Check out this year’s volunteer award recipients of the 2013 Rise & Shine Breakfast awards! Awardees are listed below in alphabetical order with a short description of their outstanding efforts in the words of the person who gave the nomination.
Awardee: Brent Cook
Nominated by: Amy Jayne
Brent has been volunteering with Cascade Covenant Church Youth Ministry for five years. Brent also volunteers at Echo Glen, with Cascade Covenant Church’s “Doorways” ministry (community outreach), sits on the Schools Foundation board and the board for graphic design at the high school. Brent has also volunteered his skill in graphic design, not only to our ministry, but also to multiple organizations in the valley.
Photo: Brent Cook (left), Amy Jayne (right)
Awardee: Brian Pattinson
Nominated by: Conrad Robertson
Brian has given hundreds of hours of his time and talents as a selfless volunteer in the drama department at Cedarcrest High School. He has helped each performance whether in the planning stages, building stages, prop creation, sound/lighting technician, etc. He describes his dedication to volunteerism and helping others as “I believe it is what we are all here for.”
Photo: Brian Pattinson (left), Conrad Robertson (right)
Awardee: Bruce Robinson
Nominated by: Kim Kanzler
During the past 3 years Bruce has been an active member of the Watch Dog program at Snoqualmie Elementary School, with the last 2 years acting as the “Lead Dog” organizing the scheduling of all the Dog Dads. This year, Bruce spends time in Mrs. Orcutt’s and Mrs. Christian’s classrooms 2 days a month with Jake and Katie, my children, and his neighbors. During the past two years, Bruce has volunteered monthly for Rest Stop, at Cascade Covenant Church. This helps provide care for children with special needs and their siblings so parents are able to have a night out. Bruce has made special connections with a couple of the children and he looks forward to going each month. Bruce has also helped on numerous projects around Encompass including: assembly of furniture, painting, and installation of baby stations, wipe boards, and rock walls! Bruce is always willing to lend a hand.
Photo: Kim Lanzer (left), Steve Bates (center), Bruce Robinson (right)
Awardee: Cindy Spencer
Nominated by: Susan Evans
Cindy fell in love with the at-risk kids at Echo Glen Juvenile Detention Center and has rallied a group of 12 to 15 women to ‘adopt’ and spend time with them every month. She goes into a ‘cottage’ (locked down living quarters for 15 to 18 boys) of young boys each month and does service projects with them, or takes in pizza makings and plays games. She and the group she has rallied are like moms (with some dads) to the boys treating them with the respect and love that many may not have ever received before. She has been doing this every month for two years and going!
Photo: Susan Evans (left), Cindy Spencer (right)
Awardee: Chief Kanim Library Volunteer Team
Naminated by: Kirk Dunckel
This group of women over the past three years has single handedly saved our library for our school. When we lost our librarian they networked to schedule volunteers to come in and keep the library open for our students. They inventory books, run our Book Fair, check out and in books, and supervise our students during open library time at lunch.
Photo: Susan Brengl, Marsheila Kenow, Cheryl Duncan, Kara Spalding, Angela Butoryak, Susan Harris, Sue Hollenbeck
Awardees: Community Meals Team
Nominated by: Harold Erland
All 5 nominees were instrumental in the operation of the Snoqualmie Valley Winter Shelter. Upon its scheduled close, these individuals thought that it was not prudent to just turn shelter customers out into the cold with no follow up. They started a hot meals program on Monday and Friday evenings to last until the shelter opens again next winter to show the community’s continued love for these less fortunate people. This program has been successful and of course there are many other volunteers involved but these 5 are the stalwarts and ideas corp. that makes it go.
Photo: David and Terry McHenry, Mike and Michelle Walter, Norma Johnson
Awardee: Dave Kramer
Nominated by: Terry Mills & Raymond Wilson
- Cascade View PTSA “Garden” Chairperson
- Initiated and facilitated Cascade View Elementary “Garden” program with school-wide Science, Art and writing activities and curriculum.
