Jaycees win more state awards
The McMinnville Jaycees walked away with a bevy of awards, including Best Chapter in the state, during the fourth quarter Tennessee Jaycees convention held earlier this month in Gatlinburg.
Given to Tennessee’s most outstanding chapter, the Henry Giessenbier Memorial Award recognized the McMinnville chapter’s excellence in a number of categories and marked the first time the local chapter has won the prestigious award.
Another prestigious award was brought back to McMinnville thanks to 2002 chapter president Harrison Woodlee, who received the Hurbert Bennett Memorial Award for Outstanding Local Chapter President of the Year. Woodlee also was named Local Chapter President of the Quarter.
“Our theme this year was ‘Come Together’ and Jaycee members did all year to help the less fortunate in our community and across the state,” said Woodlee. “It feels great to be recognized in this way.”
Chapter secretary Jennifer White was named Local Chapter Officer of the Quarter, as well as Outstanding Officer of the Year, while Ruthe Yamasaki won the Frank G. Clement Memorial Award for Executive Committee Member of the Year.
In addition to being named the most outstanding chapter of the year, the McMinnville Jaycees won several other awards including Net Growth Chapter of the Year and the Quarter, Best Magic Show of the Year (supporting Camp Discovery), Best Community Project of the Year in their population division and second place for the chapter’s Distinguished Service Awards Banquet and first place in the Parade of Chapters, a points-based competition.
Local chapter members taking home awards include Vanessa Hillis, winner of the fourth quarter speaking competition, and Adam Freeze, Rob Nunley, Dathan Todd and Lila Walker, winners of the gun safety shooting competition team. Freeze was also named best marksman.