Rockdale County Tax Commissioner RJ Hadley's LAUNCH internship program has been named a 2014 Achievement Award Winner by the National Association of Counties.

Started in 1970, the annual Achievement Award Program recognizes innovative county government programs in 21 different categories. LAUNCH (Leadership Achievement Using New Collegians at Home) earned an achievement award in the employment and training category.

"I developed LAUNCH so that Rockdale college students and recent graduates could gain valuable workplace skills," said Hadley. "The energy and fresh perspective of our LAUNCH interns have been a great benefit to this office."

Created in 2013, LAUNCH encourages the best and brightest young minds in Rockdale to utilize their formal education in their own community and develop valuable skills that are attractive to future employers.