COVID-19 Update:
2021 HCCC Awards Gala postponed from January 30th to May 1st.
Theme changed from 1920's Glam to Kentucky Derby
2021 HCCC Awards Gala postponed from January 30th to May 1st.
Theme changed from 1920's Glam to Kentucky Derby
Recap of 2020 HCCC Masquerade Ball
Awards
2019 Mosaic Business of the Year Award
Adventhealth Wauchula
Adventhealth Wauchula
AdventHealth Heartland Region
AdventHealth, formerly Florida Hospital, has been caring for our Heartland neighbors since 1948 with a mission to “Extend the Healing Ministry of Christ.” AdventHealth Heartland Region is a not-for-profit, faith-based 222-bed health care system composed of three hospitals in Sebring, Lake Placid and Wauchula, with a staff of more than 1,800 employees and 225 board-certified physicians caring for the Highlands and Hardee County communities. AdventHealth Heartland Region is a member of AdventHealth West Florida Region, a network of 28 hospitals throughout Florida. Filling a void in Hardee County when the county’s only hospital closed in 1992, AdventHealth Wauchula is a 25-bed critical access hospital offering excellent inpatient and outpatient care. The state-of-the-art hospital opened on its new location in December 2017 and has been designated a “Top Rural Hospital” by the Leapfrog Group’s Hospital Safety Score. It offers a transitional care unit with full array of therapies which serves as a vital link in the chain of patient care, providing a bridge between the high-level supervision of an acute care nursing unit and the less intensive care of home health care. AdventHealth Wauchula also offers the county’s only digital mammography inside its diagnostic imaging center. Awards
To learn more, visit: www.adventhealth.com |
![]() |
2019 Mildred E. & Doyle Carlton, Jr. - Volunteer of the Year Award
Dr. Teresa Crawford
Dr. Teresa Crawford

Teresa Crawford was born and raised in Avon Park, Florida. She is the daughter of Bonnie Houpe and the late Jerry McKenzie. She graduated from Avon Park High School and attended South Florida State College earning her Associate of Arts. She transferred to USF earning a Bachelor of Social Science Education in 1985 also marrying Vent Crawford that same year. She and Vent eventually settled in Hardee County and she began teaching social science at Hardee Senior High. Teresa and Vent had their daughter Kaylyn in 1987 and Teresa began working on her masters in guidance at USF. She became involved in coaching little league cheerleading and became the cheer director and member of Hardee Youth Football Board. Teresa coached both the JV and Varsity cheerleading squads and sponsored the junior class while working at the high school. Teresa also became involved in the Hardee County Fair through directing the Miss Hardee County Pageant and eventually became a member of their board and later their secretary and took the role Pageant Director over all civic center events, a position she still occupies. Both Teresa and her husband Vent have been integral in writing the grants that have improved the fairgrounds and have assisted with the implementation of the funded improvements. After completing her Master of Arts in counselor education, Teresa began a Master of Education in leadership at USF. After 16 years, she left the high school and began working for South Florida State College as their campus director. She completed that masters and became a member of the Economic Development Council. She ran for political office, winning the seat of District III School Board and is now serving her third and final term on the Hardee County School Board where she currently serves as chair. Teresa is a certified School Board Member and is a member of Hardee’s Master Board both of which required hours of training. While working at South Florida State, Teresa completed further graduate study at American Military University earning the credentials to become an adjunct in political science. She earned recognitions as South Florida State’s administrator of the year in 2007-2008 and in 2013-2014. She became a Hardee County Chamber member and began serving on the Chamber Board. Teresa is also a founding member and director of the Hardee Athletic Foundation. Teresa recently completed her Doctorate of Educational Leadership at Florida Southern College in May. Teresa and Vent will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary in July and they are the proud grandparents of Crawford Walton, 4 and Wynley Kate Walton, 19 months. Over the years, Dr. Crawford has been a champion for education recognizing the importance of education in opening doors. Her engagement in our community and outside of it has included volunteering as a science fair judge, a judge for FFA competitions, judging cheerleading, pageants, and serving as a school board mentor for new school board members. Teresa has been a Take Stock in Children Mentor, a volunteer for the Community and School Awareness Back to School Events as well as their Christmas Angel Program. Dr. Crawford recently became a member of the Lions Club and is looking forward to volunteering in that capacity.
2019 Wauchula State Bank Rising Star
Jamie Davis Samuels
Jamie Davis Samuels

Jamie is a child of God that loves the Lord with all her heart and has a passion for missions, locally and
globally. She is an innovative and creative person with integrity that uses original, independent thinking to resolve and work through problems that may arise within the overall function of my daily job
responsibilities. Plus, a very detail-oriented person that has the ability to work well with peers and
management. Her relationship with Christ, along with her professional and community service
experience has provided Jamie with a platform to relate with those in need, assess the situation, and provide a solution based on the knowledge she has acquired. Her desire is to serve others and through my life, live out John 3:30 “He must become greater; I must become less.”
Community & Volunteer Service:
Missions & Disaster Relief Outreach:
globally. She is an innovative and creative person with integrity that uses original, independent thinking to resolve and work through problems that may arise within the overall function of my daily job
responsibilities. Plus, a very detail-oriented person that has the ability to work well with peers and
management. Her relationship with Christ, along with her professional and community service
experience has provided Jamie with a platform to relate with those in need, assess the situation, and provide a solution based on the knowledge she has acquired. Her desire is to serve others and through my life, live out John 3:30 “He must become greater; I must become less.”
Community & Volunteer Service:
- Army Family Team Building (2005-2007)
- Oak Grove Baptist Church, Youth Advisory Committee (2007-2009)
- Oak Grove Baptist Church, Counting Committee (2008-20??)
- SendMeMissions, Inc., Co-Founder & President (2011 - Present)
- Advocate for the Homeless (2012 - Present)
- Advocate for Adoption & Foster Care (2012 - Present)
- Oak Grove Baptist Church, Chairman of Missions Committee (2012 - 2019)
- Oak Grove Baptist Church, Stewardship Committee (2013 - 20??)
- Salvation Army Service Unit Advisory Council (2013 - Present)
- Local Board for Emergency Food & Shelter National Board Program (ESFP) (2013 - Present)
- Everyday Christians Helping Orphans (ECHO), Volunteer (2014 - Present)
- Advocate for Hardee County Special Needs (2017 - Present)
- Oak Grove Baptist Church, PreK Teacher (2017 - 2019)
- Hardee Co. Emergency Management, Emergency Support Function 15 (ESF15), (2018 - Present)
- Wauchula Elementary School, Volunteer with ESE PreK (2018 - Present)
- Northside Baptist Church, PreK Teacher (2019 - Present)
- Hardee Help Center, Volunteer (2019 - Present)
Missions & Disaster Relief Outreach:
- Dominican Republic -- Sherry White Ministries (November 2010)
- Colombia
- Dominican Republic -- One More Child (2011)
- Guatemala -- One More Child (2012)