WFAA Awards
WFAA Awards honor deserving financial aid administrators throughout Washington State date back to 2002! Since 2002, a call goes out annually to the WFAA listserv to reflect on their witness of outstanding financial aid performance in and around their community and report it by nominating a deserving colleague for an award.
2024 Awards Nomination Form and Deadline: Nominations closed on August 23, 2024. The Awards and Recognition Committee will review nominations and winners will be announced at the upcoming WFAA Conference this October in Spokane Valley. Come help us celebrate our outstanding financial aid professionals at the conference!
Process:
The Past President places a notice on the website and sends out an e-mail request for nominations for all four awards. The email includes the awards descriptions, the procedures and timeline. Membership responds by submitting a short description of the nominee's experience and the reason(s) for the specific award recommendation. The Awards Committee Chair and the Committee members review all submissions, vote and make their selections prior to the annual conference.
Notification of awards:
Only Supervisors of the Distinguished Service and Unsung Hero Award recipients are notified in order to facilitate recipient attendance at the fall conference awards ceremony. The Rookie of the Year Award recipient is informed early since conference registration is part of the prize and the recipient is asked to make a brief conference presentation.
We are proud to have the following four annual awards to recognize deserving colleagues. Take a moment now to review the awards details and reflect generously on the contributions made by someone near you.
Prepare to submit the reason for your selection soon. As you honor others, others may honor you and so the tune goes!
Annual Award Descriptions
- MARIANNA DEEKEN NEW PROFESSIONAL SCHOLARSHIP: This scholarship honors an up-and-coming member of the financial aid community with fewer than three years' experience. Recipient receives a plaque of recognition and free registration to the WFAA annual conference.
- TIM HENNING ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: This award honors an up and coming member of the financial aid community with fewer than three years' experience. Recipient receives a plaque of recognition and free registration to the WFAA annual conference.
- UNSUNG HERO AWARD: This award honors a WFAA member who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to Washington students or WFAA by working quietly and without reward or recognition on committees, at their institution and/or in the community, above and beyond the requirements of the candidate's job. Recipient receives a plaque of appreciation at the annual conference.
- DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD: This award honors a WFAA member who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to Washington students and WFAA through outstanding contributions to WFAA activities and the financial aid profession over a sustained period of time. Recipient receives a plaque of appreciation at the annual conference.
COMMITTEE OF THE YEAR AWARD: Awarded at the President's discretion to recognize a committee that has excelled in performance which will result in a long-term positive impact on the Association.
Past Award Recipients
| 2019 Conference Awards- Yakima-Sarah Everitt, President |
| Unsung Hero Award |
Laura Gunnarson, Faith International University and Seminary |
| Distinguished Service Award |
Christina Winstead, Washington Student Achievement Council |
| Marianna Deeken New Professional Scholarship |
Kalyn Spens, Washington State University |
| 2018 Conference Awards-Investing in Others to Make a Difference, Yakima-Brian Dixon, President |
| Unsung Hero Award |
Karina Sanchez, Clark College |
| Distinguished Service Award |
Barbara Boots, Eastern Washington University |
| Marianna Deeken New Professional Scholarship |
Rachel Ernst, Central Washington University |
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| 2017 Conference Awards - The Branches of Financial Aid, Vancouver - Linnea Todd, President |
| Distinguished Service Award: |
Jane Baumgardner, Spokane Falls Community College |
| Tim Henning Rookie of the Year: |
Kari Lassiter, University of Puget Sound |
| Unsung Hero Award: |
Jessica Swartling, The Evergreen State College |
| Committee of the Year: |
Electronic Services: Heather Jones, Chair
Central Washington University
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| 2016 Conference Awards - Don't Park Your Spark, Spokane - Kelley Christianson, President |
| Marianna Deeken New Professional Scholarship: |
Selenia Apodaca, Perry Technical Institute |
| 2015 Conference Awards - Fusion of Ideas, Tacoma - Tracy Hall, President |
| Marianna Deeken New Professional Scholarship: |
Shannon Bartlett, Financial Aid Administrator, Divers Institute of Technology |
| Tim Henning Rookie of the Year Award: |
Regina Graw-Crockett, Financial Aid Administrator, Academy of Interactive Entertainment |
| Distinguished Service Award: |
April Tovar, Student Financial Services Manager, WSU Vancouver |
| Unsung Hero Award: |
Crystal Allison, Associate Dean - Financial Aid, Skagit Valley College |
| Committee of the Year: |
Conference Committee: Linnea Todd, Assistant Director, Bellevue College & Sarah Gill, Assistant Director, Whitworth University - Co-Chairs
Early Awareness Committee: April Tovar, Chair - Financial Aid & Scholarship Manager, Washington State University Vancouver |
| 2014 Conference Awards - QUEST, Airway Heights - Abril Hunt, President |
| Marianna Deeken New Professional Scholarship: |
Lindsey Bain McCorkle, Financial Aid Counselor, University of Washington Seattle |
| Tim Henning Rookie of the Year Award: |
Sarah Gill, Financial Aid Counselor, Gonzaga University |
