Your Chamber supports education because we know that the foundation of our community starts with the education of our youth.
The Chamber Education Division and our Business & Education Coalition are proud to offer teachers and students a way to encourage continued education throughout Wilson County. The Chamber raises money at our annual Taste of Wilson County to give back to our education programs in Wilson County. Proceeds benefit our Teacher Grant Program, Books from Birth Program, Tennessee Scholars Program and other education scholarships.
The Teacher Grant Program was started by Ken Howell, Chamber Lifetime Member, in 1995. Teacher grants are offered by the Chamber Education Division to Wilson County teachers each year and awarded at an annual breakfast sponsored by Cumberland Real Estate G-team Jackie Gaither and Kevin Gaines. This year’s grant amount has been increased from $500 in previous years to $599 maximum per grant. The Education Vice Chair, Education Committee, Board of Directors and Chamber staff celebrate with the teacher and students when the items requested for the project have been purchased and unveiled to the classroom. Including 2015 teacher grants, the Education Division has awarded 433 grants totaling over $175,000. A special thank you to our Wilson County teachers who have participated and made a difference in our schools. The deadline for this year’s grant applications is Friday, September 18. Applications may be found at the following link.
Teacher Grant Application
Wilson Books from Birth is another program sponsored by the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce. Under the direction of Peggy Simpson, all Wilson County children from birth to five years old are eligible to enroll. Each month, a free book is mailed to the child for the parent(s) to read to their child for the beginning of a successful education.
Each year the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce graduates Wilson County students that have completed the requirements of the Tennessee Scholars Program. In 2015, 417 Wilson County students graduated from the program, and to-date, a total of 3,984 have received a diploma from the Chamber since 2005. The Tennessee Scholars program is a course of study that encourages students to take more demanding courses in high school. The curriculum provides an education that better prepares students to enter a technical school, a post-secondary educational institution, or the workplace.
The Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce offers a number of annual scholarships that are based on a select criteria. College education scholarships are awarded annually in the spring. The Chamber typically awards around $12,000 in scholarship money annually.
SAVE THE DATE: Taste of Wilson County, OCTOBER 8, 2015
Join your Chamber for a great evening to celebrate education in Wilson County. Food vendors will be sharing their favorite food products, and marketplace vendors will have other items for purchase. There will also be face painting, inflatables, and a balloon artist available for children’s enjoyment.
Ticket pricing for the Taste of Wilson County is as follows:
Adult (age 12+): $20 in advance; $25 at event
Child (ages 6-11): $5 in advance; $10 at event
Children age 5 & Under: Free
VIP Ticket (includes seat in VIP tent): $30
VIP Table (seats 8): $250
Call the Chamber office today at 615-444-5503 to reserve your ticket!
Lebanon and Wilson County have fantastic foods to highlight, so come experience the taste in Downtown Lebanon from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. on October 8. We look forward to seeing you there and partnering with you to support education in Wilson County!
Marketplace and food vendor space is still available! Follow the link below:
Taste of Wilson County Vendor Application
