Schools to honor Valley partners
Madera County Compact will present Crystal Tower awards to Madera Agricultural Services and Robert Brosi for their partnerships with area schools next month.
Valley State Prison in Chowchilla and Cyndy Dolph, a retired member of the compact, will also be honored at the 13th annual Business and Education Shareholders’ Luncheon on August 30. Dolph will be given special recognition for past service, and the prison will receive a new award.
“There are many public agencies that impact our schools, and this year the Madera Compact has added another level of recognition to highlight those countywide efforts,” said Kevin Herman, chairperson of the Madera County Compact. “Valley State Prison is truly deserving of the first Community Investment Award.”
The superintendents of the Madera County Office of Education and Madera Unified School District, Cecilia Massetti and Edward Gonzalez respectively, nominated Madera Agricultural services, which has partnered with local schools for more than 30 years. David and Leslie Loquaci, owners of Madera Agricultural Services, will accept the award. The couple supports agriculture programs by serving on the Madera County Ag Boosters and the School Farm Advisory Board. They support 4-H and FFA programs, instruct students on vine pruning, lend equipment, and secure needed materials for schools.
Yosemite High School staff, secretary Jeanne Ratchford and teacher Rebecca Hardison, nominated Brosi, who has partnered with the high school for more than 25 years. Brosi is president of the Yosemite High School Scholarship Foundation, which gives thousands of dollars in college scholarships to graduates. He is an active member of the Yosemite Rotary Club, volunteers with the Interact Club, and acts as a senior project mentor.
Principal Kimberly Bitter of James Monroe Elementary School nominated Valley State Prison for the new Community Investment Award. The prison, in conjunction with the Chicano Correctional Workers Association, has partnered with the school for six years, donating money to buy hundreds of shoes for students each year as well as Christmas gifts. Prisoners donate board games to be used by the counselor for students to provide an opportunity for students to express their feelings.
A special recognition award will be given to Dolph for her contribution to the compact. For more than 13 years, Dolph worked closely with the compact as associate superintendent for Madera County Office of Education. Under Dolph’s leadership ,the Crystal Tower Awards began and an ARCHES math grant was awarded to Madera County schools.
Each year principals and superintendents from each school district in Madera County are encouraged to nominate businesses that have a strong relationship with their school. A review board from the Madera County Compact reviews the nominations and selects businesses they feel best exemplify the goal and mission of the Compact.
“The Crystal Tower Award is a way to thank businesses who are making a difference in our schools,” said Massetti. “We hope the community will join us for this public event as we acknowledge the Loquaci Family, aka Madera Agricultural Services, and Dr. Robert Brosi for their individual business partnerships.”
The Business and Education Shareholders’ Luncheon will be held Aug. 30 at the Madera County Office of Education’s Conference Center from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person or $240 for a table of eight. Businesses and community members are welcome. Call Kristi Winter at 662-3873 for information and tickets.
The luncheon is hosted by the Madera County Compact and sponsored by Madera County Office of Education. The Madera County Compact is an alliance of business, community and education leaders that supports student career exploration, college readiness and networking.
