Photo of 2024 Rise and Shine award recipients.
On Wednesday, June 5, 2024 community members gathered at the Riverview School District Educational Service Center to celebrate the vital volunteer efforts of those around us at the 27th annual Rise and Shine breakfast. Below, you can read a program summary on all of those that received awards as well as the slide show from the event!
Youth Nominees Youth in grades 4-12 whose volunteer efforts actively support and inspire other youth to lead safe, healthy, and successful lives.
Nominee: Zach Llenza Nominated by: Lori Oviatt & RSD Superintendent Dr. Susan Leach
Zach’s impact on inspiring youth to lead safe, healthy, and successful lives is a common characteristic he embodies in all he sets out to accomplish. He instills a sense of fairness and responsibility in all he takes on and exhibits qualities that helps others feel safe and calm in his presence.
Nominee: Karis Paul Nominated by: Tonya Guinn
Karis recently co-wrote a grant for Trail Youth and was awarded a $9,000 Healthy Youth grant to provide substance abuse educational events and experiences that she will be planning for the community. She is a role model that shares her journey to inspire others.
Volunteer Nominees A volunteer (youth or adult) working directly with Empower Youth Network. They may be behind the scenes, a chairperson or a board member. They are dependable, demonstrate initiative and model follow through.
Nominee: Jan Formisano Nominated by: Micailah Donner
Jan has been mentoring two Twin Falls Middle School students this year and has always shown up at the school with a positive and open-minded attitude. She is the perfect mentor for any student, because she is so willing to be flexible and to meet the student where they are at.
Nominee: Kathy Stensland Nominated by: John Norberg, Snoqualmie Elementary Principal
Kathy Stensland, a former third-grade teacher, volunteers every Monday and Tuesday in Catherine Heinz’s first-grade classroom at Snoqualmie Elementary School. Her volunteer activities are multifaceted and deeply impactful. She provides crucial one-on-one support to students.
Nominee: Kim Weiss Nominated by: Maya Olson
Kim has been a dedicated Weekend Power Pack volunteer for many years. She has committed endless hours to help make sure the kids in the Valley are fed and that the program runs smoothly. She is a kind, smart and hard-working individual who is always up for helping out Empower Youth Network.
Nominee: Matt and Stefanie Knowlton Nominated by: Maya Olson
Matt and Stefanie have done an amazing job at helping Empower Youth Network’s Weekend Power Pack program thrive for many years. Together they assemble packs weekly and deliver them to the schools. They have packed hundreds of packs and contribute to the current weekly count of 160 packs.
Nominee: Tassin Smith Nominated by: Laura Smith
Tassin has long been a champion for youth in the Snoqualmie Valley. Her skills as a life coach make a great resource for youth and adults alike. Tassin is an inspirational model to others because she embodies love and care of community.
Business Nominees This is a business that goes above and beyond by sponsoring, donating, and/or helping youth in our community in a way connected to Empower Youth Network's mission. They are a business that steps up to help by initiating involvement or responding to a request to be involved.
Nominee: Remlinger Farms Nominated by: Karla Russell
Remlinger Farms is a loved fixture in the Snoqualmie Valley, and is always ready and open to provide support in meaningful ways that brings community together. Most recently, they did not hesitate when asked to become the featured business in a collaborative pilot effort called the Valley Innovation Project (VIP), which provided an entrepreneurial and leadership platform for high school students to develop skills that will help them succeed along their post-high-school path.
Nominee: Meenakshi Sinha - The Giving Canvas Nominated by: The EYN Team
Meenakshi’s organization, The Giving Canvas, provides beautiful paintings for nonprofits to include in auctions to raise money to support important causes. Empower Youth Network has been honored to receive three paintings from The Giving Canvas.
Nominee: Aahaar Indian Restaurant Nominated by: Sara Wingerath-Schlanger
Ramya Balachandran and the Aahaar team have continuously and proactively provided lunches for the Timber Ridge Elementary School (TRES) faculty. The Aahaar team is thoughtful and generous. They exemplify what local businesses can do to support our educational heroes/heroines.
Nominee: Saints & Scholars Irish Pub – Adrian Webb & Amanda Stoffel Nominated by: Helene Wentink
Saints and Scholars has supported youth in the Valley in a variety of ways. Most recently, they hosted Empower Youth Network’s Give A Night Save A Life event for the Upper Valley location, helping bring awareness to the prevention of youth substance abuse and suicide.
Nominee: Miller’s - A Gathering Place - Nancy Colton & Bill Pritchard Nominated by: Helene Wentink
Miller’s has been a longtime partner of Empower Youth Network and the “go to” gathering place for many of the organization’s celebrations. Miller’s is also the location for Give A Night Save A Life in the Lower Valley, hosting the event since 2021.
Community Nominees A volunteer in our community who goes above and beyond by leading efforts to address needs, develops and/or leads activities or events or volunteers in the background. This person's involvement benefits the community and connects with Empower Youth Network's mission.
Nominee: Debra Landers Nominated by: Michelle John
Deb is the Board President of North Bend Art & Industry. As the head of an entirely volunteer nonprofit organization, she works tirelessly to keep things not only running, but growing in a community-driven and sustainable way.
Nominee: Chad Egger Nominated by: Megan Walsh & Rachel Peterson
Chad is an Encompass parent who witnessed firsthand the efficacy of a therapeutic program called the Astronaut Training Protocol (ATP). Unfortunately, the Astronaut Training board is over $250, a prohibitive cost barrier for most families to participate in home programing. Upon learning this, Chad took it upon himself to engineer and build eight boards. These boards are now available to ALL families in our community, at no additional cost, through their Encompass Pediatric Therapist.
