Community Awards
- Paul Winterstein
- Jul 14, 2025
- 2 min read
For the 45th year in a row, the Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce hosted the Community Awards banquet, where the recipients proved worthy of recognition in IHM’s historical archive.
For 117 years we could rely on the Issaquah Press, and before it, the Issaquah Independent to cover events around town. The articles and advertisements published in their weekly newspaper was destined to become tomorrow's history. Much of the research IHM does today includes searching the Issaquah Press archives. But since the presses stopped running in 2017, this community resource was lost and the most of today's happenings will be difficult to uncover by future historical researchers.
With this in mind, we decided to take action where and whenever we can to not let our local history pass us by. On June 3rd, we attended one of our community's most important yearly events, the Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce's 45th Community Awards banquet, held the Hilton Garden Inn.
The Community Awards banquet honors individuals and organizations whose service, dedication, and spirit strengthen the fabric of Issaquah. Now in its 45th year, the event serves as a celebration of our shared values—and a snapshot of the living history unfolding all around us.
Sponsor and Award | Recipient(s) |
Issaquah Education Association Educator of the Year | Leah Karpenko & Stan Harrison |
Issaquah Schools Foundation Golden Apple Ward | Lawrie Robertson |
Influence the Choice Vicky Hoffman Legacy Award | Friends of Youth, represented by Paul Lwali and Brook Drennon |
Influence the Choice Youth Leadership Award | Anvesha Jain |
Kiwanis Club of Issaquah Spirit of Issaquah Award | Josh and Corissa McGehe, owners, Fischer Meats |
Kiwanis Club of Issaquah Spiritual & Human Services Award | Helen and Dick Scott |
Downtown Issaquah Association Standout Volunteer of the Year | Bob Brock of Issaquah Open Mic |
City of Issaquah, Parks and Community Services Volunteer of the Year | Michael Burge and Paul Rapino |
Issaquah Highlands Youth Leadership Award | Lily Pinkston |
Issaquah Highlands Community Builder Award | Chelsea Musick |
Issaquah Highlands Volunteer of the Year | Ryan Aby |
Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery Top 2024 Education & Outreach Adult Volunteer | Katie Kilbourne |
Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery Top 2024 Education & Outreach Youth Volunteer | William Ma |
Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery Top 2024 New Hatchery Tour Guides | Alison Fesler and Bill Picatti |
Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery Top 2024 FISHop Gift Shop Volunteer | Jenifer Hormel |
Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce Spawner Roll | Sooraj Mandampully |
Life Enrichment Options Lifetime Achievement Award | Leo Finnegan |
City of Issaquah Hall of Fame | AJ Culver (posthumously), and Bill Ramos (posthumously) |
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