Product of Putnam recipients honored at meeting
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Scott Brauman, Sharice Williams, Wade Dallas, Heather Hoffman, Matt Buckles, Aaron Hall and Trinisha Austin hold their Product of Putnam awards at Tuesday’s Putnam County School District board meeting as Community Relations Director Ashley McCool, center, holds the plaque on which their names are etched. -
Putnam County School District board members compliment this year’s Product of Putnam winners. -
Positively Putnam FL
The Putnam County School District’s third class of Product of Putnam honorees — designated for community-oriented Putnam graduates — was announced Tuesday, representing fields such as industry, agriculture and education.
The initiative was formed in 2019 to promote former students who serve as examples to current students.
Winners’ names are etched on a plaque in the school district’s headquarters, and honorees are recognized during the year’s graduation ceremonies for their respective high schools.
The following Putnam County community members are the 2021 Products of Putnam:
– Scott Brauman, 1992 graduate of Palatka High School — agriculture.
– Matt Buckles, 1995 graduate of Palatka High School — business.
– Heather Hoffman, 1997 graduate of Interlachen High School — community service.
– Sharice Williams, 1995 graduate of Palatka High School — education.
– Aaron Hall, 1996 graduate of Palatka High School — health care.
– Wade Dallas, 1977 graduate of Palatka South High School — industrial manufacturing.
– Trinisha Austin, 1996 graduate of Crescent City Junior-Senior High School — public service.
Buckles is currently the general manager at Beck Chevrolet Buick GMC, while Hall owns A-1 Pharmacy. Austin serves as a deputy clerk for the Putnam County Clerk of Courts Office, and Williams is the assistant principal of Ochwilla Elementary School.
Brauman is a cattleman farmer and business owner; Hoffman volunteers with Boy Scouts of America and numerous other organizations; and Dallas is a humanitarian who retired from Georgia-Pacific.
Superintendent Rick Surrency said future generations can be inspired by this year’s honorees, whom he would like to be mentors to other students.
“You guys are actually role models for what we’re trying to accomplish here in our district, and that is educating kids, having them graduate and go in whatever path they choose, and come back to Putnam County and give back,” Surrency said.
Wayne McClain, Putnam County Chamber of Commerce’s board chairman, said the chamber is often asked what the county has to offer.
“Standing here today, I look up here, and this is what we have to offer,” McClain said. “This is pretty darn great, isn’t it? Congratulations to each and every one of you.”
School board members thanked the winners for coming back to the county and working in the community. In her closing comments, board Chairwoman Holly Pickens said she previously taught Austin and her children at Crescent City.
“She’s just amazing and an amazing mom,” Pickens said. “She greatly appreciated education and is a wonderful representative for Putnam.”
The Putnam County Chamber of Commerce and the Palatka Daily News sponsored the awards and helped in choosing honorees.
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