Ladderud honored at Chamber awards banquet for school board service

School board member Ruth Ladderud received the Whitman College Pete & Hedda Reid Award for commitment to quality public education through her role on the Walla Walla Public Schools Board of Directors during the annual Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce award banquet Wednesday evening. Whitman College President Kathleen Murray presented Ladderud with the award which is in memory of Lynn Lunden.

Ladderud is an administrative assistant at Whitman College her alma mater, where she earned a biology degree. She also has an animal science degree from Washington State University.  She attended Prospect Point Elementary School, Paine Elementary, Garrison Junior High, and graduated from Walla Walla High School. Her husband, John, is a veterinarian and they have three children. Two are Wa-Hi graduates and her youngest attends Walla Walla High School.

Ruth has spent many hours volunteering in the schools and at the district level. Ruth and her mother, retired teacher Mirney Wagner, were honored in 2012 as co-recipients of the Art Regier Volunteer of the Year award through their work with Ruth’s 4-H Club and the Blue Ridge Preschool. Ruth has served on both the High School and Community Facilities Task force and is active in the American Association of University Women.

Ladderud serves on the district’s Bilingual Education Recommendation Committee, Certificated Negotiations, Community Facilities Task Force and Head Start Policy Council. She is especially active at Blue Ridge Elementary, Preschool and Prospect Point Elementary through the School Board Adopt-A-School program.