois to offer county residents access to their network of physician specialists. Additionally, we have been the recipient of several state and federal tele-medicine grants which have allowed us to upgrade our information technology systems. Now connected by high-speed internet and advanced medical technology, staff physicians are able to consult with other highly trained and expert physicians miles away, in real time, for the healthcare benefit of our patients.
Through the dedication of the hospital's board of directors, administrative team and the employees of Franklin Hospital, the residents of Franklin County have quality healthcare - right here at home.
4. Mr. D's:
EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
1. Shannon Bennett: I just started my 18th year of teaching Kindergarten at Akin Grade School. I am honored to be teaching at the same school, that my parents and I attended as kids. I attended Akin Grade School from K to 8th grade. I went on to Benton High School for 4 years. I then, went to Rend Lake College and played volleyball and graduated with my Associates of Arts degree. I went on to SIUC and Graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education in 2001.I love working with kids in my community. I have been the Director of my Church's Bible School for the past 20 years. I’ve coached volleyball in the past at Akin. I love volunteering in my community. I currently live in Akin with my Husband Jason of 19 years, my two sons ( Tanner 13 and Clayton 10).
2. Aaron Lay: currently in his sixth year of teaching, and his fourth as Director of Bands for the Benton Grade School program. He graduated from Murray State University, Murray, KY in the fall of 2015 with a Bachelor in Music Education degree. While at Murray State, Aaron majored on the instrument of trumpet and performed in many ensembles. Aaron was also a part of the fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha, the national fraternity for music. Aaron served two terms as music director for the fraternity. Aaron began his teaching career in Kentucky serving as an Assistant Band Director at both middle and high school levels. Under his direction, his bands have received distinguished ratings at Concert Band Festivals. Once the opportunity became available, he applied to come back home to Benton. He began his playing career in this very program and is honored to lead this group. Aaron currently resides in Benton, IL with his wife Chelsea, son Calvin, and soon to be daughter.
3. Mark Minor: Married to Pamela Cook Minor, with 5 Children. Graduated BCHS 19n 1972, Liberty University in 1995 with a Bachelor Science - Psychology and received his master Science - Educational Psychology from SIU om 1998.
Served as the Managing Editor for Illinois Magazine in Benton until 1975. Good News Circle, Niles MI until 1977. Pastor at Whittington Church and Is a Part Time Instructor at Rend Lake College. Served on the Benton High School Board of Education for over 30 years. Also served on the Ewing-Northern Grade School Board of Education. Served as an IHSA Sports official for both Basketball and softball. Served on the board of Directors for Baptist Children's Home and Spero Family Services. Mark has dedicated most of his life to the education and service of Children.
4. Sandy Blackman: Some of you may know the verse, Jeremiah 29:11, when the Lord says, “For I know the plans I have for you.” I have seen just how intricately the Lord has weaved my life together. I am not going to start my bio back when I was born in Chicago Heights and moved to Benton when I was in second grade. I am going to begin in 1979, when I graduated from BCHS, where I had the honor to learn from my favorite teacher, Gary Messersmith. I then ventured to Eastern Illinois University, where I thought I would earn a degree in accounting—that was until I took a special education elective course, and then I graduated with a degree in business education and special education. I might be the only person to graduate with such a weird combination of degrees. I later earned a master’s in Work Force Education from SIUC. From Eastern Illinois University, I moved to the Chicago area and married the love of my life, for the past 36 years, Ken Blackman. I obtained a wonderful position in a preschool, at Poko Loko in Glenview, as a preschool teacher and later a director. After around 8 years, God felt I should try out my degree, so I obtained a teaching position as a special education teacher in Waukegan, IL and then Highland Park, IL. Around 10 years later, in 1995, my husband and I decided to move to Benton. We felt it was very important to have our children grow up with their grandparents, the late Jack and Gail Scott and their wonderful aunts and uncles, Gina, Dean, Coleen, Michelle and Leo, not to mention the army of cousins. I have two amazing sons, Matthew and Luke, wonderful daughter-in-laws, Shaylea and Melissa and two of the most perfect grandkids, Kinsley and Kutler. Immediately upon planning our move to Benton, I sent a resume to Dr. Montgomery to see if Benton High School had any job openings I might be suitable for. Can you believe it? They had