- Cub/Boy Scout troop Leader
- Organized and facilitated school ground beautification projects
- Actively planned, designed, built, planted and maintains or Cascade View School Learning Garden Community
- Volunteer/Guest teacher for Science Projects and Activities
- Volunteer tutor at Cascade View Elementary and Mount Si High School
- Volunteer Horticulturalist
- Student and Educational Advocate
Photo: Ray Wilson (left), Dave Kramer (center)
Awardee: Deanna Neal
Nominated by: Susan Head
Deanna is my library angel. For the past six years Deanna has volunteered weekly in my library. She has involved herself in every aspect of the library: checking books in and out, cataloguing, shelving, creating displays, fund raising, 20 min. + 20 days organization. Deanna’s love of reading shines through as she helps students pick out their books. Also for the past three years, Deanna has mentored students in our ARMS reading program. ARMS is an adult mentor program serves students who need a boost in their reading skills. Mentoring one student a week is a time involved task but Deanna chooses to take on anyone that needs help. We don’t always have enough adults for our students and Deanna takes on at least two or three students to mentor.
Photo: Susan Head (right), Deanna Neal (left)
Awardee: Dennis Simmons
Nominated by: Kendy Sasaki-Ross
Dennis Simmons is one of the founding members of the Mt Si Lacrosse Club here in the Valley. The Club has been in existence for the past 5 years. Starting from the age of 13, Dennis has been involved in the lacrosse community. Starting in Clinton, CT, then playing his way through Syracuse University, he landed in Seattle where he played religiously for 12 years on a men’s team. The passion for the game, and his unselfish need to share this passion, led him to help develop a program in the Valley so that other kids could have the chance to have the same experience as he did. Dennis began this journey by holding clinics for youth in North Bend.
Awardee: Dick Monroe
Nominated by: Jamey Tisdale (Troop 745), Brandon Jones (Pack 568), John Hawkins (Pack 569)
For over 25 years Dick Monroe has opened up his property and his heart to the youth of Snoqualmie Valley (and beyond). As owner and “Camp Director” of Mountain Meadows – a small 30+ acre camping area back behind Cedarcrest High School – Mr. Monroe has provided a place for Boy Scout, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts to camp, fish and get close to nature all in the backyard of Duvall. For 10 years now he has organized and run a Merit Badge weekend for Boy Scouts where over 200 Scouts at a time have packed into Mountain Meadows to earn Merit Badges and to get to know one another. This event in recent years has dwarfed the district-wide Camporees and other activities in size. Each year Mr. Monroe pays to restock his small pond with trout so that kids of all ages have the opportunity to try their hand at fishing.
Photo: Jamey Tisdale (left), Dick Monroe (right)
Awardee: Duvall Farmers Market Volunteers
Nominated by: Kari Carlson
I would like to nominate the key volunteers of the Duvall Farmers Market for which our success was made possible. These volunteers, among others, put in a total of 7,000 volunteer hours to help bring the farmers market to the community. In 2011, the market had four vendors and was not well attended. In two years time, through the hard work and dedication of our volunteers, we’ve managed to grow the market to 24 vendors and are now full in our current location. Our volunteers have consistently gone above and beyond to create an event that strengthens community, provides the freshest food in the valley to our residences, highlights art and music, and assists small business entry into the local marketplace; strengthening our local economy.
Photo: Alina Anderson, Miranda Lewis, Gary Davis, Aaron Keating, Sally Martin, Sandi Aldrich, Mary Crane
Awardee: Fiona Bryant
Nominated by: Jamey Tisdale
Fiona has devoted countless hours to both Eagle Rock School and Boy Scout Troop 745. Without her constant support as Committee Chair, Advancement Chair, Outing Chair and generally the glue that keeps the Troop together the Troop would not exist or be nearly as effective. This directly impacts about 50 families in the Valley and has a cascading impact into the community.
Awardee: Gerald Bopp
Nominated by: Ethan Waud
Mr. Bopp has been teaching at Mount Si High School seemingly since the beginning of time. With his hard-nosed approach with student he has been a mentor to many, and can be relied upon for a push in the right direction when needed. He is a staple at MSHS and a favorite of many students who deserves to be recognized.
Awardee: Helen Hoenig
Nominated by: Connie Berg
Helen has spent endless hours picking up hundreds of bags of trash in Duvall since Feb. of 2013. She took it upon herself to make Duvall the Cleanest Little Town on the East Side. She has climbed steep hills, hiked down ravines, picked up needles and thousands of cigarette butts and battled traffic up Novelty Hill Road, just to clean up Duvall. She has made a visible difference in our town through her efforts. She is HIGHLY allergic to bees and yet she has been out collecting trash while the bees are out.
Photo: Helen Hoenig (left), Connie Berg (right)
Awardee: John Belcher
Nominated by: Ethan Waud
Mr. Belcher is the principal of Mount Si High School, and with his job has put in countless hours in and out of the office. Mr. Belcher from day one has gone above and beyond by making the tough decisions, and the right decisions. No matter what he fights for this student body to have a voice, and he hears us out. He genuinely does what he feels is best for the student body as a whole and has tackled the new freshman campus with great excitement and determination to make it work. One day Mount Si will be the standard for high schools in the state of Washington and it will be in large part to do with Mr. Belcher and his leadership.
