Lakeland, Florida, May 1, 2023
Hello Lakeland Community:
Thank you for attending LKLD Leads first Annual Awards Dinner, where we celebrated our Academy Educators and Business Partners.
The room was filled with over fifty educators with dignitaries, elected officials, non-profit leaders, our local high-education institution’s leaders, economic development leaders, public and charter school leaders, and over forty different industries seeking to support and engage with our career education programs.
Finally, the most enjoyable Honorable Governor Jeb Bush supplying an inspiring and transparent update on education in Florida.
The evening’s conversation and fellowship made for an atmosphere that inspired all that attended. The outpour of messages and comments I received has been overwhelmingly positive and made the efforts worthwhile.
Congratulations to our LKLD Leads Award Winners and thank you to ALL Academy Educators doing all your hard work to impact the skill set of our graduates.
I will share all the professional photos taken at the event via email.
Thank you all again for the table and event sponsors that made the evening possible and for LKLD Leads to provide each of the following Awards Winners with the below proceeds:
$2,500 WILL BE SENT TO EACH LKLD LEADS AWARDS WINNERS:
ACADEMY OF THE YEAR – CENTRAL FLORIDA AEROSPACE ACADEMYKathleen High School
Supported by President/CEO Rick Garcia – Gulf Coast Avionics
BUSINESS PARTNER OF THE YEAR – RYAN DELL – OWNER/PRESIDENT OF IDX
Supporting the ACADEMY OF DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY, George Jenkins High School
TRAILBLAZER AWARD – CULINARY ACADEMYGeorge Jenkins High School
Supported by Owner/President Debbie Zimmerman – PhytoFit
LEGACY AWARD – TENOROC HIGH SCHOOL with LAKELAND ELECTRIC
Supported by CEO Mike Beckham – Lakeland Electric
$500 TO EACH SECOND-PLACE AWARDS NOMINEE FOR TEACHER AND STUDENT SUPPLIES:
FUTURE EDUCATOR ACADEMY Lake Gibson School
Supported by President Dr. Angela Garcia Falconetti – Polk State University
MEDICAL ACADEMY George Jenkins High School
Supported by George Gibson – Polk County Fire Rescue
ACADEMY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE George Jenkins High School
Supported by Veterinarian Stephanie Bowes – My Pet’s Animal Hospital
Cheers till next year!
Best, Melody
Dr. Melody Rider
President, Lakeland Leads
318 230 9025 | melody@lakelandleads.org
502 E. Main St, Lakeland, FL 33801 www.lakelandleads.org