a halftime business education position and half time special education position? If that isn’t God’s plan, I don’t know what is. God blessed me with a 27 year teaching career at my alma mater, and I loved every single day I taught. It doesn’t get better than that. God truly blessed me with amazing administration, who always encouraged and supported me. I owe a big thank you to Gary Messersmith, Walt Montgomery, Sue Woodfin, Dr. Kelly Stewart, Marla Harp, Dr. Mattox, Wade Thomas, Benjy Johnson, Heather Mitchell and school board member, Mark Minor. I also had the opportunity to work with some of the best teachers ever, some of them even being my teacher when I was in high school. Thanks to the late Jackie Miller, Mary Ellen Aiken, Mary Lou Payne, Marilyn Kearney, Skyla Stotlar, Jim Eldridge, Rod Shurtz and Matt Wynn and many others. The staff which I retired with, the current BCHS teaching staff, was the best all-around staff I have ever worked with. The last few years of teaching, you would have thought that by being a veteran teacher, I would be the one to inspire, but I learned so much the past few years from our young staff. They are all amazing! Just a quick synopsis of my career at Benton High School, before I get to the most important part about teaching: I taught many classes throughout the 27 years, some which really date me, such as typing. I also taught Business Math, Business Orientation, Business Law, Marketing, Management, Keyboarding, Computer Concepts, Information Processing, Career Prep (the work program), Career Exploration, and Child Care Occupations, to name just a few. I also had the privilege to be the CTE, Career and Technical Education, department head, as well as the Education-to-Careers coordinator. My passion is teaching job skills and life skills. Teaching business gave me the opportunity to teach something that the students didn’t need to question when they would need it. They knew they would need it sometime in their life. Sorry, math! Okay, now for the most important reason I was a teacher. I loved teaching job skills, work ethic, and life skills to my students. I loved having real-life discussions with my students about careers, finances, life goals, etc. Teaching is all about developing relationships. As a teacher, I formed many great relationships with some amazing students. Thanks to Student Chamber, I was able to build relationships in the classroom as well as outside. About 25 years ago, Carol and Dave Sluzevich were on the Chamber board and wanted to start a new school organization, the BCHS Student Chamber. Around 1997, BCHS and Benton West City Area Chamber of Commerce joined together to form Student Chamber. Some of the people instrumental in developing this wonderful organization were board members Carol and Dave Sluzevich, Gary Messersmith, Steve Woodfin, Dennis Miller, and John D Aiken; I’m sure there were others. Student Chamber has been a love of mine for all these years. It is a wonderful community service organization. I have always tried to instill a love for community service in my students. Student Chamber has developed into one of the most popular clubs at BCHS. Some of the activities or events the students organized over the years were Adopt-a-Highway, Ministerial Alliance Santa Shop, Salvation Army Bell Ringing, BCHS Drug Awareness Week, Heritage Woods Valentine Dance, Heritage Woods Fall Festival, and fundraising for various groups, such as the Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry, Night Shield, and Benton Animal Shelter. Student Chamber helped with Chamber golf outings, car shows, fireworks displays, the Rend Lake Water Festival Parade, the annual dinner, cleaning the Chamber shed, and repairing and getting ready the city's Christmas decorations. Over the years, BCHS students participated in some incredible community service projects; I was always so proud of my students. Teaching is awesome because every year I would get to start over with brand new students! My main purpose as a teacher was to hopefully have a positive, inspiring impact on my students’ lives. I had some really amazing students. I hope I had an impact on them, but I know my students have had an inspiring impact on my life. Thank you so much for the nomination for Educator of the Year! I am honored!
1. Rhonda Gilbreath : Graduated from Benton Community High School. President of FBLA and was also a member of the Nation Honor Society. Graduated from Rend Lake College with a Secretarial and Accounting Degree. Worked for Arondelle & Venegone in Christopher. Has been employeed by State Bank of Whittington for the last 20 years. Mariied to Dwight Gilbreath for 40 years and has a son Shawn Gilbreath. Been involved with fundraisers for the american Cancer Society, and Casa. Served as Sergeant in Arms & Treasure for the Benton Rotary Club. Served on the Board of Directors for the Benton West City Area Chamber of Commerce for many years, 3 of which was served as President. Served and volunteered on Rend Lake Car Show, Rend Lake Water Festival, Rend Lake Fireworks, Golf Scramble and Annual Dinner Committees. Always humble and grateful to her family and community.
