MALVERN — Approximately 350 people gathered Jan. 18 for the annual Malvern/Hot Spring County Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet at the Malvern Community Center. They came for good food, fellowship and the opportunity to honor individuals and businesses for their contributions to the community during 2017.
“The evening went extremely well,” said Lance Howell, chamber executive director. “We’re very thankful for the sponsors and everyone who came out to help us celebrate. It’s just a great chance for our extended community to get together, enjoy a nice dinner in good company and honor some outstanding businesses and individuals.”
Randy Zook, president and CEO of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, was the guest speaker.
Malvern High School Principal Jennifer Shnaekel was among those in the audience at the banquet. She received the Educator of the Year Award, sponsored by Farmers Bank and Trust.
“I always go to the banquets, just because I do,” she said, smiling. “I knew Christina Harris (a Malvern High School senior) was getting an award; she is an amazing young woman. I had no idea I was getting an award.
“I suspected something when I saw my parents there, but I really realized something was up when I saw my grown children there,” she said, laughing. “I was not too surprised to see my parents because my mother likes to get out and go to things, and I figured she just talked my dad into going. But when my boys walked in, I realized I must be one of the honorees.”
Shnaekel, 55, is a daughter of Gail and Janis West of Malvern. She and her husband, Nick, have two sons, Zane, 27, of Malvern, and Asa, 28, of Little Rock.
A native of Malvern, she graduated from Malvern High School in 1981. She and her husband, who graduated from Malvern High School in 1980, were married in 1982. She worked for Arkansas Power and Light Co. (now Entergy) for 13 years before she went to college.
“I’m a later bloomer,” she said, smiling. “I tell my students that all the time.”
Shnaekel graduated from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia with a Bachelor of Science degree in education and biology in 1999 and from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro with a Master of Science in Education degree in theory and practice and in educational leadership. She has been with the Malvern School District for 18 years. She taught high school biology for 12 years and has been in administration for six years.
She is a cancer survivor and missed only minimal days of work while battling the disease.
Malvern High School Senior Christina Harris, 17, received the Young Person of the Year Award, sponsored by Bank of the Ozarks. She received a $250 scholarship.
“I was surprised,” Harris said. “I was nominated by my former teacher and friend Claudine James, [a Malvern Middle School teacher]. I had found out [about the award] before the banquet, so I had to act surprised a little bit. My grandma told me.”
Harris was raised by her grandmother, Thelma Harris.
“She’s raised me since I was 10 months old,” Christina said. “She’s been both my mom and dad.”
Christina Harris is the student-body president at Malvern High School, as well as president of the National Beta Club and the National Honor Society. She is a staff member of the Malvern High School Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, on the color guard team, drill team, raider team and part of the JROTC Leadership Bowl.
She has been accepted to the United States Naval Academy Preparatory School, which she will attend for one year, and plans to enter the U.S. Naval Academy in June 2019.
Harris said she has always wanted to go into the Navy.
“My aunt [Rona Green Jones] went into the Navy right after high school,” Harris said. “She has been in 30 years and is now a commander stationed at [Naval Support Activity Mid-South, which serves as the Navy’s Human Resources Center for Excellence], in Millington, Tennessee.
“She and my grandmother were both at the banquet.”
Harris said she hopes to remain in the Navy “until I’m about 30. I want to be an intelligence officer.
“Then when I retire, I want to go into politics or government. I want to run for senator or representative, then for president. Anything is possible.”
Harris said that as a student at the Naval Academy, she will receive a monthly stipend that will be used to pay her tuition. In addition, she recently received a 2018 Horatio Alger National Scholarship worth $25,000.
“They only awarded 160 scholarships across the United States,” she said. “With that scholarship, I will receive an all-expense-paid trip to the National Scholars Conference in April in Washington, D.C.”
Harris is set to graduate from Malvern High School on May 25. She currently is ranked No. 2 in her senior class.
Others honored at the chamber awards banquet include the following:
• Chief Shane Davis of the Rockport Police Department received the Law Officer of the Year Award, sponsored by the Malvern Lions Club.
Davis, of Rockport, has been in law enforcement for approximately 20 years. In addition to his day-to-day duties, he is focused on school safety and education. He recently received a National Meritorious Award from the National Police Hall of Fame for his role in stopping a suspect involved in a robbery and shooting.
• Jimmy Crain of the South Malvern Volunteer Fire Department received the Firefighter of the Year Award, sponsored by Bill Scrimshire.
A resident of Malvern, Crain has been a volunteer firefighter for 26 years and has served as assistant chief and chief. He helped build the Harp Substation and was instrumental in starting the Christmas for Kids program in the district.
• Terry Eubanks of Bismarck received the Emergency Responder of the Year Award, sponsored by McClure Real Estate.
Eubanks is director of Emergency Management for Hot Spring County.
• Joe Keith received the Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Diamond Lakes Federal Credit Union.
He is a longtime member of the College of the Ouachitas Foundation Board of Directors and the Malvern Lions Club.
• Sylvia Keen of Glen Rose received the Manager of the Year Award, sponsored by Southern Bancorp.
She is a manager at Southern Bancorp. She also served as a troop leader for both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and is treasurer of the Malvern Lions Club.
• Western Sizzlin received the Business of the Year Award, sponsored by Malvern National Bank. The locally owned restaurant has been operated for 34 years by Mike and Sandra Bailey of Malvern. The business has been a member of the chamber for more than 30 years and has supported numerous programs in the county, including Hot Spring County 4-H and the Malvern School District.
• Allen Pulley of Malvern received the Kristi Parker Norris Community Service Award, sponsored by the Malvern Daily Record.
Pulley is a longtime volunteer with the Malvern School District, the Boys & Girls Club of Malvern and Hot Spring County and Second Baptist Church.
• Tony Jenkins of Malvern received the Chamber Person of the Year Award, sponsored by the chamber of commerce and chosen by the board chairman.
Jenkins is an active chamber board member and is involved in Miracle League, Hot Spring County 4-H, the Healthy Hot Spring County Coalition and the National Wild Life Turkey Federation.