Rewarding Excellence
Aging Services of Washington Awards Program
The Aging Services of Washington Awards Program is all about people who make a difference every day in the lives of those they serve. It’s about people who put quality first, deliver excellence, and inspire others to do the same.
The Aging services of Washington Awards Program...
- Recognizes those individuals and organizations that have made an outstanding contribution in the fields of aging, health care, housing, and community-based services.
- Is our way of saying thank you, to those who do more than what is merely expected of them, who do the right things for the right reasons.
Sample Application for 08:
Download the Annual Awards of Excellence Nomination Form [PDF] 137kb
Look for the 2009 application at the beginning of the year. Who would you like to nominate?
Accolades & Awards
Award Of Honor
Aging Services of Washington’s highest award is presented to one individual association member. The criteria for this award are: (a) The nominee is a distinguished individual. (b) The nominee’s many accomplishments show excellence. (c) The nominee has provided outstanding leadership to the association and is easily recognizable for these activities.
Previous Award Winners:
| Patrick O’Neill (2003) | Jaak Juhkentaal (1998) | Derril Meyer (1992) |
| Don Scott (2002) | John Crocker (1996) | |
| David Fairchild (2001) | Ray Westeren (1995) | |
| David Steele (2000) | Bill Bowers (1993) |
Meritorious Service
This award recognizes significant contributions to the field of long-term care, services, and housing for the elderly. The criteria for this award are: (a) The nominee’s accomplishments must show excellence. (b) The nominee must have provided recognizable leadership in the field of senior services. (c) The nominee’s contribution must be of national importance. (d) The nominee demonstrates commitment to the nonprofit philosophy.
Previous Award Winners
| Nora Gibson, Executive Director, Elder Health Northwest (2007) | Richard Milsow (2001) | J.T. Quigg (1996) Russ Akiyama (1995) |
| Joshua Gortler (2006) | Joanna Carlson (2000) | |
| Joshua Gortler (2006) | Dave Fairchild (1998) | |
| Sam Wan (2005) | Marilyn Otoupal (1996) |
Distinguished Service
This award recognizes the achievements of staff at any level, volunteers or residents who have made extraordinary contributions to the welfare of older persons served by Aging Services of Washington member organizations. The criteria for this award are: (a) The nominee’s contribution is extraordinary and has affected positive change. (b) The nominee displays commitment to the Aging Services of Washington-member organization. (c) The nominee demonstrates dedication to the nonprofit philosophy.
Previous Award Winners:
| Monica Mattson (2001) | Marge Lueders (1997) | Adelyne Freiberg (1993) |
| Johnny Cox (2000) | Charles Reed (1996) | Rep. Lorraine Hine (1992) |
| Jan Thomson (1999) | Charles E. Hawley (1995) | |
| Marty Richards (1998) | Sen. Margarita Prentice (1994) |
Trustee Of The Year
This award is given to voluntary leaders who have served with distinction on the boards of Aging Services of Washington member organizations. The criteria for this award are: (a) The service of the trustee demonstrates a significant contribution to the well-being of the elderly and others the organization serves. (b) The individual has displayed a personal commitment to the life of the organization. (c) The trustee has provided outstanding leadership to the organization and the community at large. (d) The trustee has fostered growth and change through understanding the aging services environment and the need for a continuum of care.
Previous Award Winners:
| Lee Atherton (2006) | Raymond Raines (2001) | Spencer Shaw (1995) |
| Sidney Porter (2005) | Tosh Okamoto (2000) | Harry Wilson (1994) |
| Gordon Stenman (2004) | Barbara Knopf (1999) | Kermit Gastfield (1993) |
| Joseph Matsen (2003) | Blaine Highfield (1999) | Jay Matsen (1992) |
| Albert G. Howell (2002) | Edwin Wong (1997) | |
| Dr. Otto Stevens (2002) | Clarence Kutz (1996) |
Excellence In Practice
This award seeks to showcase programs that demonstrate superior achievement throughout the continuum of aging services. The criteria for this award are: (a) Contribution must be noteworthy and have affected positive change. (b) The submission must show breadth and scope of the program. (c) Submission must include a paper describing the nomination. Supporting photos or video may accompany the paper.
