Nineteen years ago, officials from the Petal Education Foundation instituted the Champion of the Year Award, designed to annually honor a special individual, club or business that has contributed significantly to the Petal School District.
That tradition is continuing this year, as nominations are now being accepted for the 2023 recipient, which can be any Petal alumni or non-alumni, organizations, clubs or nonprofit businesses. The deadline for nominations is August 14.
“We just know that Petal is so filled with supporters, whether they’re individuals, whether they’re non-profit groups or clubs, that have given their all and have not been asked to do it,” said Leahne Lightsey, executive director of the Petal Education Foundation. “They’re willing to volunteer their time, and sometimes money, and sponsorships and that kind of thing, to better our school district and just make life better for the students we serve.”
Although the Champion of the Year Award can be presented to an individual, organization, club, or non-profit business, it cannot be given to an active employee of the Petal School District. Nominees must have contributed to the school district, which does not have to include financial contributions – for example, time and service will be accepted.
Nominees also must live in the Petal School District and be involved in the community or have given back to the community.
Nominations can be made in the form of a letter – with the nominee’s supporting information and listings of involvement or activities – addressed to the Petal Education Foundation Board of Directors, P.O. Box 948, Petal, MS 39475. Nominations also can be made via email at leahne.lightsey@petalschools.com.
For more information on the nomination process, call Lightsey at (601) 545-3002.
“It should be something written, whether it’s an email or a letter,” Lightsey said. “And if there’s just an idea (for a nomination), maybe there’s someone else that can write the letter.
“When people do nominate, they need to have supporting material or statements as to the reason why the individual or group is being nominated.
“What have they done that the (nominator) knows of that identifies that person as a true champion of the Petal School District? I might be their volunteer services or their contributions in other ways, so we kind of need to know those things as well.”
Although in previous years, the award was given only to Petal School District graduates, in 2013 the foundation and its board of directors broadened the scope of the honor to include Petal alumni and non-alumni, as well as organizations, clubs or non-profit businesses.
The Champion of the Year Award is given annually at the Petal Panthers homecoming football game. Festivities will be on September 14 and 15, with the annual parade and the presentation ceremony at the Friday night game.
Previous award winners include but are not limited to Lynn Cartlidge, Jimmy Havard, Marcus Ware, Anthony McCullum, Nadine Coleman, Demaris Lee and the Cosmopolitan Club of Petal.