Awardee: John Downing
Nominated by: Bud Backer
John is the Volunteer Lead for Fire Station 88 at Wilderness Rim, the top of the Valley. John takes the time to contact current and potential volunteers. He is recruiting and maintaining a volunteer base at his fire station, in order to maintain a community emergency response capability. John’s efforts took a station that only had a few volunteer firefighters, raising the roster to seven current members with another six in initial training now! Taking the response force from 3 to 13!
Photo: John Downing (left), Bud Backer (right)
Awardee: Katherine Ross
Nominated by: Nela Cumming
Katherine has been a long time volunteer at Encompass. She has worked for several years in our Encompass Pediatric Therapy Program – helping with special projects as well as day-to-day office operations. Katherine also serves on the Encompass Board of Directors and serves in the position of Secretary.
Photo: Gregory Malcolm (left), Katherine Ross (center), Nela Cummng (right)
Awardee: Keomany Riley
Nominated by: Heather Kern
Keomany does a ton of random giving to school staff to boost morale, provide encouragement, and build a positive and supportive family feeling amongst school and parents. Perhaps weekly, I see some way that Keomany has made an effort to put a little sunshine in someone’s life. She will bring an assortment of baked goods and coffee for all the staff. Or, she’ll bring flowers for one particular staff member. She buys nice gifts and gives them to new teachers or aids. Basically, Keomany has a habit of ‘random acts of kindness’ towards school staff. She does all of this out of the goodness of her heart, to create a sense of community and encouragement.
Awardee: Kerry Anderson
Nominated by: Ray Wilson
PTSA President, numerous PTSA committees. To list a few:
- Championing a sustained push for a safer maintenance of school playfield
- Expanded playground structure with more opportunities for our 720 students
- Heightened the interest and active involvement of our student-centered and family-oriented events to new heights
- Established and maintains a positive relationship with the YMCA for our afterschool enrichment educational activities
- Purchased 4 COW’s Computers (Chrome/Cloud Based) On Carts
- Sponsor a Nurse for our 5th Grade Camp Seymour Outdoor Ed. Experience
- Educational field trips for just about every grade
- Bolstered Classroom Grants
Photo: Ray Wilson (left), Kerry Anderson (right)
Awardee: Kianna Hales
Nominated by: Lori Oviatt
I have yet to meet Kianna personally, however I know two aspects of her story from a Microsoft employees perspective and as a School Board Director of Riverview School District. Kianna’s graciousness towards others makes her very special. Kianna won a computer programming competition – she was given an Xbox. She donated the winning Xbox to Children’s Hospital to be used with children who receive transplants. When others heard this story they also started donating Xboxes. Then she decided to organize a competition at Cedarcrest High School as a fundraiser for freethechildren.org. Her “Be The Change” competition was among all the 6th period classes and whoever collected the most change that period won cookies. Her goal was to raise $500, she raised $1200 in 45 minutes.
Awardee: Kim Klingenberg
Nominated by: Kim Lisk
Kim Klingenberg has volunteered for many years in many areas. She has been a co-chair for the Cedarcrest High School Student Store. She began by working in the store and then she stepped up to schedule the volunteers to work in the store. Kim also volunteers with the CHS Football Booster Club, Track, and Baseball teams.
Photo: Kim Lisk (right), Kim Klingenberg (left)
Awardee: Kim Stonebraker
Nominated by: Chief Steven D. McCulley
In addition to her normal police duties and responsibilities, Officer Stonebraker works very closely with Mount Si High School staff, spending many hours of her own time to provide mentorship and counseling to at risk female students. It is through her hard work and dedication that she is able to improve and enhance the lives of these students and help to ensure they maintain a healthy and positive lifestyle. For the last 10 years, Officer Stonebraker has spent countless hours of her own time and used her own financial resources to support the Animal Talk Rescue as a cat foster care giver. She operates an expansive cat foster shelter at her residence and cares for up to 20 cats on average at one time. Foster care includes close coordination with Animal Talk Rescue for transportation, Veterinary care, vaccinations, testing, as well as spay and neuter surgery.
