Issaquah honors its finest
Published 12:10 pm Monday, June 3, 2013
The atmosphere was festive as Issaquah celebrated its 34th Annual Community Awards Thursday night, May 30, at the Hilton Garden Inn.
Matt Bott, CEO of the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce opened the program with a few jokes, including that 34 years ago the Walkman was introduced, describing it as “sort of like an iPhone.”
Many local dignitaries were in attendance including Mayor Ava Frisinger, representative Chad Magendanz, school superintendent Steve Rasmussen, several city council members and members of the school board.
The first award of the evening, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Issaquah, was the Volunteer of the Year Award, which went to Issaquah Alps Trails Club president and former city council member David Kappler. Kappler is responsible for many of the hiking trails in the alps and is now leading the effort to Save Squak Mountain from a possible clear-cut of 96 to 216 acres.
The Kiwanis club also presented the Environmental Excellence Award to Laile Di Silvestro for her work as a volunteer naturalist, and the Human and Spiritual Values Award to Marilyn Ottinger, for her work with the faith-based community. Ottinger has coordinated large meals for the less fortunate and volunteers at the food bank.
After telling her story of giving her own father CPR which saved his life, 23-year-old Michelle Magnuson was given the Lifesaver Award by Eastside Fire and Rescue. Magnuson started chest compressions on her father until paramedics arrived and took over when he suffered a heart attack.
The Issaquah Schools Foundation gave its Golden Apple Award to Kevin and Elizabeth Brown, for the couple’s invaluable support of Issaquah Schools. They are moving to Atlanta, so Kevin Brown was not in attendance.
“Kevin and I firmly believe that great schools build great communities and that great communities build great schools,” Elizabeth Brown said.
She said she was sad to leave Issaquah, but her husband’s job is taking them to Atlanta.
Along the lines of education, the Business Person of the year award, sponsored by the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce, was awarded to Cornell Atwater, owner and director of the LearningRx Issaquah Brain Training Center. Learning RX helps students overcome learning struggles from issues such as dyslexia, reading disabilities, ADD/ADHD, autism, or a traumatic brain injury. Atwater’s facility is one of the company’s top performers. The Chamber also awarded the Salmon Days Volunteer of the Year Award to a very happy Ellen Martin, who joked about wearing a stinky salmon suit.
The Issaquah Rotary honored three students with its Students of the Year Awards. Jack Wheeler, a senior at Issaquah High School, has been accepted to Whitman College where he plans to major in philosophy. His goal is to get his PhD in philosophy and become a university professor.
“That’s a fun one to discuss with your parents,” Wheeler said about announcing to his folks his plan to major in philosophy.
Jaimi Shimomura from Tiger Mountain Community High School was the second student recognized by Rotary.
“She is the most generous and kind-hearted student I’ve known in my 16 years of teaching,” one of her teachers was quoted as saying. After spending the summer in Hawaii, she will attend Bellevue College in the fall with plans to become a pharmacist. The final student honored was Jessica Basi from Liberty High School. Described as a great leader in the community, she has accumulated 400 volunteer hours in the community. Basi will attend UW in the fall majoring in bio-chemistry with an eye on pre-med. She has wanted to be a cardiologist or an anesthesiologist since she was 8-years-old she said.
The Issaquah Education Association handed out its IEA Public Education Advocate of the Year Awards to Issaquah Valley Elementary fifth-grade teacher, Gary Arthur, and IEA’s administrative assistant of over 40 years, Margie Wold.
The Youth Leadership Award, sponsored by the Issaquah Park Board was given to 15-year-old IHS student, Maxwell Tang.
“When I volunteer, it makes my heart feel good and less weighed down,” Tang said. “I personally think I’ve not done enough.”
Tang added that his generation has it in them to inspire change. The Park Board honored David Whitfield as the Volunteer Sportsperson of the Year as well.
The Caring Community Awards, sponsored by Life Enrichment Options, AtWork! and the Tavon Center recognized people or organizations that support those with disabilities. Honorees were Samantha Gerrard, Teresa Bretl, Chris Brandt and the Rotary Club of Issaquah.
The Citizen of the Year Award, sponsored by the Chamber was awarded to Cecilia Gambill, owner of Illuminate Contracting. Gambill supports the Issaquah Downtown Association, the Salmon Festival and many other events, setting a “fantastic example” of what a good citizen is.
The evening’s last award was sponsored by the City of Issaquah. The Hall of Fame Award was awarded by Mayor Frisinger to Debbie Berto of the Issaquah Press, for many years of service for the benefit of the city.
Business Person of the year, Cornell Atwater. Below, Citizen of the Year award winner, Cecilia Gambill.
