Midland Valley Chamber gives honors

The Midland Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted "An Enchanted Evening" on Friday evening, April 24 at Midland Valley High School. The annual banquet highlights the accomplishment of area citizens and the Chamber.

Al McKay, president of the Chamber, was the master of ceremonies. The Rev. Oscar Kemp delivered the blessing of the meal which was catered by Jennifer's Catering. Rep. J. Roland Smith provided the benediction.

During the last year, the Midland Valley Chamber has made a significant impact on the community it serves. Some of those include sponsoring the University Hospital Mobile Mammography Unit in several areas in the Valley, providing school supplies to Area 3 students, providing the Bob Sawyer scholarship, participating in Aiken Tech Scholarships and hosting a Teacher Appreciation Event.

The Midland Valley Chamber also is the sponsor for the Christmas Parade and hosts events at Langley Pond. The Chamber's flagship fundraiser is the Gloria Busch Johnson Celebrity Golf Tournament held each year in September. The Chamber does all of this work with staff that works entirely on a volunteer basis.

At the banquet the Chamber honored the 2009 Youth of the Year. That honor went to Alyssa Bryant a senior at Midland Valley High School. Bryant plans to attend USC next year and work toward a master's degree in physical therapy so that she can help children with disabilities.

Bryant also has been an honor roll student for four years, a varsity cheerleader, a member of the Beta Club and National Honor Society. She was also named a scholar for Coker College, Newberry College, Lander University and Erskine College.

Bryant is the daughter of Gary and Lisa Bryant. Security Federal awarded Bryant a scholarship check at the event for $1,000.

The Midland Valley Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year was awarded to Shirley Brown. One of her memorable quotes from her speech - "As long as I have breath I will help others because God has given her the courage to face life's challenges."

Sponsors for the event were: Cytec Industries, WSRC, SRNS, Aiken Electric Cooperative, Aiken County, Bridgestone-Firestone, McKay Financial, Midland Valley Lions Club, Old Storm Branch Baptist Church, Security Federal and SRP Federal Credit Union.