Over two hundred partners and staff representing schools, businesses, civic clubs and faith organizations attended the Walker County Partners for Educational Progress (WACOPEP) annual Partner Recognition Luncheon at the Walker County Civic Center.  Each year, each school in Walker County and Chickamauga City Schools nominates a partner in each of five categories for Partner of the Year.  These partners have demonstrated the most effective, innovative or comprehensive support and involvement in public schools during the 2007-2008 school year.

The 2008 partnership winners are Peavine Baptist, Faith Partner of the Year; Dow Reichhold Chemical, System Partner of the Year; Gateway Bank, Large Business Partner of the Year; U.S. Vinyl & Accent Graphics, Large Business Partner of the Year; the Chattanooga Valley Lions Club, Civic Club Partner of the Year; and The Sonic of Chickamauga, Small Business Partner of the Year.

Each year schools select the one partner that most represents the spirit of former partner Arnold Eaves of Chattanooga Valley.  That partner shows the most outstanding support of all nominees.  This year receiving the Arnold Eaves WACOPEP Partner of the Year was Hammond Jones Hardware of LaFayette.  Charter WACOPEP partners Mr. & Mrs. James Ingram accepted this prestigious award for Hammond Jones.

Nominated for Civic Partner of the Year were the Chattanooga Food Bank, the Chattanooga Valley Foundation, the Chattanooga Valley Lions Club, the Chattanooga Valley Recreation, the LaFayette Optimist Club and VFW Post #3679.

Nominated for Faith Partner of the Year were Chattanooga Valley Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Fort Oglethorpe, First Baptist Church of LaFayette, Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Peavine Baptist Church, Rock Spring Baptist, Rock Spring Methodist and Stone Ridge Fellowship Church.

Nominated for Small Business Partner of the Year were Brock Services, Bobby Emerling State Farm, Carter's Barbeque, Chickamauga Family Practice, Covenant Bank, Debbi's Flowers and Favors, Fazoli's Restaurant, Hammond-Jones Hardware, Precision Graphics, S&H Trucking, Scott Landscaping Company, The Sonic – Chickamauga, The Sonic – LaFayette, Triangle Park, Universal Flooring and Wanda's Restaurant.

Nominated for Large Business Partner of the Year were BI-LO – LaFayette, Food Lion – Chickamauga, Gateway Bank – LaFayette, Nissin Brake, Rossville Bank, Top Flight Paper, Inc., U.S.Vinyl and Walmart – LaFayette.

Nominated for System Business Partner of the Year were The Bank of LaFayette, Chattanooga Coca Cola Bottling, Chick-fil-A, Dow Reichhold, LaFayette Printing Company, Lane Funeral Home, North Georgia Electric Membership Corp. and Oakwood Baptist Church.

WACOPEP is a wide-based volunteer program of nearly 250 business, civic, faith and individual partners committed to supporting and enhancing public education for the students of Walker County.  For more information concerning WACOPEP, call 706-638-7953.

Back row:  Dr. Steve Anthony of Peavine Baptist, Faith Partner of the Year; JoAnn Campbell of Dow Reichhold, System Partner of the Year; Todd Pence of Gateway Bank, Large Business Partner of the Year; Steve McCloud of U.S. Vinyl & Accent Graphics, Large Business Partner of the Year; and Baxter Little representing the Chattanooga Valley Lions Club, Civic Club Partner of the Year.  Front row:  Toni Huebner of The Sonic – Chickamauga, Small Business Partner of the Year, and Mr. & Mrs. James Ingram representing Hammond Jones Hardware of LaFayette, the Arnold Eaves WACOPEP Partner of the Year.