Each year, we gather together to celebrate all of the volunteer efforts of community members doing their part to make Snoqualmie Valley shine a brighter for youth and families here. Last week nearly 200 people joined us in the morning for breakfast at the Riverview Educational Service Center on Wednesday, June 3. We had a total of 70 award winners at Rise and Shine this year!
If you would like to view or download photos from Rise and Shine, you can access those in this folder here, Rise and Shine Photos (Public). Please see the full list of award winners below:
YOUTH SCHOLARSHIPS | We collaboate with key community partners to make these scholarship opportunities possible to support the next generation of leaders that have uplifted and advocated for their peers.
Ethan Miles, Mount Si High School Senior & Sophie Theriault Empower Youth Voice Scholarship
Arjun Gupte, Cedarcrest High School Senior & Sophie Theriault Empower Youth Voice Scholarship
Quill Linerud, Cedarcrest High School Senior & Tanner Electric Scholarship
YOUTH VOLUNTEER AWARDS | Youth in the Snoqualmie Valley who volunteer efforts actively support and inspire other youth to lead safe, healthy, and successful lives.
Elaine Varghese & Victoria Hunter, Cofounder of Kid Capital (a youth‑led nonprofit)
Aaron White, Student Board Representative for the Riverview School District
Declan Gorman, Junior Assistant Coach on the Cedarcrest Mountain Bike team
Avery Dumovic, yearbook cover & campus artist at Tolt Middle School
Graysen Davis, ASB Presdient & Student Board Representative for the Snoqualmie Valley School District
BUSINESS VOLUNTEER AWARDS | Businesses that go above and beyond by sponsoring, donating, and/or helping youth in our community.
Aaren Strand, Managing Director with Avier Wealth Advisors, providing Financial Literacy Workshops for EYN’s Pathways to Employment Success program
Tylor Strand, Founder of SIG Metal Works and Youth Success Mentor
CDK Construction, volunteers at Career Days with Pathways to Employment Success (special shoutout to Nahshon Graumann, Alana McCoy & Jeremy Brittain!)
Cheryl Paquette, Remlinger Heritage Foundation
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER AWARDS | Community volunteers who go above and beyond by leading efforts to address the needs of local youth.
Miles Ulrich, Youth Success Mentoring data system support
Jim Wright, World Championship qualifier Stealth Robotics at Cedarcrest High School
Ashley Riese, lead coordinator for the Cascade Community Theatre
Shannon Bennett, lead coordinator for the Cascade Community Theatre, & supporter for Duvall MOPS group as well as local PTSAs
Darren Bennett, Coach with the Cedarcrest Mountain Bike team & Program Coordinator working on Trail Stewardship, Education & Advocacy
Jen McKee, Natalie Delorey, Jeff Mitchell and Dain Jones, Open Gym parent volunteers at Cedarcrest High School
Christina Swenson, Janya Veranth, Heather Mallory, Wendy Tumbleson, Lynn McKee, Cedarcrest High School student store volunteers + Heather Mallory serves as is the Cedarcrest PTSA Vice President + Lynn McKee oversees the student store for the PTSA
Krista Kilmer, Cedarcrest High School PTSA President
Michelle Chaffin & Layla Singh, organizers for concessions at Cedarcrest High School events
Scott Thompson, Pastor in Duvall for 25 years + Chaplain for Eastside Fire and Rescue and the Duvall Police Department + positive role model for Cedarcrest students
Sue Heyting, volunteer since 1999! She has volunteered to take tickets at Cedarcrest High School football, volleyball, basketball, and soccer games
Wayne Wallace & Jen Carter, volunteers with our Rec and Rally youth program for Riverview School District
Tamar Hardy, PTSA Vice President at Riverview Learning Center
Jaedi Stevens, Snoqualmie Middle School PTA President
Jenny Kuspert, Twin Falls Middle School PTSA President & Vice President
Stephanie Jensen, support for Chief Kanim Middle School Book Fair, Hawk Book Madness brackets and the Share the Fair initiative
Steve and Debbie Hennings, Youth Success Mentors at Twin Falls Middle School
Jessica Hellevang, President of the Riverview Schools Committee
Lindsey Tolson, Vice President of the Riverview Schools Committee and previously PTSA Council President
Bob Reife, School Safety Officer for Riverview School District
Jennifer Wiseman, Krysten Kemesrude, Alison Klima and Emily Bates, Snoqualmie Elementary PTSA Board
Jill Rosand, volunteer for band and theatre at the Mount Si High School Performing Arts Center & President of the Mount Si High School Band Boosters
Samer Sawaya, volunteer Coach for the Mount Si High School boys and girls tennis teams and a member of the tennis booster board
Natalie Doll, PTSA President for Tolt Middle School
Ron Johnson, Youth Success Mentor at for a FCES student for 4 years at Chief Kanim Middle School
Kirsten Lewis, Roxanne Pogue & Laura Plude, members of the Stillwater Elementary community and the PTSA + Kirsten volunteering as PTSA Vice President+ Roxanne and Laura as co-chairs of the Staff Appreciation Committee
Greg Dianich and Family, sponsorship of the Valley Memorial Park pump track
Mary Humann, President of Duvall Rotary and supporter for the Hearts project in Duvall and Carnation, Veteran’s Breakfast, expanding Student of the Month scholarships, and gifting books to every first grader in the Riverview School District
Beck Chambers, volunteer for Encompass from community outreach events to behind-the-scenes support
Snoqualmie Valley Garden Club, Amber Chaki – President, turned the Imagine Serenity Garden outdoor space at the Child Development Center into a welcoming therapeutic garden
Meghan Urquhart & Karen Smith, Cherry Valley Elementary School PTA Co-Presidents
Sarah Soptich, Bethany Brittain, Melisa Baksa & Laura Ancich at Carnation Elementary School, Sarah & Bethany serve as the PTSA Co-Presidents + Melisa serves as PTSA Director of Special Education + Laura Serves as PTSA FACE representative
Mudita Jain, Natalia Ferraz Bonard & Divya Dasgupta, greet students at the front doors of Cascade View Elementary, creating a welcoming start to the day for every Cub
Lorna Knudsen, artist behind Knudsen Custom Quilts
CHAMPION VOLUNTEER AWARD | Individuals who go above and beyond to support Empower Youth Network initiatives.
Joe Dockery, utilizing Maker’s Lab, Wildcat TV, and more to improve the Your Life Your Choice substance use prevention campaign to Mount Si High School
Next year will be our 30th Rise and Shine Volunteer Celebration! Start considering who you might like to nominate for 2027 now. The nomination form is typically shared out every March. We will be sure to announce when the form is live through our newsletter, Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn. Make sure you are following us to stay in the know!