Chelan County: Front row, (Left to right) Scott Logan, Lake Chelan; Christine Nelson, Manson; Diane Grover, Entiat; Michelle Mitchell, Lake Chelan; Mike Dewey, Manson.

Douglas County: (left to right) Christy Price, Lance Young, Orondo; David Spies, Eastmont; Melissa Maple, Diane Petersen, Waterville; Margaret Hansen, Misty Caille, Mansfield; Mary Ellen Sparman, Eastmont.

Grant County: Back row, (left to right) Alex Litzenberg, Quincy; Holly Riehle, Wilson Creek; Katie Evans and Ruth Dove, Coulee-Hartline; Patti Kurkowski, Warden; Dorothy Harris, Soap Lake.

Okanogan County: Front row, (left to right) Marci Flores, Nespelem; Michelle Price, Pateros.

This year marks the 20th year that North Central ESD and area districts have sponsored Excellence Banquets. The award winners this year included a brother and sister in two different school districts. Scott Logan (previous Excellence winner from Orondo School District), Transportation Supervisor from Lake Chelan School District received the Excellence in Education Award, as did his sister, Christy Price, who is a Para Educator in the Orondo School District.

Warden School District hosted the April 12 Grant County event, attended by 115, at Big Bend College Community Center in Moses Lake. The April 14 Okanogan County Excellence Banquet, held at the Sun Valley Restaurant in Okanogan, was hosted by Omak School District, with 150 attendees. The Chelan County Excellence Banquet was hosted by Manson School District and held at Campbell’s Resort in Chelan on April 19. Approximately 109 attended this event. Waterville and Mansfield School Districts hosted the Douglas County banquet on May 3, 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 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.