The Lexington Chamber and Visitors Center is now accepting applications for its $5,000 Doris Burkett Scholarship.

The Doris Burkett Scholarship is given to a Lexington School District 1 student who will be attending either a 4-year college, university or technical college.

Students can download the application at www.lexingtonsc.org/doris-burkett-scholarship .

Applications must be received by the Chamber no later than March 31, 2021.

New chief academic officer

The Lexington County School District 1 Board of Trustees has promoted Mary A. Gaskins to chief academic officer, effective July 1.

Gaskins replaces Dr. Gloria J. Talley who retires at the end of the academic year, following 46 years of dedicated service to public education.

Gaskins currently serves as leadership development and continuous improvement director. She joined Lexington 1 in 1998. Gaskins taught special education for 6 years at Gilbert Middle School and served as GMS special education department chair.

Lou Kenedy elected to NAM

Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation CEO Lou Kennedy is a new member of the National Association of Manufacturers Board of Directors.

Kennedy joins the NAM Board to bolster the association’s leadership in policy advocacy, workforce solutions, legal action, operational excellence and news and insights.

NAM and its members are at the forefront of every important policy debate for manufacturers and have led the nation’s response to covid-19.

Winners in business The Lexington Chamber

The Lexington Chamber and Visitors Center honored Midlands businesses and professionals at its virtual Chamber Awards Mar. 10.

• Thompson Funeral Home received the Small Business of the Year Award.

• Tidewater Boats was named the Large Business of the Year.

• Oneal Staples, vice president and commercial banker at Ameris Bank, received the Young Professional of the Year Award.

• Amy Devore Walden, human resources recruiter for The Babcock Center, was recognized for her volunteerism and advocacy for the Chamber with the Ambassador of the Year Award.

• Nancy Hutto was honored with the Mike Till Impact Award.

To learn more about the Chamber and the Lexington area, visit www.lexingtonsc.org.

LMC opens in Northeast

Lexington Medical Center has opened its new community medical center in Northeast Columbia.

The facility is located at 3016 Longtown Commons Drive, near the intersection of Clemson and Longtown Roads.

The facility offers urgent care, mobile MRI, X-ray, ultrasound, CT, women’s imaging and physical and occupational therapy. There will also be a café and meeting space on the first floor.

The 2nd through 5th floors will house physician practices, as many LMC specialists are opening satellite offices at this facility.

Lexington Medical Center Northeast will be the largest community medical center in the hospital’s network of care. At more than 225,000 square feet, the 5-story building is more than double the size of the hospital when it opened in 1971.