2. Rachel Gartner: Rachel Gartner was born and raised in Franklin County, graduated from Christopher High School and has primarily worked in marketing and communications her entire professional career. She graduated with her Masters (thesis incomplete) from Southern Illinois University Carbondale 2004, and immediately took a job with WSIL TV3 as senior reporter, where her reporting typically centered around the happenings in Franklin County. After a short break to begin a family, Rachel became regional editor for The Gazette for a year, reconnecting with contacts and reporting on a county-wide level. A year stint with The Gazette led her to work for the City of Benton in 2017, when she officially transplanted to town, and she and her children became Rangers. The work she did with the City that made her the proudest are city-wide festivals and developing long-lasting relationships with businesses and residents across town. Rachel also made civic work her priority while with the City. In 2020, COVID and remote schooling forced her to leave the City, on good terms, and temporarily stay home to do school work with her three children. Following her departure from the city, during the same Spring, Rachel launched a volunteer window painting campaign in the downtown area, of which numerous businesses and residents participated. Since leaving the City, Rachel has made sure to stay fully connected with civic organizations. She continues to be a member of the Benton Rotary, a very active member of the Rend Lake Area Tourism Council, and recently elected Vice President of the Benton/West City Area Chamber of Commerce. She also stays incredibly busy at her full-time job with J & L Custom Automotive, her new venture with Liz Greenwood-Allen with “Greenwood & Gartner Consulting”, launching her marketing/consulting business “Blended Media”, raising her three children and enjoying life with her amazing partner, Bart Bradley.
3. Andy Lamont: Studied at Rend Lake College. Night Manager at the Benton Save A Lot. Creator and Manager of Do Your Part Recycling.
4. Brook Craig: A life-long resident of Benton, graduated from Benton Community High School, and graduated from Rend Lake College. I worked for SIH as a medical transcriptionist before I started working for the City of Benton in 2006 as the Water Clerk and Deputy City Clerk. In 2013 I became the Benton City Clerk. In 2015 I spearheaded the Fall Fest and Festival of Lights activities for the City of Benton that had been missing for years. Along with community involvement this was a huge success. I helped complete the 2020 census for our community working hard to count as many as possible and have hosted numerous vaccine clinics at the City Hall. I work behind the scenes to get the necessary permits for road closures and to make sure our festivals and parades happen in town. I do my best for our businesses and am continuing to work on economic development to bring new businesses to our town. I love the sports programs in our community and over the years have volunteered with parent clubs feeding our athletes and decorating our city as well as helping to put on wrestling tournaments for our athletes. My husband and both my children are very involved in sports as coach and athletes; it is a family affair. We are proud to call Benton our home!
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
1. Benton Super Lube:
2. LA Fiesta Benton: La Fiesta has been in business in Benton for 18 years now.
Woe, that is a lot of Mexican food and margaritas over the years!
We love being here local and the community that we live in. La Fiesta is proud to be here to honored to help as much as we can with school functions, community events, and special fund raisers. We love being a part of Benton / West City has to offer. We are very proud to be a part of Ranger Nation and a member of the Chamber of Commerce.
So, to talk about Arturo, we are going to turn the tables just a bit. He does not know that I’ve added this part into this bio. Arturo loves his community, his customers, and his staff. Arturo likes to help in any way he can to make sure that the person that is in need gets it. If you would say I need a T-shirt he would take the one off his back and give it to that person. Arturo does not like to take any kind of credit or any spotlight.
The staff of La Fiesta wants to say thank you Arturo for making us feel loved and to give us a fun environment to work and a place to call home!
3. Franklin Hospital: Critical access hospital in Benton, Illinois offering walk-in clinics, emergency department, radiology, and senior services. Franklin Hospital is dedicated to providing quality care close to home. We collaborate with specialists throughout Southern Illinois to provide their services in Benton. The first official hospital in Benton was the Moore Hospital, which opened its doors in 1920. It was located on the sixth floor of the Wood Building on Benton's Public Square. In 1926, Dr. J. B. Moore constructed a new hospital facility on North Main Street. It remained operational until the late 1950's and served as a nursing home before demolition.
In the early 1950's the residents of 11 out of 12 townships in Franklin County voted to create a hospital district. In 1955 the Franklin Hospital began operation with 115 beds. Over the years as healthcare has changed so, too, has the Franklin Hospital. Now a 16-bed Critical Access Hospital, we have taken great strides to improve the quality of healthcare services offered to the small rural communities that we serve.
Franklin Hospital partners with SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in nearby Mt. Vernon, Illinois to offer county residents access to their network of physician specialists. Additionally, we have been the recipient of several state and federal tele-medicine grants which have allowed us to upgrade our information technology systems. Now connected by high-speed internet and advanced medical technology, staff physicians are able to consult with other highly trained and expert physicians miles away, in real time, for the healthcare benefit of our patients.
