AWARDS

AWARDEES

PHOTO GALLERIES

FOUNDERS AWARD

2011 Awardees


Arts:

A person who enriches the arts by spreading enthusiasm for, promoting awareness of, and helping to create a rich cultural environment in our community.



Donna Gelinas


Donna recognized a need for encouraging creativity amongst elementary school children in the Issaquah School District. Enthusiastically, she embarked on a journey to organize and implement docent art lessons to enhance an important dimension of elementary education, art. She has worked selflessly to organize a full curriculum that can be accessed by docents via the Issaquah PTSA website, who in turn utilize the lessons in 7 different district schools to inspire our children to greater success in the arts. Donna continues to bring art to our schools and inspiration to those around her through her ongoing commitment, passion, and hard work.



Business:

An owner or manager of a Sammamish enterprise who donates energy, time or resources for community causes.



Keenon Kennedy


As the Director of the Bellewood Retirement Center Keenon has provided leadership to what she calls "a community within a community". Through her guidance the Bellewood community remains fully connected to the Plateau community. The facility is used by Sammamish residents for countless community meetings and events from Sammamish Rotary to scholarship interviews for High School students. Keenon also helps the Bellewood residents connect with local charities so they may get involved in a positive way. These connections have empowered the Bellewood residents to show younger folks that they are a vital part of the community and are capable of making a difference.



Courage:

Someone who overcomes great obstacles to live life to the fullest and inspires others to meet challenges.



Tyler Croshaw


A friend and admirer of Tyler's described his life like a "daily human pin cushion". His diabetes requires that he take numerous shots per day and is the cause of his kidney failure and subsequent transplant. But through it all Tyler maintains a sense of humor and a can do attitude. His faith and tenacity drive him to share his experiences with others for their benefit, and for his own. Despite his health issues Tyler is a devoted husband and dad supporting his wife's coaching activities and girl's school. Tyler's motto: "There's nothing you can't overcome. We're here for a reason, to touch each other's lives. Enjoy Life"



Learning Promotion:

A person whose enriching and inspiring contributions create enthusiasm for learning.



Gretel von Bargen


Gretel von Bargen is the teacher her Skyline students will remember with a smile for their entire lives; how she stimulated every part of them; mind, body and spirit with her magic of the biological world; of how she guided them into the inner lives of humans, animals and plants with love and passion for life and learning. Whether it is from exploring her international website, dancing in the classroom to express a new awareness, or sorting through corals in the tide pools of Trinidad; the lives and minds of Gretel von Bargen's students' are forever expanded



Teen Spirit:

Sammamish Teenager who shows a passion for helping others, for giving service to our community, and for being a shining example inspiring his or her peers and younger generations to follow suit.



Josue' Lopez


For Josue' Lopez, life is a gift from God, and sharing that gift with others is the focus of his life. He puts an incredible amount of time into his community with nearly 100 hours a month of volunteer time devoted to his Church, Overlake Hospital, food banks, and numerous other organizations. He particularly prides himself in being a teacher and example for the younger kids in his church through his work at the Vacation Bible camp and the Parish Sunday school. Josue' has seen his share of hardship, but it his focus on the positive aspects of his life that inspires others to follow his lead.



Trevor Price Award:

A Sammamish youth whose initiative and caring sets an example for his/her peers.



Jovahn Pierre I. Cruz


Jovahn Cruz is an exceptionally giving and kind 6th grader from Pine Lake Middle School. He is the welcoming committee to new families at the apartment complex where his family lives. He invites new kids to play and shares whatever food is in the Cruz kitchen. He once even talked his Mom into giving their Thanksgiving turkey to another family. Jovahn volunteers many hours at church and is willing to do any jobs like mopping, folding bulletins and organizing mailings. When asked why he does so much for others, Jovahn says that he wants all people to feel welcome and that it's fun. With a big smile and a twinkle in his eye he reminds us that one does not need a lot to give a lot.



Unsung Hero:

A person who goes beyond expectations in an inspirational and positive manner.



Man Jae Lee & Family


The Lee Family are devotional volunteers for the Faith in Action program. For the past year and a half, they've been helping an elderly woman who is unable to leave home.They shop and take groceries to her, clean her house, change linens, and visit her on a weekly basis. Man Jae helps with chores that need to be done and he and his boys make sure the yard is kept up. Although the elders members in the Lee Family face difficultly communicating in english, they feel their ability to humbly serve others in their community breaks down this barrier.



Youth Advocate:

A person who inspires and supports Sammamish youth, advocating for their interests in the community.



Anne Ginther


Contagious ComPASSION is what describes Anne Ginther. Anne is all about seeing the possibilities in any idea that a young person might bring to her. As founder of the nationally recognized organization Random Kid, Anne has become the catalyst, coach and cheerleader to inspire our youth to take action. Her philosophy of empowering children to take dreams and move them into realistic attainable goals and actions inspired one 13 year old to raise $75K for a Habitat for Humanity project in the Katrina-torn South. A nine year old, who has seen homelessness herself, led a drive to furnish a home for single mother and her four children because she believes that "Every living thing should have a home." Anne believes each person brings value. Teaching applied empathy, and encouraging children to "shoot for the moon, you'll land among the stars" has consistently shown that "any random kid can solve world problems".



Spirit of Sammamish:

A person who embodies the highest level of commitment to the community.



Laura Walker


Known as the Pixie Camp Director, Laura's passion and drive for creating an environment were people feel welcome, empowered, and safe stimulated the creation of a weeklong Girl's Scout Day camp on Beaver Lake in the summer of 2007. That year the camp drew 150 girls. Through her tireless effort in being able to engage others, this camp has grown and in 2010 expanded to two separate one-week sessions, which served over 500 girls and had 88 adult volunteers. Additionally, the camp has a teen leadership program that over a four-year period has attracted over 70 young ladies that help guide 10-12 year old girls. What an in creditable way to touch the lives of so many people.



Environmental Award:



Elaine McEnery


Growing up in Australia as an "outdoor" person she grew to adulthood and learned that everyone has a responsibility for environmental issues and the sense of urgency she feels. Being outdoors and caring for the environment is what grounds her and gives her a sense of soul. A visit to Bainbridge Island inspired her to undertake hundreds of hours of learning and teaching giving us the Sammamish habitat project which is her lasting legacy. In addition, her can do attitude and sense of fun has resulted in trails such as those at Illahee.