Each year, the board of the Clarke County Development Corporation (CCDC) awards a local business or organization the CCDC Director’s Award. This honor goes out to those who excel in their efforts to promote and sustain business and employment throughout Clarke County. Past winners include Hormel (Osceola Foods), Altec, and Miller Products Company, with the award going to The Village Early Childhood Center in 2020. All past winners have shown their dedication to business and development in Clarke County as well as their focus on the future of the community. This year, the board wanted to emphasize what had been a truly inspirational force behind Clarke County’s success, and even its wellbeing: the heroes we call healthcare workers.
While traditionally the award would be presented to the recipient during the Osceola Chamber Main Street / CCDC Annual Dinner, this year’s honor was announced via their Facebook Live Annual Dinner event, Tuesday March 23rd.
“{This year} has shown the amazing value of our frontline workers,” said Sue Wilder, CCDC Board President. “Our hope is, with this award, we can honor their dedication and inspire future generations to take up the call.”
The CCDC Director’s Award for 2021 will be represented, in lieu of the normal donation and plaque, as a $1,500 scholarship given to qualified students through Southwestern Community College’s (SWCC) Osceola campus. Students looking to major in Nursing or a related medical field can qualify for the award.
“This is a perfect opportunity for students to pursue their LPN or RN,” said Sue Sterns, SWCC Osceola Center Coordinator. “And they can do it all while staying local.”
The nursing program at SWCC is highly competitive and can only take a select number of students each fall. The LPN (Licensed Practical Nursing) program often has as many as 80 students enrolled in the fall program while 45-50 more go on to pursue their RN (Registered Nurse) degree. Many students interested in the nursing programs through SWCC get a jump on certification by completing their prerequisites through dual enrollment – taking base college courses while juniors or seniors in high school. Both Clarke Community Schools and Murray School students are given that option.
Once enrolled at SWCC, a full 12-credit semester in the nursing program can run upwards of $2,000 and more with books and supplies. The $1,500 CCDC Director’s Award will go to help students alleviate the costs associated with obtaining these high-demand degrees.
“These are the future healthcare providers and our first line of defense against future pandemics,” said Bill Trickey, CCDC Executive Director. “Giving them a head start means Clarke County will be in good hands.