Through the dedication of the hospital's board of directors, administrative team and the employees of Franklin Hospital, the residents of Franklin County have quality healthcare - right here at home.
4. Mr. D's:
EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
1. Shannon Bennett: I just started my 18th year of teaching Kindergarten at Akin Grade School. I am honored to be teaching at the same school, that my parents and I attended as kids. I attended Akin Grade School from K to 8th grade. I went on to Benton High School for 4 years. I then, went to Rend Lake College and played volleyball and graduated with my Associates of Arts degree. I went on to SIUC and Graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education in 2001.I love working with kids in my community. I have been the Director of my Church's Bible School for the past 20 years. I’ve coached volleyball in the past at Akin. I love volunteering in my community. I currently live in Akin with my Husband Jason of 19 years, my two sons ( Tanner 13 and Clayton 10).
2. Aaron Lay: currently in his sixth year of teaching, and his fourth as Director of Bands for the Benton Grade School program. He graduated from Murray State University, Murray, KY in the fall of 2015 with a Bachelor in Music Education degree. While at Murray State, Aaron majored on the instrument of trumpet and performed in many ensembles. Aaron was also a part of the fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha, the national fraternity for music. Aaron served two terms as music director for the fraternity. Aaron began his teaching career in Kentucky serving as an Assistant Band Director at both middle and high school levels. Under his direction, his bands have received distinguished ratings at Concert Band Festivals. Once the opportunity became available, he applied to come back home to Benton. He began his playing career in this very program and is honored to lead this group. Aaron currently resides in Benton, IL with his wife Chelsea, son Calvin, and soon to be daughter.
3. Mark Minor: Married to Pamela Cook Minor, with 5 Children. Graduated BCHS 19n 1972, Liberty University in 1995 with a Bachelor Science - Psychology and received his master Science - Educational Psychology from SIU om 1998.
Served as the Managing Editor for Illinois Magazine in Benton until 1975. Good News Circle, Niles MI until 1977. Pastor at Whittington Church and Is a Part Time Instructor at Rend Lake College. Served on the Benton High School Board of Education for over 30 years. Also served on the Ewing-Northern Grade School Board of Education. Served as an IHSA Sports official for both Basketball and softball. Served on the board of Directors for Baptist Children's Home and Spero Family Services. Mark has dedicated most of his life to the education and service of Children.
4. Sandy Blackman: Some of you may know the verse, Jeremiah 29:11, when the Lord says, “For I know the plans I have for you.” I have seen just how intricately the Lord has weaved my life together. I am not going to start my bio back when I was born in Chicago Heights and moved to Benton when I was in second grade. I am going to begin in 1979, when I graduated from BCHS, where I had the honor to learn from my favorite teacher, Gary Messersmith. I then ventured to Eastern Illinois University, where I thought I would earn a degree in accounting—that was until I took a special education elective course, and then I graduated with a degree in business education and special education. I might be the only person to graduate with such a weird combination of degrees. I later earned a master’s in Work Force Education from SIUC. From Eastern Illinois University, I moved to the Chicago area and married the love of my life, for the past 36 years, Ken Blackman. I obtained a wonderful position in a preschool, at Poko Loko in Glenview, as a preschool teacher and later a director. After around 8 years, God felt I should try out my degree, so I obtained a teaching position as a special education teacher in Waukegan, IL and then Highland Park, IL. Around 10 years later, in 1995, my husband and I decided to move to Benton. We felt it was very important to have our children grow up with their grandparents, the late Jack and Gail Scott and their wonderful aunts and uncles, Gina, Dean, Coleen, Michelle and Leo, not to mention the army of cousins. I have two amazing sons, Matthew and Luke, wonderful daughter-in-laws, Shaylea and Melissa and two of the most perfect grandkids, Kinsley and Kutler. Immediately upon planning our move to Benton, I sent a resume to Dr. Montgomery to see if Benton High School had any job openings I might be suitable for. Can you believe it? They had a halftime business education position and half time special education position? If that isn’t God’s plan, I don’t know what is. God blessed me with a 27 year teaching career at my alma mater, and I loved every single day I taught. It doesn’t get better than that. God truly blessed me with amazing administration, who always encouraged and supported me. I owe a big thank you to Gary Messersmith, Walt Montgomery, Sue Woodfin, Dr. Kelly Stewart, Marla Harp, Dr. Mattox, Wade Thomas, Benjy Johnson, Heather Mitchell and school board member, Mark Minor. I also had the opportunity