Berrien RESA Honors 7 Area Businesses for Their Longstanding Commitment to Education

During its Closing Day Celebration, Berrien RESA recognized 7 area businesses for their longstanding commitment to the education community as Partners in
Education.

“Berrien RESA is an organization consisting of nearly 400 employees,” said Eric Hoppstock, Berrien RESA Superintendent. “We serve 24,000 students, about 3,000 school professionals and countless families on an annual basis. However, the services and programs we provide are only as strong as the partnerships we form to deliver those opportunities. Without the help of area businesses, community groups, agencies and volunteers, none of what Berrien RESA does would be possible.”

This year’s Partnership in Education winners include:

● Anytime Fitness of Stevensville
● Berrien County Sheriff’s Department
● Andy J. Egan Company
● Ashlee Offord of Corewell Health
● PetSmart of Benton Harbor
● Roger’s Foodland
● Sommerfeldt Farms

In 2009, the district established the Partnership in Education Awards to recognize those unsung efforts of community members who made a tremendous impact in our classrooms. The entities and people being recognized are nominated by Berrien RESA staff and scored against a rubric measuring their longstanding commitment to supporting education. The recipients are not only honored in front of all of Berrien RESA’s employees during their annual Closing Day celebration, their name is also engraved on a sculpture housed at the Administrative Center, affectionately
called the “Partnership Tree”.

“The Partnership Tree was designed and crafted by Career & Technical Education students attending arts and welding classes at Coloma High School many years ago,” said Hoppstock. “Each year, as partners are recognized, we add an engraved leaf to the tree. Now, anytime there are visitors in our buildings, they see the tree and can read the names of all of the supportive people and entities who have made significant contributions to education. The tree symbolizes the connection between the classroom and our community and the hundreds of opportunities that grow out of that partnership.”

Congratulations to this year’s winners!