Photo: Kim Stonebraker (left), Chief McCulley (right)
Awardee: Kylie Leslie
Nominated by: Conrad Robertson
Kylie has volunteered over four hours per year through high school. She has participated in a coat drive, road clean up, food drive, blood drive, and the annual Pennies for Patients fundraiser, along with raising money for a water well in Kenya. She is actively involved in her church where she has volunteered for Vacation Bible Camp and provided daycare during church events. Kylie’s community awareness and volunteer service has enriched the citizens of Duvall.
Photo: Conrad Robertson (left), Kylie Leslie (right)
Awardee: Nancy Akers
Nominated by: Kirk Dunckel
Nancy has volunteered this year three days a week from 7:45am -10:36am assisting special education students in their classrooms. She will put in 270 hours by the school year’s end. Working with special education students can be very rewarding and challenging at the same time. Nancy has unique way of working with these students and shows them she cares for them. They have responded to her in such a positive way. The teachers she works with have raved about her dedication and compassion. These students have really benefited by having Nancy work with them.
Photo: Kirk Dunckel (left), Nancy Akers (right)
Awardee: Peggy Filer
Nominated by: Lori Oviatt
Peggy Filer is an amazing lady. She is one of the most gracious people I know. Through her efforts as a Health Educator at Cedarcrest High School, she has impacted many young lives as well as those of us who know and work with her. Not only does she teach students about healthy behaviors, she has created an environment that allows them to practice and participate in healthy choices. She is the RAK – Random Acts of Kindness club chair person. She is at every football game manning the gate that welcomes the opposing team onto the field. And she inspires people daily! It is a joy to know and work with Peggy Filer.
Awardee: Peggy McNamara
Nominated by: Leanne Christensen
“Peggy McNamara is the Director of Acres of Diamonds in Duvall. AOD was established in 1995, as a transitional Christian home to provide a loving, safe and nurturing environment for homeless women and their families. For over 17 years, hundreds of women residing at AOD have been given life-altering opportunities – opportunities that allow them to seek heart-felt council, and to receive support and loving guidance on a daily basis through programs that help break the cycles of addiction, poverty and homelessness.
Over the years, Acres of Diamonds has not only transformed the lives of its residents and their families, the program itself has gone through its own significant transformation. Early last year due to unexpected budget cuts, there were staff layoffs and the AOD board of directors underwent reorganization. It was at this time that Peggy stepped up to the challenge of “”getting the word out”” and involving our community in the overwhelming task of saving this vitally important program.
Peggy has brought the AOD program, its residents and our community together, creating a connection, an awareness and most importantly an understanding of what service to one another truly means… not only to the receiver, but to the giver as well.
Photo: Peggy McNamara (left), Laura Smith (right)
Awardee: Project 15
Nominated by: BJ Libby
Hazel Pownall stepped outside to take a phone call during her line dancing class. She stooped over and while on the phone, she pulled 15 weeds from the garden. When she finished her call, she said to the group, “Why don’t we take on the project of cleaning up this garden. If we all pulled 15 weeds, we would be done in no time. Word spread, weeds were pulled, and the group which soon grew to more than 25 at various times, not only cleaned around the building, but got donations as well as used their own money and did the entire Mt. Si Senior Center grounds.
Awardee: Rick Arons
Nominated by: David Mayer
Over the past year Rick has developed the Futsal Program at the Snoqualmie Valley YMCA. The program is an organic form of indoor soccer in which all ages and skill levels play together. The program promotes teamwork, youth leadership skills and soccer development. It is open and free to anyone in the community to participate. Currently Futsal runs 6 hours a week at the Snoqualmie Valley YMCA on Friday’s and Sunday’s and has engaged hundreds of participants. Rick and other volunteers from the Futsal program also developed Soccer in the Park, a one-day soccer event that featured 3 v. 3 games, soccer themed skill competitions, bounce houses and appearances by both men and women sounders players.
Awardee: Sno-Valley Winter Shelter Leadership Team
Nominated by: Rochelle Clayton-Strunk
SVWS is a warm and safe shelter serving up to 40 community
members (adult men, women and families) needing life-saving, winter shelter during the months of December through March. The SVWS is hosted by faith communities in the Upper Snoqualmie Valley. Meals and access to resources will be offered at the winter shelter.
Volunteers work side-by-side with staff members to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for our homeless community members. Volunteers receive training necessary to support staff and patrons.
Meals & Snacks Team: The larger community provides snacks and food for patrons of the shelter.
Blanket Brigade: A volunteer team responsible for garnering, laundering and storing blankets through the SVWS operation period.
