An evening of steak dinners and crystal stars highlighted the East Lee County Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Gala Saturday at the Plantation Golf and Country Club, marking the chamber’s 58th anniversary and honoring teachers and public servants for their community contributions during last year’s pandemic. The gala also recognized the chamber’s success as it works to realize a post-pandemic future as a South West Florida presence.
What began as the sprawling Lucky Lee Cattle ranch of the 1950s has now developed into a viable civic, social and economic gateway to the area’s future, officials said.
“This year’s award,” said Michael Welch, Chamber chairman of the board, takes the “shape of a crystal star.”
“That is what every teacher here is,” Welch said, “a crystal star.”
About 130 people attended the 19th annual Gala that included a silent auction, dinner, entertainment and the awards presentations honoring area teachers and others such as firefighters, deputies, municipal, community and chamber members whose contributions have helped to realize the gala’s theme, “The Future is Here.”
“The future is here,” said Nancy Williamson, gala chair. “We’re so over the whole COVID thing.”
“We’re ready to start over and start moving forward.” she said.
During his remarks, Welch said teachers were honored for their outstanding contributions to their students, schools and community. What stood out during their nomination process, Welch said, was the re-occurrence of words such as inspiration, leadership, wisdom, friendship and love.
“What came to us was that our teachers, public servants (and others), all practiced something called the little way,” Welch said, based upon the practice of the late 19th century nun. St. Thérèse of Lisieux.
“The little way,” Welch said, “is that the value of life does not depend upon the place we occupy. It depends upon the way we occupy that life in that place.”
At the gala, the 14 teachers and their respective schools displayed the range, depth and academic outreach of East Lee County education whether Harnes Marsh Elementary, Lehigh Senior High School, Donna J. Beasley Technical Academy or Veterans Park Academy for the Arts.
“I love my students,” said Samantha Stafford, Harnes Marsh Elementary teacher.
“I feel very honored they would choose our school and support our students,” she said. “After all, it takes a village to raise a child and we need all the love we can get.”
Formerly known as the Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce, the organization was founded in 1962, and became a non profit in 1980. Almost two years ago, the name and logo was changed to reflect its regional growth with about 200 members as it has expanded into the Gateway Community and more of East Fort Myers, officials said.
“What makes a great chamber of commerce is to get more involved with the community, the people,” said Robert Lambert, a Donna J. Beasley Technical Academy teacher and former chamber member.
“Business is good. It brings money in but you’ve got to get the people together,” he said. “People make community. People make business. People is where it is at.”
Reflecting the areas’ changes and growth, the chamber installed at the gala three new board members: Lee County Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass, Collier County Commissioner Burt Saunders, and Ruth Anglickis, community leader and pioneer in the development of Lehigh Acres. The three were selected for the knowledge and expertise in helping realize the chambers mission to “promote and advance the economic, civic, and social growth of East Lee County.”
Honorees are:
TEACHERS OF THE YEAR
1. TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Samantha Stafford
Harnes Marsh Elementary School
2021
2. TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Robert Lambert
Donna J. Beasley Technical Academy
2021
3. TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Erin Roberts
Sunshine Elementary School
2021
4. TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Brian Adams
Harnes Marsh Middle School
2021
5. TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Arthur Phillips
East Lee High School
2021
6. TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Miguel Cintron
Lehigh Senior High School
2021
7. TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Laura Robinson
Alva School
2021
8. TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Mary Fine
Lehigh Acres Middle School
2021
9. TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Christine Coleman
Mirror Lakes Elementary School
2021
10. TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Karyna Sandin
Lehigh Acres Elementary School
2021
11. TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Debby McLemore
Tortuga Preserve Elementary School
2021
12. TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Melissa Zeiher
G. Weaver Hipps Elementary School
2021
13 TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Anselmo Solorzano
Varsity Lakes Middle School
2021
14. TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Deborah Henry
Veterans Park Academy for the Arts
2021
15. LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE YEAR
Deputy Alexandria Davis
Lee County Sheriff’s Office
2021
16. FIRE FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
Javier Bermudez
Lehigh Acres Fire Control & Rescue District
2021
17. EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE AWARD
Larry Arfmann
Lehigh Acres Fire Control & Rescue District
2021
18. MEMBER OF THE YEAR
Michael Jacobs
Go Small Biz/LegalSheild
2021
19. CHAIRMAN’S AWARD
Susan Kostyk
Kostyk Insurance Agency
2021