Donor Recognition

Celebration 2022 – Special Awards
 
Last year, as part of Cedar Creek School’s 50th anniversary celebration, a milestone in the history of the school, 3 special awards were established: The Outstanding Alumnus Award, The Outstanding Service Award, and The Super Omnia Award.  
 
 
The Cedar Creek School Outstanding Alumnus Award recognizes and honors an alumnus or alumna who has distinguished themself by significant accomplishments since graduating from Cedar Creek School. Cathi Cox-Boniol, Class of 1977 is the recipient of the 2022 Outstanding Alumna Award. 

Now in her 40th year as an educator, Cathi Cox-Boniol recently retired from the Lincoln Parish School System. During her career, she served as a secondary science educator before moving into the Program Coordinator position for CATALyST, Louisiana Tech University’s Center for Applied Teaching and Learning to Yield Scientific Thinking. Cathi returned to the Lincoln Parish District as coordinator for the new ACHIEVE program and forged community-based partnerships to enhance public education efforts. She also initiated both the Lincoln Parish STEM Satellite and STEM Seed magnet programs as well as a creative writing emphasis in partnership with Louisiana Tech and Grambling State universities. Cathi also assumed the role of Director for the New Tech @ Ruston academy where she guided the program to a “Best in Education” award by the Coordinating and Development Corporation as well as National Demonstration Site and Exemplary Model School status within a year. Following her retirement, Cathi returned to Louisiana Tech to serve as director for the new Region 8 LaSTEM Center. A STEM education consultant with “Side by Side Strategies,” she is also an independent writer and author while serving as Community News Editor for the Ruston Daily Leader.

Cathi’s resume includes an extensive list of professional awards and community board appointments. The impact that her vision and commitment to education has provided to our community is immeasurable. Cedar Creek School is honored to award Cathi Cox-Boniol with the Outstanding Alumna Award for 2022.

 
The Outstanding Service Award: From the beginning, service and volunteerism have been the building blocks for the school’s success. Cedar Creek is forever grateful for our founding families and the community members who helped make Cedar Creek School a reality in the Fall of 1970. The Outstanding Service Award recognizes selfless service to our school community. The Cedar Creek School 2022 Outstanding Service Award is presented to Donna Ward.

 
Donna has been a member of the Cedar Creek community for 41 years. The Ward family’s journey began in the fall of 1980, when they enrolled their son Chris, who is a member of the Class of 1986 and is a Veterinarian in Arkansas. Their son Keith began attending Cedar Creek in the 4th grade and is a member of the Class of 1992. He serves as regional sales manager for Mossberg. Donna and husband Tommy enjoyed traveling with Cedar Creek families to ball games and swim meets. Their time at Cedar Creek continued with a niece and three grandchildren. Marisa, their niece, and her husband are now both teachers and two of their three grandchildren are graduates, with the youngest in the 9th grade.
 
For over four decades, Donna has answered the call whenever there was a need whether it be financial support or a gift of service. She and Tommy continue to support the school as grandparents. As a Cedar Creek parent and grandparent, Donna has served in every volunteer capacity possible. From Straw Market to Cedartown to Celebration, she was and continues to be on board. The Celebration auction would not be complete without an amazing custom-made porch swing crafted by husband, Tommy.
 
Cedar Creek School is honored to present Donna Ward the Cedar Creek School Outstanding Service Award.
 
 
 
The Super Omnia Award: Over the years, there have been many generous donors who have and continue to provide financial support to Cedar Creek School. Cedar Creek would not be the outstanding school it is today without the financial support and sacrifice of the community.  The Hood Family is recognized for what could be described as visionary support, not just for today’s needs, but for long term needs.  The 2022 Super Omnia Award is given in recognition of overwhelming support of Cedar Creek School to John and Liz Hood.

In 2014 the Cedar Creek Board of Directors and Administration realized that the school had reached a critical crossroads in the life of the school, a time where it was essential to move beyond just maintaining our current programs and facilities and focus on providing the bricks and mortar necessary for expanding our academic, athletic and arts facilities.

A capital campaign committee was established to create and move forward with the most comprehensive capital campaign in the history of Cedar Creek School. The Creek Campaign officially kicked off at Celebration 2015, just one year later we dedicated the Hood Academic Center, a much needed 12 classroom building housing our high school students. and acknowledged the generous contributions of John and Liz Hood.

Since 1987, the Hood family has been an active member of the Cedar Creek community.  They have played a key role in making Cedar Creek School the outstanding institution that we continue to celebrate today. Believing in the mission and vision of the school, John and Liz Hood have not only dedicated financial resources that provided for the bricks and mortar; they have also dedicated their time and talents to ensure the success of the school. Liz, a member of the Cedar Creek faculty from 1999 to 2005 taught 8th grade English to our middle school students. John was always the devoted Dad, present at all Cedar Creek sporting events and programs for his many children and now grandchildren.

When the Hoods were informed that they were the recipients of the 2022 Super Omnia Award, they shared this message:
 
“We are very humbled and honored by this award.  Anything we have done for Cedar Creek was done by God through us, blessing us in order that we could bless others.  Without God’s grace we wouldn’t have the ability to do all the things that we do or have done.  We only hope that anything we do is glorifying God.”

This faith guided humility was evident when upon the passing of Cedar Creek School’s beloved teacher, coach, and mentor Donnie Barmore, John and Liz requested that the Hood Academic Center be re-dedicated in memory Donnie.

A true testament to their faith and a fitting tribute and memorial to Donnie Barmore. Together they have enhanced and blessed the lives of the entire Cedar Creek community. 

John and Liz Hood are the 2022 Super Omnia Award recipients for overwhelming support of Cedar Creek School.
 
Closing remarks:
Cedar Creek School is blessed by the ongoing service, support, and generosity of our award recipients. Visit www.cedarcreekschool.org, click the support tab followed by the donor recognition tab to read the individual stories of our award recipients.