<em>Photo above: 2017 Civitas Award Winners from left to right are Greg Rawls, Outstanding Leadership Beaufort Alumni; Lindsay Gifford of Pink Magazine, Outstanding Lowcountry Young Professional; Betsy Hinderliter of the YMCA, Outstanding Employee; Colden R. Battey of Harvey &amp; Battey, Lifetime of Leadership; Lance Corporal Ashley A. Phillips, Junior Enlisted Service Member of the Year; Sgt. David A. Waterfield, Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year; Norma Duncan, Volunteer of the Year; and Craig Reaves of Sea Eagle Market, Community Stewardship. Photos by Susan DeLoach, on behalf of the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce.</em>

The Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce’s announced its 2017 Civitas Award winners on June 2 at Tabby Place.

The annual Civitas Awards recognize outstanding businesses, organizations, and individuals who are exemplary in our region.&nbsp;

The event was hosted by the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Lockheed Martin.&nbsp;

The winners, nominees and sponsors are:
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Community Stewardship&nbsp;</b></p>
Winner: Sea Eagle Market

Other nominee: Piggly Wiggly Store #193

Sponsor: The Beaufort Inn
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Historic Rehabiliation</b></p>
&nbsp;Winner: 509 Carteret St., Von Harten Building - J.H. Hiers Construction, LLC

Other nominees: 913 Port Republic St., Tabby Place; The Beaufort Inn

Sponsor: Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Outstanding Employee&nbsp;</b></p>
Winner: Betsy Hinderliter, YMCA of Beaufort County

Other nominees: Billy Akers, Groucho's Deli; Rachelle Delaney, Pruitt Health Hospice; Maria Ferguson, Publix; Debra Johnson, USCB; Amy Painton, Bridges Preparatory School; Kate Parkerson, The Beaufort Inn; and Jeff Spencer, Callawassie Island&nbsp;

Sponsor: OneBlood
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Outstanding Leadership Beaufort Alumni</b></p>
Winner: Greg Walls

Other nominees: Reece Bertholf; Sean Henrickson; and Cherimie Weatherford&nbsp;

Sponsor: Ameris Bank
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Outstanding Nonprofit</b></p>
Winner: Friends of Caroline Hospice

Other nominees: Santa Elena Foundation; Love House Outreach Ministries&nbsp;

Sponsor: United Way of the Lowcountry
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Lifetime of Leadership</b></p>


[caption id="attachment_32493" align="aligncenter" width="2100"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/DSC1181.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-32493"><img class="size-full wp-image-32493" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/DSC1181.jpg" alt="From left, previous Lifetime of Leadership recipients Fred Washington Jr. and Connie Hipp stand with Colden R. Battey, center, the 2017 Lifetime of Leadership award winner, as well as Skeet Von Harten, a previous Lifetime of Leadership recipient, and Cliff Mrkvicka, right, the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce board chair elect at the 2017 Civitas Awards Annual Gala on June 2. " width="2100" height="1399"></a> From left, previous Lifetime of Leadership recipients Fred Washington Jr. and Connie Hipp stand with Colden R. Battey, center, the 2017 Lifetime of Leadership award winner, as well as Skeet Von Harten, a previous Lifetime of Leadership recipient, and Cliff Mrkvicka, right, the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce board chair elect at the 2017 Civitas Awards Annual Gala on June 2.[/caption]

Winner: Colden Battey

Other nominees: Donnie Beer; Billy Keyserling; and Alice Moss&nbsp;

Sponsor: Past recipients of the Lifetime of Leadership Award
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Lowcountry Young Professional</b></p>
Winner: Lindsay Gifford, Pink Magazine

Other nominees: Hayley Dawson, Balance Boutique; and Jeremy Taylor,&nbsp;

Sponsor: University of South Carolina Beaufort
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Military Citizenship Award</b></p>


[caption id="attachment_32491" align="aligncenter" width="2100"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/SDP92714.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-32491"><img class="size-full wp-image-32491" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/SDP92714.jpg" alt="Retired HM1 Donna Patrick, left, receives the Military Citizenship Award from award sponsor Dr. Richard Gough of the Technical College of the Lowcountry at the 2017 Civitas Annual Awards Gala on June 2 at Tabby Place." width="2100" height="1400"></a> Retired HM1 Donna Patrick, left, receives the Military Citizenship Award from award sponsor Dr. Richard Gough of the Technical College of the Lowcountry at the 2017 Civitas Annual Awards Gala on June 2 at Tabby Place.[/caption]

Winner: HM1 Donna Patrick, Navy (ret.)

Other nominee: Sgt. Paul Steeves, Marine Corps&nbsp;

Sponsor: Technical College of the Lowcountry
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Regional Economic Impact</b></p>
Winner: Harris Pillow Supply, Inc.&nbsp;

Sponsor: Bank of America Merrill Lynch
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Excellence in Free Enterprise</b></p>
Winner: J.H. Hiers Construction LLC&nbsp;

Other nominees: Carolina Air Inc.; Deals&nbsp;

Sponsor: Alliance Consulting Engineers Inc.
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Tourism Leadership</b></p>
Winner: Penn Center Inc.

Other nominee: Santa Elena Foundation&nbsp;

Sponsor: Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Volunteer of the Year</b></p>
Winner: Norma Duncan

Other nominees: Mike McFee; Phil Nagley; Belinda Bates; and Betty Davis&nbsp;

Sponsor: Main Street Beaufort, USA
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Junior Enlisted Service Member of the Year</b></p>
Lance Corporal Ashley A. Phillips

Sponsor: T.W.E.A.C.
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year</b></p>
Sergeant David A. Waterfield

Sponsor: Mr. and Mrs. James Boozer

[caption id="attachment_32489" align="aligncenter" width="2100"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/DE1A2356.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-32489"><img class="size-full wp-image-32489" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/DE1A2356.jpg" alt="Robb Wells, vice president of Tourism of the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce, speaks to the 250-plus attendees at the 2017 Civitas Annual Awards Gala." width="2100" height="1400"></a> Robb Wells, vice president of Tourism of the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce, speaks to the 250-plus attendees at the 2017 Civitas Annual Awards Gala.[/caption]