Othello Chamber of Commerce announce 2016 award winners

OTHELLO — Dr. Richard Bunch was named Othello Citizen of the Year by the Greater Othello Chamber of Commerce Banquet and will be feted at the 60th annual Chamber Banquet on Feb. 24.

Nominations were made and the election tally was counted, and the GOCC announced the selections for its yearly awards for 2016. Four awards are given out each year, including civil servant, citizen, teacher and business of the year.

The 2016 winners are:

• Citizen of the Year - Richard P. Bunch, MD
• Business of the Year - Sloan-Leavitt Insurance Agency, Inc.
• Civil Servant of the Year - Debbie L. Kudrna
• Teacher of the Year (6-12) - Jennifer McCourtie
• Teacher of the Year (K-5) - Sandra Garza
• Teacher of the Year (K-5) - Brenda Young

For the Teacher of the Year, typically only two teachers are chosen, with one for grades K-5 and the other for grades 6-12. This year, however, due to an increase in nominations, the chamber was excited to award two teachers from grades K-5.

“I was surprised,” Young said.

Young is a fourth grade teacher at Scootney Springs Elementary School. She is in her fifth year of teaching.

“I don't do this job for myself. I do it for the kids,” she said.

Sandra Garza was “shocked and surprised” by her award. Garza has been teaching for 13 years and is also a fourth grade teacher at Scootney Springs Elementary School. She is grateful for the win, she said, and seeing the students improvements is what she enjoys most.

She also expressed how the faculty, administrators, students and parents all make for a terrific team to be a part of, creating an environment focused on the students.

McCourtie was born and raised in Othello. She has been teaching at Othello High School for eight years.

“I'm very excited. It's an honor,” she said.

McCourtie teaches a leadership class, one which grew from 25 students to 34. She said she and her students stay busy with projects, including shoveling snow, planning assemblies and visiting the senior center but also have a lot of fun in the process.

“I had great teacher role models growing up, and that has encouraged me to be the best role model I can be,” McCourtie said.

Bunch, he is no stranger to the Citizen of the Year Award. He has been an Othello resident for 55 years, and he received the same award 16 years ago.

“I was quite surprised and humbled,” he said.

Bunch, who is a clinician mentor for Columbia Basin Health Association, said that it is both satisfying and rewarding to live in a small community.

“We all have a job to do,” he said, and he's happy he's been able to do his this here.

This year's banquet will be held on Feb. 24 at the Bethel Assembly of God Church, 915 S 1st Ave. Social hour and the silent auction will begin at 5 p.m. The program will begin at 6 p.m.

The banquet will feature catering by the Othello Golf Club and Lounge. Dinner tickets are $30 per person if purchased in advance, or $35 at the door. Raffle tickets are $25 and are on a limited first come first-served basis.

Tickets may be purchased at Columbia Bank, Basin Insurance, Paty's Second Hand Store, Othello Community Hospital, Remax and the chamber office.

For any banquet information or questions, email or call Mendoza at 509-488-2683 and manager@othellochamber.org, or stop by the chamber office.