Editor,
The South Whidbey Schools Foundation thanks everyone involved with the May 16 Foundation Gala Dinner held at Useless Bay Golf & Country Club. The event raised $14,000 that will go toward funding next school year’s classroom projects.
Special thanks to the businesses and individuals who donated goods and services for the auction and our two Gala sponsors, Whidbey Island Bank (a division of Heritage Bank) and Nichols Brothers Boat Builders. Additional thanks to Whidbey Telecom for promoting the Gala on WhidbeyTV and on the locally produced show, “Life’s Better Here,” and to the South Whidbey Record for covering the schools so well in general and providing its readers with advance notice of the Gala.
Applause to the South Whidbey High School jazz combo and to the Music in Motion high school choir (under the direction of Paula Ludtke) whose members provided entertainment. Thanks also to the students and teachers demonstrating Foundation-funded projects involving the SWA Underwater Robotics Team, the school district farm and garden (Cary Peterson), and outdoor expeditions at the Elementary School (teacher Bruce Callahan).
Hats off to emcee and auctioneer Jim Freeman for an evening filled with his quick wit and charm. Superintendent Jo Moccia deserves a medal for conducting the “Medallion Game,” which involves eliminating medallion holders until the last one standing wins half the medallion sales. Special thanks to Shelly Ackerman, who won the game a second year in a row and promptly donated her entire $1,000 winnings back (a second time) to the Foundation.
Extra-mile gratitude to the principals at South Whidbey Academy (David Pfeiffer), South Whidbey Elementary (Jeff Cravy) and Langley Middle School (Eric Nerison) on the impact that Foundation-funded projects had on their schools, and thanks to high school English teacher Jennifer Gandarias who spoke about a Foundation-funded professional development program for teachers which she spearheaded.
Long-distance thanks to Gavin Imes, a South Whidbey High School graduate and former Foundation board student representative, who told how Foundation-funded projects helped enrich his education and continue to influence his college activities at Gonzaga University.
Thank You,
BETTY BOND, CHRIS GIBSON, JO MOCCIA, DAVID PFEIFFER, LINDA RACICOT, SUSIE RICHARDS, JOHN RILEY, JEAN SHAW, SOPHIA STOUGHTON, TOM WALKER AND BOB and KAY WILEY
South Whidbey Schools Foundation Board
