Citizen of the Year Award
Citizen of the Year Award
Stephanie Sweeten : making it happen for the McDonald County communities
It is with great honor that the McDonald County Chamber has selected Stephanie Sweeten as the 2024 Citizen of the Year for Mc- Donald County . As was the case in 2023 , selecting this award winner is one of the most difficult tasks for the selection committee , due to the vast number of great nominees throughout the entire county .
“ We are blessed as a county to have residents like Stephanie Sweeten that make a huge impact on the lives of others and the county overall ,” said Chamber president / CEO John Newby . “ Stephanie is constantly making a positive impact on the many organizations that she is involved with . She doesn ’ t seek attention , she just rolls up her sleeves and makes it happen .”
Stephanie Sweeten has left a lasting footprint on so many events and organizations throughout the county . You can see Stephanie handling the concessions for the Pineville summer ball program , or working on the Anderson Independence Day celebration . She serves in various functions with the Pineville Christian School and can often be seen working fundraisers for those in need throughout the county . Stephanie is a county fair volunteer , as well as being involved with different fundraisers for the McDonald Republican Club .
While all of the above is yeoman ’ s task , it doesn ’ t end there . She is a volunteer first responder on the fire department and serves on the countywide Community Emergency Response Team ( CERT ). While not a requirement for this award , she has been an outstanding supporter of the McDonald Chamber through her involvement in several Chamber events / activities . As an example , she is the master planner behind the Chamber ’ s Annual Banquet dessert auction that raises funds for various chamber projects that impact the entire county .
“ When I think of Stephanie Sweeten , I think of the classic role-model of community involvement , caring for others , and dedication to her community ,” Newby said . “ She is most deserving of this award , for her years and years of consistent giving back and uplifting those around her .”
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Rachel Dickerson / McDonald County Press
Photo by Randy Moll
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