Moses Lake schools recognize excellence

Awards given to staff, volunteers

MOSES LAKE — Popcorn, hot dogs, uniforms and oversized bats.

It wasn't a baseball game in the Moses Lake High School commons Tuesday. The district was recognizing key players in the schools' success.

Volunteers, administrators and school staff were honored at Homerun Hitters Excellence Awards. More than 120 individuals and organizations were nominated. Of those nominated, 23 received plaques.

Classified staff to receive plaques were Rhonda Frizzell, Mona Calahan, Kim Johnson, Buelah Bohne, Jess Clem and Bill Harper.

As an extra treat, special education bus driver Bill Harper was handed his plaque from Kailee Truman, one of his passengers who helped nominate him for the award.

"She wanted to be here tonight," said Special Assistant to the Superintendent P.J. De Benedetti.

Her grandmother Brenda Brittain helped her give him the award.

"He's really, really good to her," Brittain said.

Volunteers Bob and Lori Montgomery, Jacie Daschel, Juliann Dodds, Alan Heroux, Columbia Basin Herald Publisher Harlan Beagley and the Lakeview Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association Board received plaques.

"We know a lot of what we do wouldn't be possible without volunteers," De Benedetti said.

Bob and Lori Montgomery put traffic safety turtles outside Larson Heights Elementary School every day to warn people to slow down because children are present, he said.

Dodds is active in the Frontier Middle School Parent-Teacher Organization.

"She started coming to school board meetings before her son was even in school," De Benedetti said.

Certified staff who received plaques are Jay Loutherback, Sydney Richins, Jon Valencia, Terry Melbye, Carol Sargee and Gary Clinton. Administrators Abe Ramirez, Nikki Mackey and Chris Lupo received plaques.

Coaches Carolyn Johnson and Matt Strophy received plaques. The bowling team, under Johnson's coaching, finished the season fourth in state, De Benedetti said.

"That's a fantastic year," he said. "Congratulations."

Strophy led the most successful girls' basketball team the high school has had, he said. They were one game from making it to the state tournament.