| Distinguished Service Award: |
Kay Soltis, Director Financial Aid, Pacific Lutheran University |
| Unsung Hero Award: |
Rosee Murray, Program Coordinator, Financial Aid and Scholarship Office, Eastern Washington University |
| Committee of the Year: |
Early Awareness Committee: April D Tovar, Chair
Financial Aid & Scholarship Manager
Washington State University Vancouver
Committee Members: John A Garrigues - Wells Fargo EFS, Rebecca L Hightower - College Success Foundation, Trinity L Huttner - Director Financial Aid, Digipen, Ron Noborikawa - Sr. Associate Director, Pacific Lutheran University, Sherri L Peterson - Financial Aid Program Administrator, Gonzaga University |
| 2013 Conference Awards - Crossing Bridges, Leavenworth - Monique C. Thériault, President |
| Marianna Deeken New Professional Scholarship: |
Jennifer Snellink, Financial Aid Assistant, Perry Technical Institute |
| Tim Henning Rookie of the Year Award: |
no nomination |
| Distinguished Service Award: |
Marilyn Ponti, Director Financial Aid, Whitman College |
| Unsung Hero Award: |
Yeumie Truong, Assistant Director Financial Aid, Renton Technical College |
| Committee of the Year: |
Conference Committee: Jim White, Isabelle Mora, Kevin Berg, Janet Cantelon, Carlie Curlee, Danette Iyall, Ron Noborikawa, Marilyn Ponti, Traci Stensland, Linda Weir |
| 2012 Conference Awards - Come Together, Wenatchee - Ted Haase, President |
| Marianna Deeken New Professional Scholarship: |
Sara Updike, Program Assistant III, Gonzaga University |
| Tim Henning Rookie of the Year Award: |
Andrea Vosberg, Specialist, Perry Technical Institute |
| Distinguished Service Award: |
Marcela Pattinson, Counselor, Washington State University |
| Unsung Hero Award: |
Rick Sinclair, Director, Interface College |
| Committee of the Year: |
no nomination |
| 2011 Conference Awards - Reflecting Back for a Clearer Tomorrow, Leavenworth - Darcy Keller, President |
| Marianna Deeken New Professional Scholarship**: |
no nomination |
| Tim Henning Rookie of the Year Award: |
no nomination |
| Distinguished Service Award: |
no nomination |
| Unsung Hero Award: |
no nomination |
| Committee of the Year: |
no nomination |
| 2010 Conference Awards - Reflect, Release, Renew, Vancouver - Rebecca Wonderly, President |
| Tim Henning Rookie of the Year Award: |
John Breneman, Counselor, Whitworth University |
| Distinguished Service Award: |
Ron Noborikawa, Sr. Associate Director, Pacific Lutheran University |
| Unsung Hero Award: |
Deanna Thompson, Assistant Director, Central Washington University |
| Committee of the Year: |
Ethnic Awareness Committee: Lisa Fortson, Chair |
| 2009 Conference Awards - bouncing back...moving forward, SeaTac - Kathleen Koch, President |
| Tim Henning Rookie of the Year Award: |
Deidra Norgaard, Counselor, Clover Park Technical College |
| Distinguished Service Award: |
Rick Sinclair, Director, Interface College |
| Unsung Hero Award: |
Rachelle Sharpe, Higher Education Coordinating Board |
| Committee of the Year: |
Electronic Services: Jeff Lackey, Chair |
| 2008 Conference Awards - A New Vintage, A New Landscape, Walla Walla - Kathleen Koch, President |
| Tim Henning Rookie of the Year Award: |
no nomination |
| Distinguished Service Award: |
Linda Burkhardt, Department of Education |
| Unsung Hero Award: |
no nomination |
| Committee of the Year: |
no nomination |
| 2007 Conference Awards - Nurturing Dreams...Cultivating Success, Wenatchee - Marilyn Ponti, President |
| Tim Henning Rookie of the Year Award: |
no nomination |
| Distinguished Service Award: |
no nomination |
| Unsung Hero Award: |
Darcy Keller, Assistant Director, University of Washington |
| Committee of the Year: |
2006 Conference Committee: Mary Edington and Marty Daniels, Co-chairs |
| 2006 Conference Awards - Exploring New Frontiers, Vancouver - Carla Idohl-Corwin, President |
| Tim Henning Rookie of the Year Award: |
Lynn Cross, Financial Aid Counselor, Washington State University - Pullman |
| Distinguished Service Award: |
Wendy Olson, Director, Whitworth College |
| Unsung Hero Award: |
no nomination |
| Committee of the Year: |
no nomination |
| 2005 Conference Awards - Unmask the Mystery, Spokane - Rachelle Sharpe, President |
| Tim Henning Rookie of the Year Award: |
Elaine Marcinek, Administrator, ITT Technical Institute |
| Distinguished Service Award: |
Jim White, Director, Seattle University |
| Unsung Hero Award: |
Jennifer Freimund, NELA |
| Committee of the Year: |
Publications/Newsletter: Wendy Olson and Traci Stensland, Co-Chairs |
| WFAA Ethnic Scholarship*: |
Lynn Cross, Financial Aid Counselor, Washington State University |
| 2004 Conference Awards - It Depends, Olympia - Rick Sinclair, President |
| Tim Henning Rookie of the Year Award: |
Jeannie Damon, Program Assistant, Cascadia Community College |
| Distinguished Service Award: |
Bob Walker, Director, Pierce College |
| Unsung Hero Award: |
Wendy Olson, Director, Whitworth College |
| Vera Hoover Professional Development Award*: |
Tammerly Coe, Counselor, Western Washington University |
| Committee of the Year: |
Student Budgets: Carla Idohl-Corwin, Chair |
| 2003 Conference Awards - New ABC's of Financial Aid, Leavenworth - Clara Capron, President |
| Tim Henning Rookie of the Year Award: |
Amy Shaver, Perkins Loan Coordinator, Art Institute of Seattle |
| Distinguished Service Award: |
Becky Thompson, EdFund |
| Unsung Hero Award: |
Ron Noborikawa, Associate Director, Pacific Lutheran University |
| Committee of the Year: |
Electronic Services, Wendy Joseph, Chair |
| 2002 Conference Awards - Gateway to Opportunity, Seattle - Mary Edington, President |
| Tim Henning Rookie of the Year Award: |
Kim Wasierski, Counselor, Highline Community College |
* - Denotes a one-time award
** - Denotes first year of a new, recurring award
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