Sussex County Community College

In its 7th annual Economic Development Awards Luncheon, the Sussex County Economic Development Partnership, Inc.’s (SCEDP) honored the Sussex County Community College Business Club with the prestigious “Business Advocacy Award,” an award reserved for “an organization…that continually supports local business by providing consultation, site location, programs and/or financing for either business start-up, retention, expansion, or capital uses.” The club meets weekly and frequently invites local business leaders to join them to share career advice; they also run four separate bi-weekly mentoring programs along with being involved in service learning that supports domestic abuse victims and breast cancer research. Upon presenting the award, SCEDP President Tammie Horsfield stated, “These are the next and best business leaders… when we are all retired, these students will be our community leaders.”

Attending the November 29th luncheon at the Lafayette House was the club’s advisor, Assistant Professor Mary Ellen Donner, along with the five club officers: Miguel Hernandez, Brett Olsen, Ashley Jentzen, Kevin Rogers and Kellianne Mazza. Senator Steve Oroho was also in attendance to state his congratulations to the club who rose above the other seven nominees in their category. Accepting the award on behalf of the club, Business Club Co-President Brett Olsen humbly commented, “You can’t get this from a text book…hearing from local business leaders has given us an inside look at how businesses are really run… it’s a huge step toward our success.”

Professor Donner (in back) with the club officers recieved congratulations from Senator Steve Oroho (left)