2025 Extension Master Gardener Recognition Awards
Each year the Foundation and the King County Program join efforts to recognize and celebrate our Extension Master Gardeners and give credit for the thousands of hours donated by volunteers. Their time and talents give life to our plant clinics, our demonstration gardens, and our ongoing service projects. Each year’s recognition event acknowledges the work of these volunteers and their exceptional commitment to the WSU Extension King County Master Gardener Program in the leadership roles they assume.
Outstanding Master Gardener Awards
Extension Master Gardeners nominate their peers for the King County program’s Outstanding Extension Master Gardener Award. These nominations acknowledge the volunteers’ degree of commitment and their ability to inspire others. In addition to these nominations, there are four awards that are presented by the Foundation, which include the National President’s Gold Volunteer Service Award, the Foundation Award, the Foundation President’s Award and the Program Coordinator’s Award. It is their exceptional commitment and enthusiasm and willingness to take on leadership roles in the program that sets these awardees apart.
Nominated for Statewide Recognition
These volunteers were nominated by the WSU Extension King County Program and the Master Gardener Foundation of King County for statewide awards:
- Marty Byrne
- Carrie Hill
- Gary Scheider
Individual awards are presented to Extension Master Gardeners nominated by their peers as outstanding Extension Master Gardeners. Individuals nominated this year for going the extra mile are listed below under the following categories:
Behind the Scenes – Individual
Kathy Kreps
April Creasey
Elaine Sherbrooke
Brooke Addison
Lin Provost
Keri Marquand
Tujuana Simon
Behind the Scenes – Team
Cool Plants, Hot Topics :
Lynda Firey-Oldroyd, Joan Baldwin, Gary Scheider, Brooke Addison
PNW Garden Savvy:
Janile Martin, Trish Bloor, Bobi Braymen
Bellevue Demonstration Garden:
Sherine Abbas
Joanne Abelson
Bonnie Bowie
Brandon Bray
Bruce Caredio
Sandy Condiotty
Linda Deardorff
Renae Dekker
Colleen Donohue
Wendy Fawcett
Barb Ghaffari
Erica Halford
Faith Hanna
Matt Kosche
Georgeann Lennon
Bethlyn Miller
Jeremy Miller
Marilyn Nemerever
Linda Peterson
Cleo Raulerson
Gary Scheider
Tujuana Simon
Susan Travis
Fred Wemer
Susan Zachwieja
Public Engagement
Anna Sczaniecka
Wesa Anderson
Rhonda Dafforn
Shorewood Culinary Arts School Demonstration Garden
Alma Cardenas
Ian Templeton
Lisa Nash
Bruce Bennett
Faith Hanna
Usha Gore
Sue Melgaard
Service Through Leadership
Neeley Soames Leadership Team: Gabriela (Gabi) Hong, Esther Munoz, Crystal Bell
Ankie Stroes
Leslie Ozguner
Faith Hanna
Jean Wang
Marie Kurka-Brown
Carol Laurier
Susan Loren Taylor
Erica Halford
Lynda Firey-Oldroyd
Rachel Johnson
Technology Support Team:
Emanii Owens
Daryl Schlesser
Trish Bloor
Penny Kriese
Lin Provost
Keiki Kehoe
Tujuana Simon
The Foundation Award is presented to an Extension Master Gardener in special recognition for “above and beyond” service that has significantly helped the Foundation in achieving its mission to support the WSU Extension King County Master Gardener Program.
This year’s award was presented to Lesa Palmer for her creativity and service in getting the word out through newsletters, administrating our email system and innovating the wildly popular Garden of Opportunity.
Presented to an individual Extension Master Gardener or team whose work on a specific project or program in the last year has helped to “Provide education & information on horticulture to the citizens of King County.” This award also includes efforts to provide advanced training to the Master Gardener community in King County.
Habitats at Home (see photo below)
Gary Scheider
Cleo Raulerson
Susan Melgaard
Audrey Crews
Dana Niblack
Colleen Donahue
Mollie van der Burch
Pauline O’Rourke
Chelsea Shipp
This year’s Program Office award was presented to:
Intern Training Team (see photo below)
Natalie Remedios
Anne Neilson
Gretchen Van Kekerix
Darla Gatte
This award is presented to Extension Master Gardeners who go above and beyond in the number of hours worked during a calendar year (greater than 500 hours).
Anne Neilson
Daryl Schlesser
President’s Lifetime
This award is presented to Master Gardeners upon completing 4,000 of lifetime service.
Gary Scheider
Foundation Awards
In 2015 the Foundation created two awards that recognize individuals or groups whose work directly benefits the Foundation.
The President’s Award is given for work on specific projects that have significant impact on the education programs that are part of our fundraising efforts.
The Board of Directors presents the Foundation Award for work on projects whose impact significantly helps the Foundation meet its financial goals in the current year.
We’ve had decades of success in the field across King County and invite you to review the Award Winners from previous years.
Foundation Board Award
The Foundation Board award was presented to the Habitats at Home Team (Gary Scheider, Cleo Raulerson, Sue Melgaard, Colleen Donahue, Molly van der Burch, Pauline O’Rourke, Dana Niblack, Chelsea Shipp, Audrey Crews) for creating an educational showstopper of a demonstration garden in partnership with the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
Program Award
The Program Office Award was given to the Intern Training Team (Anne Neilson, Gretchen Van Kekerix, Natalie Remedios, Darla Gatte) who successfully pivoted from county-led intern training, to a coordinated training with state and county input – essentially doing the whole process twice in one year with significant changes, and still offering individual support for each new intern.
We Count on Your Generous Support
Every non-profit organization relies on the generosity of the public to help fund its mission and support its programs. If you believe in what we do and want to help drive environmental education in your community, please consider donating to the Master Gardener Foundation of King County. With your generous support, we’re able to fund grass roots advocacy for ecological stewardship of our shared natural resources. Explore ways you can donate today for a greener tomorrow!