Previous Award Winners:
| P.R.I.D.E. (Personal Rewards through Involvement, Dedication and Education) Program - Rockwood Retirement Community (2007) | CRISTA Senior Communities (2005) | Wesley Homes (2004) |
| Rockwood Retirement Communities (2003) | Cindy Alne/Building Bridges (2002) | Judson Park (2001) |
Innovation Of The Year
This award acknowledges Aging Services of Washington members whose vision and creativity make them leaders in care and services for the elderly. This award recognizes creative problem-solving by Aging Services of Washington members and encourages professionals to document, display and share their successes in a spirit of mutual helpfulness. The criteria for this award are: (a) Originality and creativity of the program or technique. (b) Proven benefits to the residents, clients, facility or organization. (c) Potential for application to the needs of other organizations or facilities. (d) A paper describing the innovation must accompany the nomination.
Previous Award Winners:
| Josephine Sunset Home (2005) | Episcopal Retirement Communities (2004) | CRISTA Senior Community (2003) |
| Horizon House Mock Survey (2002) |
Social Responsibility
This award recognizes the achievements of a Aging Services of Washington member organization or an individual associated with it that has made a significant commitment and contribution to furthering social responsibility. The criteria for this award are: (a) the nominee has demonstrated a commitment to social justice, diversity and inclusion. (b) The nominee’s contribution is noteworthy and has affected positive change. (c) The submission shows the breadth and scope of the nominee’s efforts.
Previous Award Winners:
| Horizon House (2003) | Covenant Shores (2000) | CRISTA Nursing Center (1999) |
| Rojelio Riojas (1996) | Kin On Nursing Home (1995) | Bailey Boushay (1994) |
| Northwest Hospital (1993) | Seattle Keiro (1992) |
National Organization On Disability
This cash award recognizes the efforts of one individual or an AAHSA member organization on behalf of the disabled. The nominee must be an AAHSA member or an individual associated with one. The criteria for this award are: (a) The nominee must document having in place an innovative and concrete program for assisting the elderly or other individuals with disabilities in the community that could be replicated by other AAHSA members. (b) The contribution must be noteworthy and have affected positive change. (c) The submission must show the breadth and scope of the program.
Previous AAHSA Award Winners:
| Covenant Shores (2003) | Bailey-Boushay House (1994) |
Community Service Award
This award recognizes the achievement of a Aging Services of Washington member organization that has demonstrated exceptional social accountability. It honors a commitment by volunteers, leadership and staff to meeting community needs as part of the organization’s overall mission and planning. The criteria for this award are: (a) The nominee’s program demonstrates significant and quantifiable community benefit. (b) The nominee has used critical self-examination of the organization’s capabilities, contributions and interactions in assessing community needs. (c) The nominee shows that it uses open communication and is perceived by others as providing essential public services. (d) The nominee’s program is replicable by other organizations of similar type. (e) The nominee must demonstrate in writing the program’s qualifications for the award.
Previous Award Winners:
| Coming of Age With Aging Loved Ones, Living Care Retirement (2007) | Franke Tobey Jones (2006) | The Hearthstone (2004) |
| Franke Tobey Jones (2003) | Riverview Grandmas (2002) | Emerald Heights (2000) |
| Riverview Retirement Community (2000) | Franke Tobey Jones (1999) | Josephine Sunset Home (1998) |
| Rockwood Retirement Community (1998) | Mountain Meadows (1997) | Vista Manor (1997) |
| Heritage House (1996) | The Hearthstone (1994) |
Excellence In Media
This award recognizes outstanding achievement by a media representative or media organization in covering senior services or related issues. Criteria for the award include: (a) Portrays aging services, or related issues, realistically and thoughtfully. (b) Fosters increased audience understanding and/or support for positive change. (c) Contains information, not solely promotional, content.
Previous Award Winner:
| Liz Taylor, Columnist, Aging Deliberately, The Seattle Times (2007) | Enrique Cerna, KCTS Public Television (2006) |
Youth In Service To The Aging
This award recognizes a young person who has demonstrated a commitment to the aging services field, and who has made a difference in the lives of seniors in a Aging Services of Washington member organization.
Previous Award Winners:
| Tayler Moore (age 9) | Josephine Sunset (2006) | Gonzaga Preparatory School, Riverview (2005) |
| Dave Womack, Riverview (2002) |
Dr. Herbert Shore Outstanding Mentor
This award is named for Dr. Herbert Shore, an AAHSA founder well known for having mentored many of today’s leaders in long-term care. A mentor is a listener, supporter, role model, nurturer and resource, as well as a trusted counselor, tutor, and friend. He or she has the ability to see another’s worth and challenge that person to see the same potential, while offering support, patience and enthusiasm, and guiding the person to new levels of competence. The person coached by the mentor is referred to as a protégé. Under girding the concept of mentoring is that seasoned professionals “pass the torch” to the new generation of practitioners by being available in a nonjudgmental system of one-on-one teaching, advising, motivating, encouraging, challenging and reinforcing.
