Graduates of Distinction Nominations

Walla Walla Public Schools' Graduates of Distinction program provides an avenue for recognizing high school graduates of Walla Walla Public Schools. These outstanding graduates have distinguished themselves in their communities and professions. This award also provides a platform to honor Walla Walla Public Schools staff members who were the most inspirational in their lives.

The Walla Walla Public Schools Graduates of Distinction selection committee encourages you to consider nominating a Walla Walla Public Schools graduate for this prestigious award. This program is the highest honor for district graduates.

More information is available on the district's website: http://www.wwps.org/programs/graduates-of-distinction including nomination packet forms that may be typed and printed. Nominations are due March 15, 2020.

Should you have questions or need assistance, feel free to contact Walla Walla Public Schools Director of Communications and Program Chair Mark Higgins at 509-526-6716 / mhiggins@wwps.org or Susie Golden at 509-526-6715 / sgolden@wwps.org.

Graduates of Distinction Selection Committee

Mark Higgins, Chair
Doug Bayne
Tera Davis
Roger Esparza
Myrna Anderson
Ron Higgins
Terri Trick
Mary Jo Geidl
Susie Golden
Sergio Hernandez
Susan Prudente

Graduates of Distinction Award Recipients ~ 1999-2019

1999 James F. Aylward 1946
1999 Richard P. Neher 1949
1999 Karen E. Glover 1968
1999 Dr. Eric Johnson 1968
1999 Michael Murr 1969

2000 Gordon S. Riess 1944
2000 Dr. William C. Dement 1947
2000 Wilber Pribilsky 1951
2000 Philip N. Lane, Jr. 1962
2000 Bruce T. Bjerke 1968

2001 Gordon L. Jaynes 1946
2001 Ned Lange 1952
2001 Eugene Blattman 1954
2001 Jeanne Parker Miller 1969
2001 Vickie Anderson-VanZandt 1972

2002 Charlotte Wirth 1944
2002 Robert I. Brunton 1953
2002 James K. Hayner 1968

2003 Gene Frank 1946
2003 Mark Anderson 1973
2003 Irene Gonzales 1980

2004 Harold R. Frank 1941
2004 Ned Shafer 1961
2004 Jeffrey Frank Ray 1978

2005 Gerwyn A. Jones 1928
2005 Dr. George Cole Williams Jr. 1947
2005 Michael Maiden 1968

2006 Val Jensen 1947
2006 Dr. Stephen Hayner 1966
2006 AnnRene Joseph 1973

2007 Dr. Neil V. Follett 1944
2007 Barbara D. Johnson 1967

2008 Claro E. Bergevin 1941
2008 Gretchen Miller Kafoury 1959
2008 John E. "Jack" Pelo 1974

2009 R.F. "Dick" Monahan 1958
2009 Daniel DeSiga 1967
2009 Greg Ralston Pepin 1968
2009 Dr. Philip Phillips 1975

Award Graduation
Year Recipient's Name Year
2010 Richard K. Knuth, Ph.D. 1969
2010 Mary Jane Towner-Glaser 1971
2010 Tim Donaldson 1979

2011 Edward Aliverti 1950
2011 Lt. Gen. Robert D. Beckel 1955
2011 Larry B. Siegel 1969
2011 Drew M. Bledsoe 1990

2012 John P. Folsom 1962
2012 Jill A. Largent, M.D. 1968
2012 Megan Ferguson Clubb 1974

2013 Carol Minnick Santa 1962
2013 Dan Reid 1974
2013 Craig Nelson 1981

2014 Thomas L. Copeland 1942
2014 Daniel J. Hess 1968
2014 Paul H. Schneidmiller 1970
2014 David Wagner 1993

2015 Judy Chamberlain Holloway 1962
2015 Richard "Dick" Moeller 1963
2015 Carol M. Barker 1974

2016 Gary Hanson 1976
2016 Mark Kajita 1987
2016 Jerry Zahl 1962

2017 Bruce Hunt 1974
2017 Jeanne Eggart Helfer 1977
2017 Richard D. Simon, Jr, M.D. 1968

2018 Terry Atchison 1966
2018 Dr. Randall Kenneth Barton 1971
2018 Dr. Elizabeth MacDonald 1995

2019 Dr. Tony Billingsley 1993
2019 Scott Krivoshein 1983
2019 Mary Lux Stumph 1983
2019 Peggy Needham 1982