You know who they are, volunteers, service officers, community members or others who day in and day out go above and beyond the call of duty making sure veterans and their family members are cared for. Whether they submit claims for benefits, arrange funeral honors for grieving families, coordinate events or donate countless hours in veterans hospitals or nursing homes, here are the recipients for previous year’s Outstanding Service to Veterans Awards.
This awards program is sponsored by the Governor’s Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee (VAAC) and award winners are invited to participate in the Auburn Veteran's Day Parade each year, followed by recognition at a special luncheon.
Outstanding Service to Veterans Awards are nominated in the following categories:
• Superior Award - This award is the Committee's highest honor and is given to recognize clearly superior accomplishments, achievements, and outstanding performance.
• Distinguished Service Award - This award is used to recognize significant accomplishments and special contributions.
• Team Award - This award is designed to recognize significant accomplishments of a team or group of individuals. This may be for their contributions on a special project, special contribution and outstanding performance.
Congratulations to all of the awardees who champion what it means to "Serve Those Who Served". Thank you for your ongoing commitment to serving the veteran community.
| 2024 | |
| Superior Service Award: | Dixie Ferguson (Walla Walla County) |
| Distinguished Service Award: | Christeen Olson (Spokane County) |
| Team Award: | Troop 400 Spokane Valley Boy Scouts (Spokane County) |
| Legislator of the Year: | Sen. Steve Conway, 29th Legislative District |
| Legislator of the Year: | Rep. J.T. Wilcox, 2nd Legislative District |
| 2023 | |
| Superior Service Award: | Charles Whitman (Asotin County) |
| Distinguished Service Award: | Gary Lott (Thurston County) |
| Team Award: | Nine9Line Veteran Services, Shawn Durnen (Pierce County) |
| Legislator of the Year: | Legislator of the Year: Rep. Mari Leavitt, 28th Legislative District |
| Legislator of the Year: | Sen. Chris Gildon, 25th Legislative District |
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| 2022 | |
| Superior Award | T.J. Morgan |
| Cheri Knox | |
| Distinguished Service Award | Nino Gray |
| Amy Tiemeyer | |
| Team Award | NW Veterans Resource Center |
| American Lake Golf Course Volunteers | |
| Legislator of the Year Award | Senator Tim Sheldon |
| Representative Ed Orcutt | |
| PDF including nomination summary | |
| 2021 | |
| Superior Award | Anthony Sandoval |
| Elizabeth Witowski | |
| Distinguished Award | Brittney Hamilton |
| George John Rossman | |
| Team Award | Clark County Veterans Assistance Center |
| American Legion Post 127 | |
| 2020 | |
| Legislator of the Year | Senator Emily Randall |
| Representative Jacquelin Maycumber | |
| Superior Award | Tom Hove |
| Angel Williams | |
| Distinguished Award | Gary Walderman |
| Donna Buck | |
| Team Award | Lacey Veterans Services Hub |
| A Hero's Promise - Liberty Disaster Relief Service | |
| 2019 | |
| Legislator of the Year | Rep. Mike Chapman |
| Sen. Hans Zeiger | |
| Superior Award | Gary Condra |
| Randy Turner | |
| Distinguished Award | Allen Acosta |
| Christopher Carver | |
| Team Award | Tahoma National Cemetery |
| Spokane County Regional Vet Center | |
| 2018 | |
| Legislator of the Year | Rep. Cindy Ryu |
| Sen. Jim Honeyford | |
| Superior Award | Bruce McKenty |
| Aaron Quinonez | |
| Distinguished Award | Leslie O'Bannon |
| Eric Fritts | |
| Eric Valentine | |
| Team Award | Heartbeat for Wounded Warriors |
| The Mission Continuous - Tacoma 1st Platoon | |
| 2017 | |
| Legislator of the Year | Rep. Kristine Reeves |
| Sen. Jan Angel | |
| Superior Award | Dr. Theresa Cheng |
| Armando Mejia | |
| Distinguished Award | Jermaine Kearse |
| John Moysiuk | |
| Team Award | The Butterfly Wranglers |
| Heroes on the Water - NW Chapter | |
| Spokane Veterans Court | |
| 2016 | |
| Legislator of the Year | Rep. Gina McCabe |
| Sen. Steve O'Ban | |
| Superior Award | Monica McNeal |
| Francisco Ivarra | |
| Distinguished Award | Shawn Durnen |
| Jason Schlegel | |
| Team Award | Growing Veterans |
| Yes Vets Initiative - ESD & WDVA | |
| 2015 | |
| Legislator of the Year | Rep. Dick Muri |
| Sen. Christine Rolfes | |
| Award Winners | Donna Lowery |
| Sharon Kirkpatrick | |
| Kristine Reeves | |
| Mark Oravsky | |
| Jason Alves | |
| Eliseo Dumlaor | |
| *For 2015 - we did not have categories - i.e. - Superior, Distinguished & Team | |
| 2014 | |
| Superior Award | Keirsten Lyons |
| Distinguished Award | Lloyd Gabriel |
| Robin Baker | |
| Keith Reyes | |
| Robert Donaldson | |
| Team Award | WA National Guard Joint Services Support |
| 2013 | |
| Legislator of the Year | Representative Tina Orwall |
| Senator Randi Becker | |
| Superior Award | Robert Valdez |
| Distinguished Award | Sue Patterson |
| Earl Jones | |
| Alex Frix | |
| Michael Zorn | |
| Team Award | Lower Valley Honor Guard |
| 2012 | |
| Outstanding Patriotic Service | Tami Michaels |
| Outstanding Veteran Service Officer | Richard Caleft |
| Outstanding Employee | Michael Flood |
| Outstanding Veteran Volunteer | WA State Veterans Advisory Committee |
| Outstanding Volunteer Service Officer | Lawrence Strozyk |
| Outstanding Male Non-Veteran | Hal Bernton |
| Outstanding Female Non-Veteran | Venay Money |
| Outstanding Legislators | Senator Barbara Bailey |
| Representative Larry Seaquist | |
| 2011 | |
| Outstanding Patriotic Service | Zachary and Christopher Taylor |
| Outstanding Service Officer | Mark Melton |
| Outstanding Employee | Colleen Gilbert |
| Outstanding Veteran Volunteer | Dennis Primoli |
| Outstanding Volunteer Service Officer | Doris Kent |
| Outstanding Male Non-Veteran | Rabbi Chaim Levine |
| Outstanding Female Non-Veteran | Jane Jacobsen |
| Outstanding Legislators | Senator Steve Conway |
| Representative Sherry Appleton | |
| 2010 | |
| Outstanding Patriotic Service | Mike Shindler |
| Outstanding Service Officer | Ryan Nabors |
| Outstanding Employee | Mark Fischer |
| Outstanding Veteran Volunteer | Michael Reagan |
| Outstanding Volunteer Service Officer | Kay Kenyon |
| Outstanding Female Non-Veteran | Janice Nelson |
| Outstanding Legislators | Representative Mike Armstrong |