By Jamil Oakford/editor-in-chief
TCC has been honored with an award that is rarely given to an educational institution.
The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce will award TCC with the Chairman’s Spirit of Enterprise Award.
The Spirit of Enterprise Award is given to local organizations that contribute greatly to the development of the city. The chamber believes TCC fit this role perfectly.
“TCC helps us through numerous partnerships,” said Andra Bennet, the Chamber’s senior director of communications.
TCC is the second college to receive this award from the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce.
“The only other institution was TCU in 2005,” Bennett said. “The others have been private and public companies.”
Board president Louise Appleman was surprised and happy to hear this.
“We’re in good company then,” she said.
Bennett said TCC provides local businesses with well-trained employees.
“Having such quality employees makes Fort Worth more competitive,” she said.
Appleman agrees with the readiness of students to merge into community businesses after a TCC education.
“So many of our students in the nursing programs are going to be in our clinics and hospitals,” she said. “We also have the energy building on South that’ll bring more job training to the college.”
Appleman is pleased with the work that students, faculty and staff have accomplished over the years and believes it’s finally paying off.
“I think, after 50 years, the community is starting to realize what a star institution we are,” she said.
And when asked what this means for TCC going forward, Appleman said she thinks it’s only reinforcement for what the college is already doing.
“We will continue our commitment to senior education, continuing education, early college high school,” she said. “And with our early college high school program, we’re doing a service to all those young people. They’re receiving scholarships from area colleges.”
Previous recipients of the award include Mrs. Baird’s Bakeries, American Airlines, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
This award means a great deal to the college, and Appleman stresses the importance because of everyone involved.
“On behalf of the students, faculty and staff, this is a very important award,” she said. “This is one of the highest awards given by the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce.”
TCC will formally accept the award June 5 at the Chamber’s annual meeting held at the Worthington Renaissance Hotel in Fort Worth.