to work with some of the best teachers ever, some of them even being my teacher when I was in high school. Thanks to the late Jackie Miller, Mary Ellen Aiken, Mary Lou Payne, Marilyn Kearney, Skyla Stotlar, Jim Eldridge, Rod Shurtz and Matt Wynn and many others. The staff which I retired with, the current BCHS teaching staff, was the best all-around staff I have ever worked with. The last few years of teaching, you would have thought that by being a veteran teacher, I would be the one to inspire, but I learned so much the past few years from our young staff. They are all amazing! Just a quick synopsis of my career at Benton High School, before I get to the most important part about teaching: I taught many classes throughout the 27 years, some which really date me, such as typing. I also taught Business Math, Business Orientation, Business Law, Marketing, Management, Keyboarding, Computer Concepts, Information Processing, Career Prep (the work program), Career Exploration, and Child Care Occupations, to name just a few. I also had the privilege to be the CTE, Career and Technical Education, department head, as well as the Education-to-Careers coordinator. My passion is teaching job skills and life skills. Teaching business gave me the opportunity to teach something that the students didn’t need to question when they would need it. They knew they would need it sometime in their life. Sorry, math! Okay, now for the most important reason I was a teacher. I loved teaching job skills, work ethic, and life skills to my students. I loved having real-life discussions with my students about careers, finances, life goals, etc. Teaching is all about developing relationships. As a teacher, I formed many great relationships with some amazing students. Thanks to Student Chamber, I was able to build relationships in the classroom as well as outside. About 25 years ago, Carol and Dave Sluzevich were on the Chamber board and wanted to start a new school organization, the BCHS Student Chamber. Around 1997, BCHS and Benton West City Area Chamber of Commerce joined together to form Student Chamber. Some of the people instrumental in developing this wonderful organization were board members Carol and Dave Sluzevich, Gary Messersmith, Steve Woodfin, Dennis Miller, and John D Aiken; I’m sure there were others. Student Chamber has been a love of mine for all these years. It is a wonderful community service organization. I have always tried to instill a love for community service in my students. Student Chamber has developed into one of the most popular clubs at BCHS. Some of the activities or events the students organized over the years were Adopt-a-Highway, Ministerial Alliance Santa Shop, Salvation Army Bell Ringing, BCHS Drug Awareness Week, Heritage Woods Valentine Dance, Heritage Woods Fall Festival, and fundraising for various groups, such as the Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry, Night Shield, and Benton Animal Shelter. Student Chamber helped with Chamber golf outings, car shows, fireworks displays, the Rend Lake Water Festival Parade, the annual dinner, cleaning the Chamber shed, and repairing and getting ready the city's Christmas decorations. Over the years, BCHS students participated in some incredible community service projects; I was always so proud of my students. Teaching is awesome because every year I would get to start over with brand new students! My main purpose as a teacher was to hopefully have a positive, inspiring impact on my students’ lives. I had some really amazing students. I hope I had an impact on them, but I know my students have had an inspiring impact on my life. Thank you so much for the nomination for Educator of the Year! I am honored!
2021 "OF THE YEAR" WINNERS
We are happy to honor the following individuals and business as our "Of The Year" winners for 2021. This community is full of amazing people who give so much to ensure a brighter future, and we are honored to recognize them. They join a long legacy of community support and citizenship. We AWARDED prizes at the dinner and these folks will take part in the Rend Lake Water Festival Parade on May 7th.
View all past winners here...
View all past winners here...
Silent Auction
Items Included:
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Annual Dinner CommitteeChairman: Lauren Johnson
Heston Mays, Rachel Gartner, Cathy Gravalia, Melissa Walden and Lennie Shelton EntertainmentThis year, we were excited to host Upstage Productions, a Murder Mystery Troupe, to provide entertainment for our guests. Last year the crowd loved the actors and really got into their roles to solve the mystery.
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Award of AppreciationKaren Freeman accepts a Plaque on behalf of her late husband Walter Freeman. Walter was a long time member of the Chamber of Commerce and was our Vice President at the time of his passing. Walter was loved and respected by every member of the Board of Directors. Walter and Karen often volunteered during the Rend Lake Water Festival and were very active in all of the Chamber Events.
Taking Walters seat on the Board , Karen continues to run the Benton KOA and volunteers for the Chamber. |
2021 Event Images
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