Orondo Middle School Team members: (l to r) Robert Bowman, Rebecca Barrett, Sheri Viebrock, and Dan Lopez

The year 2006 marked the 21st year that North Central ESD and area districts have sponsored Excellence Banquets. This year, for the first time, a team received an award at the Douglas County Excellence Banquet. The Orondo “Middle School Teacher Team” consisting of Robert Bowman, Rebecca Barrett, Sheri Viebrock, and Dan Lopez was honored.

Soap Lake School District hosted the March 16 Grant County event, attended by 95, at Big Bend College Community Center in Moses Lake. The March 23 Okanogan County Excellence Banquet, held at the Sun Valley Restaurant in Okanogan, was hosted by Tonasket School District, with 136 attendees. The Chelan County Excellence Banquet, hosted by Entiat School District, was held at Campbell’s Resort in Chelan on April 12. Approximately 130 attended this event. Waterville and Mansfield School Districts hosted the Douglas County banquet on March 21, attended by 65, at the North Central Washington Fair Grounds Lion’s Den in Waterville.

Outstanding certificated and support staff from school districts within the four counties are honored each year at the Excellence Banquets, which began in 1985. During that first year, 14 districts participated and 27 awards were presented. This recognition event has grown into four regional award programs. Since 1985, over 600 awards have been presented to deserving staff.

The purpose of this recognition program is to honor, recognize, and say thank you in a formal manner to those individuals who give daily and unselfishly to the children in our schools. These dedicated workers are indeed extraordinary in the performance of their duties.

Chelan County Front row (l to r): Betty Urbancyzk, Manson; Joanie Bankson, Chelan; Pamela Clark and Lisa Gilbert, Cascade; Esther Covarrubias and Clyde Netz, Wenatchee. Back row: Marcella Lindert, Manson; Chris Glasspool, Lake Chelan; Lee Southard and Linda Russell, Entiat.

Douglas County Front row (l to r): Larry McGaughey, Eastmont; Sheri Viebrock, Orondo; Tom Baumeister, Waterville; Kim Browning, Eastmont, Rebecca Barrett, Orondo. Back row: Penny Stevens, Palisades; Shanna Brooks, Palisades; Korene Greenwood, Waterville; Shelley Gilliam and Kelly Gilpin, Mansfield; Nancy Emmick and Ian Irelan, Orondo Middle School Team paraeducators.

Grant County Front row (l to r): Donna Dorais and Linda Guehrn, Quincy; Barbara Graham, Warden; Debby Dammel, Wilson Creek; Lynn Chapman, Soap Lake. Back row: Sean Matthewson and Sheri Behne, Coulee-Hartline; Jose Elizalde, Warden; Lisa Godfrey, Wilson Creek; Jeffrey Frederick, Soap Lake.

Okanogan County Front row (l to r): Liz Driessen and Lisa Cutuli, Brewster; Deborah DeKalb, Methow Valley; Roberta Maas, Bridgeport; Vivian Bradbury, Tonasket; Shannon Velasco, Bridgeport; Teresa Budravage, Okanogan. Back row: Dan Chaney, Nespelem; Melissa Lickfold, Omak; Brian Auckland, Omak, Connie Austin, Methow Valley; Carol Miller, Omak; Susan Jackson, Tonasket; Pam Irwin and Mary Boyle, Pateros; Shirley Bucholz, Pateros; Judy Sprankle, Nespelem, Dean Klepec, Okanogan.