District names Art Regier Volunteers of the Year

April 17, 2012
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District names Art Regier Volunteers of the Year
In celebration of Volunteer Appreciation Month, Superintendent Mick Miller is proud to announce Shauna Bogley, Peter Swant, Tania Nelson, Sue Westergard, Barnyard Champs 4H Group represented by leaders Ruth Ladderud and Mirney Wagner as the districts 2011-2012 Art Regier Volunteers of the Year.

The Award
The Art Regier Outstanding Volunteer Award was instituted in 1991 as a memorial to "Grandpa Art" Regier. Regier, a retiree who devoted years of service to elementary schools in Walla Walla, epitomized the spirit of volunteerism in education. His tireless dedication and concern for the students he served are the inspiration for this award.

Criteria for Selection
Criteria for selection may include the following:
1. Exceptional service or contributions to the children of Walla Walla Public Schools
2. Unusual dedication
3. Demonstration of care, compassion and empathy

This Year's Recipients:

Shauna Bogley - Walla Walla Citizens for Schools and Music Boosters
Nominators - Mick Miller and Cindy Meyer

Co-Chair, Walla Walla Citizens for Schools
The levy passed with nearly a 65 percent yes vote
This local funding source provides more than $10 million annually to support district learning programs
Levy dollars fund teachers, support staff, learning programs, extra-curricular activities and much more
Shauna's leadership and work ethic were critical in the success of this local measure
She is the Co-Secretary of the Walla Walla Public Schools Music Boosters Program
She helps coordinate the annual citrus sale fundraiser for the Walla Walla Public Schools music program

Nominator Cindy Meyer said: "Co-chairing the Citizens for Schools levy campaign is a daunting task and Shauna approached it with enthusiasm and grace. She studied the issues, thought through strategies, found committee chairs, supported committee activities, ran meetings, kept the campaign moving in a steady positive direction and did it all with a calm, positive attitude and a smile. It was a pleasure to work with Shauna, and I am grateful for her presence in our schools and our community."

Peter Swant - Walla Walla Citizens for Schools and Realtors Association Food Drive
Nominators: Mick Miller and Cindy Meyer

Co-Chair, Walla Walla Citizens for Schools
The Levy impacts nearly all aspects of district programs and services
Replacement levy funds about 20% of the district's budget
Peter is the Realtors Association "Care & Share" Food Drive Coordinator
The district partnered with the Realtors this year in support of the food drive
The annual food drive set a new record in 2011 by netting 45,525 pounds of food for the BMAC Food Bank
Walla Walla Public Schools netted 16,513 pounds
Peter has also volunteered for the Big Blue Boosters for years and continues to support athletic programs.

Nominator Mick Miller said: "The Walla Walla community is blessed to include many who give so much of themselves for others. Peter Swant is such an individual. He cares deeply about kids, our schools and our community. We thank Peter for his leadership in the campaign that led to a 64.5% "YES" vote on our replacement levy."

Sue Westergard - Green Park Elementary
Nominators: Elizabeth Razo, Mike Lambert and Jean Tobin

Sue was a longtime teacher at Green Park serving the district for 30 years
Sue started the Green Park Accelerated Reader (AR) program in 2000
In retirement, she continues to coordinate the school's AR program
She has uploaded 466 students in the system since her retirement in 2006
Each month, Sue prints out reports, awards and organizes prizes for the reward system
Sue's passion for reading continues to inspire children to develop a love for learning

Nominator Jean Tobin said: "Wherever I go, I run into people who attended Green Park and inevitably someone will mention their 'favorite teacher': Sue Westergard. Because of Sue's willingness to dedicate her time and volunteer, the lives of many more students have been changed for the better. We are lucky to have her."

Tania Nelson - Berney Elementary and Walla Walla Citizens for Schools
Nominators: Lisa Davis and Jennifer Holbrook

Tania was the coordinator of the Citizens for Schools calling committee
She spent hours delivering call lists and reviewing the data for the committee
Tania is a regular volunteer at Berney during the school day and for afterschool activities
She creates bulletin boards, binds books, and completes projects for teachers
Tania supports the school's talent show and assists with the hearing and vision screenings
Tania also participated in the 21st Annual Scott Firefighter Stairclimb in Seattle. Nelson joined more than 1,500 firefighters in racing up 69 flights in full fire gear to help raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). She raised $1500 for the cause

Nominator Lisa Davis said: "Tania gives hours of service to our school. She is passionate about what she does, and her care and concern for the students that she works with is evident by the number of staff members who request her assistance in their rooms and with their projects. We all know Tania is competent and dependable and will do the best job possible with a smile."

Barnyard Champs 4H group (Leaders Ruth Ladderud, Mirney Wagner) - Head Start/ECEAP Preschool
Nominators: Kerri Coffman and Sandra McCoy

This dedicated group has provided service to Head Start ECEAP for seven years
Ruth Ladderud and Mirney Wagner are the group leaders
Each year, the club sews book bags for each of the more than 200 children
Since 2004, more than 1800 bags have been sewn totaling more than 800 hours of volunteer service
Many families cannot afford a book bag so this program removes this barrier
Each classroom has a specific color for their bags for easy identification and improved safety
Each bag has the child's name for ease of supervision and communication
The bags serve as a tool to transport work, notes and books home
The Barnyard Champs take pride in their work and this is reflected in the quality of their work

Nominator Sandra McCoy said: "The book bags have become an invaluable part of the Head Start/ECEAP program. Each room has its own color which allows for quick identification of children who may wander away from their group while walking to or from the bus. Notes and classroom projects are sent home in the bags every day but most importantly the bags allow for each child to safely carry home a book that can be read and then exchanged for another on the following day."

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