Scholarship recipients honored

By Matt Smith/msmith@trcle.com

The Cleburne Chamber of Commerce held its first quarterly luncheon since October on Wednesday.

“Welcome to the first swine-flu free meeting of 2009,” Jason Cech, chamber board president, said jokingly.

Officials canceled several local events, including a scheduled chamber luncheon, earlier this year after several students contacted the H1N1 virus, better known as swine flu.

Despite the cancellation, more than 60 new members have joined the chamber since October, Cech said.



Adopter of the Year

Cleburne ISD spokeswoman Lisa Magers commended those nominated for CISD Adopter of the Year.

“Cleburne was one of the first ISDs in the state to participate in this program, and it is a point of pride for us,” Magers said. “Our adopters are our underwriters, mentors, extra set of hands, uplifters and encouragers.”

The longtime program, administered by CISD and the chamber, encourages businesses and individuals to adopt a campus and work with the school and students for the benefit of education.

The various CISD schools nominated nine adopters this year for the honor of Adopter of the Year.

Magers announced Heritage Trails Nursing and Rehabilitation Center as this year’s recipient.

Students and staff at Cleburne High School and C.C. Cooke Elementary nominated Heritage Trails for the award.

The center has joined with the high school’s health science technology program to allow certified nurse aide students the opportunity to perform their required clinical hours in a health care setting.

Heritage Trails also offers two $500 scholarships to CHS students who have obtained their nurse aide certifications and wish to attend nursing school.

Heritage Trails workers were also involved in numerous projects and activities at Cooke Elementary.

“Oh my gosh what a blessing it’s been for our residents and staff to be involved,” said Diann Choate, Heritage Trails admissions director. “We enjoyed it one hundred fold. The character of the students in outstanding and everyone at the schools was so dedicated and worked so hard. It was a pleasure to work with all of them.”



Scholarship winners

The Marti Foundation and Chesapeake Energy awarded scholarships to two CHS students and one Rio Vista High School student this year.

Justin Bond, Chesapeake public affairs supervisor, commended all three during the luncheon.

CHS senior Kaley Ownbey, who graduated in the top 10 percent of her class, received the 2009 Johnson County Chesapeake Energy Scholarship, which is administered through the Marti Foundation, a charitable, educational-based foundation.

Ownbey plans to attend Tarleton State University to major in accounting.

“I was just excited, thought ‘yay’ when I learned I received the scholarship because I didn’t think I would get it,” Ownbey said.

Ownbey’s mother, Linda Ownbey, called the award an awesome opportunity.

“It was a nice surprise, but a great one because we have several other kids in college,” said Billy Ownbey, Ownbey’s father.

Allison Brown, GHS’s 2009 valedictorian, also won the scholarship, which provides $1,250 per semester for up to eight semesters.

Brown, who was unable to attend Wednesday’s luncheon, plans to pursue a degree in nursing at the University of Texas.

Bailey Harrington, the 2009 salutatorian at CHS, won the Chesapeake Energy Scholarship for $5,000.

Harrington said she was unaware that Chesapeake awarded scholarships to the CHS salutatorian and was pleasantly surprised by news of the award.

“We’re really pleased to see her receive the recognition and proud of all the hard work she did in high school,” said her father, Craig Harrington.

Harrington said she plans to study forensic science at Texas A&M University.



New CISD program

CISD Superintendant Dr. Ronny Beard was the luncheon’s keynote speaker.

Beard discussed a strategic planning process study the district plans to undertake this school year with the help of Cambridge Strategic Services.

Such information is critical in an ever-changing world, Beard said.

“If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’re going to keep getting what you’ve always got,” Beard said.

The study will look at the long-term needs and goals of CISD, Beard said, and will examine curriculum, instructional, infrastructure and other needs.

The study will involve input from teachers, staff, students, community members and more, he said.

“It’s a chance to step back, look where we’re going and want to go and develop strategies,” Beard said.

Information derived from the study should help the district clearly define and reach its goals without wasting time or taxpayer dollars, Beard said.



Hospital update

Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Cleburne was presenting sponsor for the luncheon.

Texas Health Cleburne President Blake Kretz offered a brief update on hospital operations, which include a new digital mammography system and the recruitment of new physicians, including a new pediatrician and a new gastroenterologist.

Hospital officials plan to expand operating rooms as well, Kretz said.

“I know the hospital is not a place you want to come visit,” Kretz said. “But we’re there when you need us.”