Nominee: Melody & Terry Granillo Nominated by: Megan Walsh and Rachel Peterson
Melody and Terry have been caretakers, planners, organizers, and landscapers for the Serenity Garden at the Encompass Child Development Center in Snoqualmie. Without Melody’s leadership and Terry’s support, the garden would not be possible.
Nominee: Pepper Allphin Nominated by: Catherine Fredenburg, Two Rivers School Principal
Pepper has hosted many Two Rivers School students over the years, serving as a reliable community mentor since the school transitioned to a Big Picture High School. She freely shares her time, guidance, and artistic talents with the students. Pepper allows students to explore the hair industry as well as the art industry.
Nominee: Sallie McLaughlin Nominated by: Megan Botulinski, Snoqualmie Middle School Principal
Snoqualmie Middle School is fortunate to work with an amazing team of volunteers who comprise our PTSA Board. For many years now, Sallie has chaperoned after-school student social events, extracurricular activities, and numerous in-school events when needed; helped recruit additional parent volunteers; and supported new parents navigating the school system.
Nominee: Amy Walker and Judith Milstein Nominated by: Lauren Thomas
Both Amy and Judith are incredible supporters of Mount Si High School (MSHS). They are part of the MSHS PTSA and have provided ongoing resources for the Care Closet including prom dresses, snacks, clothing, school supplies, hygiene supplies, shoes, athletic wear, and more—communicating with school staff and families to build and strengthen community, and overall partnership with school staff to understand the needs and help show up for staff, students, and families.
Nominee: Emily Mossell Nominated by: Katelyn Long, Cascade View Elementary Principal
Emily Mossell is an exemplary volunteer who has dedicated a significant amount of time to inspire youth to lead safe, healthy, and successful lives. Her contributions are ongoing and varied, reflecting her commitment to the community and the future generations.
Nominee: Jutta Lipsky Nominated by: Carrie Keller on behalf of the Cedarcrest Band Boosters
Jutta is the Cedarcrest Band Booster Secretary and is the kind of person who just gets things done. She works largely behind-the-scenes—taking notes at meetings, completing monthly audits, hanging senior banners, working concessions, running errands, cleaning out old paperwork—and it’s all done in the spirit of supporting the band students in the Riverview School District.
Nominee: Diane Johnson Nominated by: Jamie Warner, Fall City Elementary Principal
Diane Johnson’s longstanding relationship with Fall City Elementary spans over 20 years, transitioning from a parent to a paraeducator, and now a dedicated volunteer. She volunteers daily for over an hour, managing the staff workroom and undertaking various tasks assigned by teachers.
Nominee: Kim Jones Nominated by: Dan Schlotfeldt, SVSD Superintendent
Kim has served the Snoqualmie Valley School District as a PTSA leader at multiple schools over a decade! Through Kim’s leadership roles, she ensures that new presidents understand the nuances of state requirements, helps forge working relationships with district leadership, and serves as a stellar example of a volunteer who cares about all students in the district.
Nominee: Melissa Natarajan Nominated by: Debra Hay, Mount Si High School Principal
Melissa Natarajan has been an instrumental volunteer with the Forefront in the Schools: Suicide Prevention team at the University of Washington for three years. Her involvement has centered on providing a crucial parent perspective to the team, enhancing the program’s reach and effectiveness.
Nominee: Raza Naqvi Nominated by: Erica Healy & Lindsey McFerran
Raza has participated in the Community Engagement Board for Snoqualmie Valley School District as a parent peer. His support helped the district’s overall school engagement goals and reduced the number of cases sent to King County Truancy Court for the Snoqualmie Valley. Raza has been volunteering with the board since January 2023 and has given 36 hours of his personal time to help students struggling with attending school consistently.
Nominee: Caesar Cypher Nominated by: Marilee Bosshart, Riverview Learning Center Principal
Caesar volunteers regularly for school events and activities, helping out in classrooms and providing support on field trips. His presence makes such a difference for the community. Caesar models dedication and commitment to supporting our small community that relies upon parents in order to pull off many school events and activities.
Nominee: Alyssa Cypher Nominated by: Marilee Bosshart, Riverview Learning Center Principal
Alyssa volunteers regularly for school events and activities, helping out in classrooms and going on field trips to offer her assistance. Her presence makes such a positive impact on the community. Her dedication and commitment to the students and staff of the Riverview Learning Center is exemplary.
Nominee: Todd Brown Nominated by: Kevin Hauglie
In our community Todd has been involved with scouts and helping out Fall City Days for over 15 years. He has been involved and actively helping the Snoqualmie Valley Kiwanis. Whether it is early morning, late evening, rain or shine, Todd will be there, asking, “What can I do to help”? He has a sincere and genuine willingness to help and never seeks recognition for his efforts.
Nominee: Eric Bie Nominated by: Tara Bergman
Eric has been coaching with Cedarcrest Mountain Bike Team for many years, but the title of coach doesn’t fully define all that he is and all that he does to contribute to the team. Eric is central to all aspects and has stepped in to help everywhere. Always even keeled and forward thinking, Eric is an excellent collaborator and mentor as well as a positive leader.
Nominee: Lee Tostevin Nominated by: Misty Messer
Lee has been a longtime volunteer with CarePoint Clinic, working tirelessly to ensure equitable access to healthcare for any and all in the Snoqualmie Valley. Lee leads by example when it comes to volunteering her time.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Nominee: Laura Smith Nominated by: EYN Team
Laura has been the Executive Director of Empower Youth Network since 2012 and has been part of the organization since 2005. Laura has led the organization through key transitions and has provided the positive, collaborative leadership that has given Empower Youth Network its wings.
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