Photo: Paula Matthysse, Steve Miller, and Trissa Barney
Awardee: Tabitha Dorn
Nominated by: Lisa Yeager
Watching the news, a person can despair for our country and our youth. But then you meet a young lady like Tabitha Dorn and your heart lifts. Tabitha is all we want our youth to be. She has been volunteering at the Pediatric Therapy office for nearly a year and has given over 100 hours. Tabitha is the smiling, friendly face to the parents and children who come in for therapy and the go-to person for staff who need admin projects. But she also volunteers as a camp assistant for summer camp and is a leader in arts and crafts for family night!
Photo: Lisa Yeager (left), Tabitha Dorn (right)
2013 KRISTY TRIONE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AWARD
- Providing community education, increasing knowledge and raising awareness through events, activities and community sharing.
- Enhancing skills and competencies to build prevention capacity
- Providing support- creating opportunities for healthy activities
- Being a community leader/partner who promotes and embodies healthy youth behavior;
- Advocating for changes to policies, procedures, and practices to protect young people from substance abuse
- Strengthening coalitions/partnerships- support, leadership, and coordination to engage community in reducing substance abuse/promoting healthy behavior
Awardee: Clare Chapple
Presented by: Laura Smith
From SVCN: Clare Chapple: creative, sincere, and genuine are three words I would use to describe Clare Chapple. Clare, through her company, Chapplesauce, has used bring some much heart and flair to non-profits in the valley including the Snoqualmie Valley Community Network. Clare’s unique ability to really listen to the “intent” behind a design is a unique gift. We, at the Network, are thrilled to be recognizing her today.
From Riverview Education Foundation: Clare Chapple has been in invaluable asset to Riverview Education Foundation. Over the past four years, (and a year prior with Stillwater Elementary) Clare has stepped up to offer her professional graphic design services to create our auction materials. Her extraordinary talent and hard work was utilized in our branding, creation of marketing materials, invitations, and programs. Clare would not accept payment for her work, and even donated much of the printing. She has served willingly on our auction team, always quick to offer great ideas, roll up her sleeves and do the work, and with a positive and supportive attitude. It is my pleasure to support the nomination of Clare Chapple for a Rise and Shine award.
From Oxbow Farms: I would love nothing more than to help celebrate CC’s amazing generosity and incredible artist’s eye! She has done wonders for Oxbow Farm’s image! We have Clare to thank for making us look so good. She has tirelessly worked to create beautiful, artful, classy logos for our farm and education center for either a CSA trade or at a nominal non-profit rate; all of our pr gets fed through her graphic lense and into the public realm, with eye-catching results. We have had nothing but complimentary feedback on our graphics. And it is all from Clare Chapple. She is a true artist, and creates from the heart.
Photo: Sue Davenport (left), Clare Chapple (center), Laura Smith (right)
2013 YOUTH LEGACY AWARD
Presented by: Laura Smith
- Providing community education, increasing knowledge and raising awareness through presentations and announcements
- Enhancing skills and competencies to build prevention capacity
- Providing support- creating opportunities for healthy activities
- Being a youth leader who promotes and embodies healthy behavior
- Advocating for changes to policies, procedures, and practices to protect young people from substance abuse
- Strengthening coalitions- support, leadership, and coordination to engage community in reducing substance abuse
Awardees: Ethan Waud, Leif Henrikson, and Brittany Frechette
Presented by: Laura Smith
Brittany: When I first met Brittany, she was a middle school student who was happy to share her thoughts, but she wasn’t quite ready to take on leadership roles. Through the last 5 years in the Riverview Youth Council, I have had the honor of watching her grow from that into a committed and organized leader with passion, drive, and enthusiasm. She is the outgoing president, and I know that wherever she goes next, she carry these leadership skills with her and wherever she ends up will be lucky to have her!
Leif: Leif entered RYC as an already established leader and brought with him an extraordinary sense of humor, wit, and desire to good things. I watched Leif grow from a very capable leader into a very capable leader who also knew how to delegate…which we all know is a big transition to make. Over the last few months, I have watched him purposefully step back in his role on the council to allow more room for the younger leaders to step up.
Ethan: A big heart and a desire to make the world a better place! Ethan was at the core of the Sno-Valley Youth Council for the first 4 years of its existence. During that time, he brought big ideas, passion, and a commitment to being a leader among his peers. I have watched Ethan actively look for positive solutions to challenging issues and I have watched him inspire others along the way.
Photo: From left to right: Laura Smith, Ethan Waud, Leif Henrikson, and Brittany Frechette