The criteria for this award are: (a) The mentor is nominated by an individual or organization with close knowledge of the nominee’s qualifications and accomplishments as a mentor. (b) The mentor is licensed or certified in his or her discipline, if required, and demonstrates superior achievement in the field. (c) The submission shows the extent of the nominee’s experience as a mentor (how long, multiple protégés, etc.) and the productive, positive nature of the mentorship. (d) The submission indicates accomplishments of the protégé(s) that have been influenced by the mentor.
Previous Award Winners:
| Joshua Gortler (2006) | Sandi Keuss (2001) | Ray Westeren (2000) |
Aging Services of Washington Board Chair Award
This award is given based on exemplary service and as recognized by the Aging Services of Washington Board Chair.
Previous Award Winner:
| Russ Akiyama, Executive Director, Judson Park (2007) |
Best Performance Award - Aging Services of Washington Group Retrospective Rating Program
This award recognizes participants in Aging Services of Washington’s Group Retrospective Rating Program with the lowest workers’ compensation loss ratio of claims to premiums in the previous year.
2007 Award Winners by Category
| Nursing Home ~ Cheney Care Center, Keith Fauerso | Assisted Living ~ Fred Lind Manor, Mark Mullin Housing | Life Manor Retirement Community, Jerry Lee CCRC |
| Bayview Retirement Community, Rich Tomlinson |
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Senior Star Award
This program represents the commitment of the Washington Association of Housing and Services for the Aging’s member organizations in promoting quality of life and resident-centered care and services, along with a desire to recognize their residents’ contributions to their communities, state, and country.
Aging Services of Washington’s 2007 Senior Star Award Winners:
| Paul Beeman, Wesley Homes | Elsie Henderson, Crista Shores |
Click here to watch the 2007 Senior Star Video
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Silver Star Award
Recognizing 25+ years of service in 2007
These awards are given to recognize employees who have demonstrated their dedication to serving the elderly by their long-term employment of 25 years or more at a member community.
Cascade Vista:
| Pearl Barnes, 40 years | Monique Osterman, 39 years | Mary Gail Sperry, 32 years |
| Cheryl Magnuson, 29 years | Thelma Williams, 29 years | Donna Rafalski, 28 years |
| Un Sun Kim, 27 years | Olivia Crawford, 27 years |
Covenant Shores:
| Priscilla Miller, 25 years |
Horizon House:
| Gary Reynolds, 25 years |
Lilac Plaza:
| Kathy Allen, 34 years |
Living Care Retirement Community:
| Vicky Flint, 25 years | Roger Bault, 25 years |
Nikkei Concerns
| Aldena Hutchinson, 30 years | Gigi Ridings, 30 years | Evelyn Yabuki, 28 years |
| Norma Fregon, 27 years | Dara Chamroeun, 25 years |
Riverview Retirement
| Betty Bass, 27 years | Pete Laundry, 25 years | Don Morgan, 25 years |
| Brenda Beckham, 31 years |
Sisters of the Holy Name
| Kay Foster, 26 years | Darlene Emerson, 25 years |
The Kenney
| Muoi Luu, 25 years |
The Hearthstone
| White Honor Yim, 32 years | Lance Axness, 30 years | Charlotte Briggs, 31 years |
| Wayne Murphy, 29 years | Diana Dyer, 28 years | Wayne Roberts, 27 years |
| Clifford Hill, 26 years |
Washington Odd Fellows Home
| Ellen Schilling, 27 years | Maggie Naumann, 26 years | Cindy Hiatt, 25 years |
| Cecelia Liskey, 25 years | Cindy Tate, 25 years |
Wesley Homes
| LaVonne Mahugh, 32 years | Ramel Neesham, 30 years | Phyllis Huteson, 29 years |
| Theresa Faris, 29 years | Treva Simmons, 29 years | Hazel Ellefson, 29 years |
| Rita Lambert, 28 years | Bart Frohning, 27 years | Sheryl Shaffer, 27 years |
| Kwang Webster, 25 years |
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