By Louie Graves
News-Leader staff
There was no break in the tradition of a full, appreciative house in the annual community awards banquet of the Nashville Chamber of Commerce Monday night.
Awards for Woman of the Year, Man of the Year, Orange & Black Education, and Lifetime Achievement drew standing ovations for the honorees.
But for the second year in a row, the star may have been a heavy Italian Creme Cake baked and contributed by Tim Pinkerton, chamber executive director. At last year’s banquet, a similar cake was auctioned multiple times and raised $5,000 for the NHS cheerleaders. This year’s cake was auctioned six times and raised $6,500.
There was a slight delay in the presentation of the Man of the Year award because pictures for the video display were suspiciously late to be loaded into the computer. When all was ready, last year’s winner, Luis Maya, presented the award to sound and video-man Fred Hintze, from whom the winner’s name had to be kept. Hintze uses his skills and equipment at school, church, chamber, etc. events. He still finds time to be a chicken farmer and as the presenter said, “He makes Nashville a better place for all of us.”
The Woman of the Year award went to teacher Terri McJunkins who founded the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at NHS, started Celebrate Recovery and a jail ministry. Presenter Lisa Hagler, last year’s winner, said McJunkins was a “noble character” who was devoted to her church, school, students and community.
The Orange & Black Education award went to Trista Arnold, banner-maker and school event organizer and photographer extraordinaire. The award was presented by Joanna Howard who won the
award last year along with her husband, Michael.
Eleven new businesses were recognized by emcee Loren Hinton, retired from Cossatot-UA but still reliable for chamber events.
The chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Richard Sillavan, welding business owner and mentor who is devoted to his church.
A break from award presentation was taken by the auction of a number of special items ranging from firearms, a guitar and a luxury vacation in Cancun. Auctioneer was Reed Webb, a NHS sophomore who has done a number of benefit auctions. After high school he is headed for Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia where he said many family members had attended.
Outgoing chamber board president Aaron Tollett was presented a plaque of appreciation by new board president Kristin Stavely. Chamber board members were recognized.
The banquet was held in the cafeteria of Nashville High School.
