Two grads named EvCC distinguished alumni

Everett Community College has selected assistant principal Jennifer Reyes and former Camp Fire executive director David Surface as the college’s 2021 Distinguished Alumni.

The distinguished alumni award is the highest honor given to Everett Community College and Everett Junior College alumni. The award honors those who have demonstrated leadership in their chosen professions and distinguished themselves through service to their communities.

Reyes will serve as assistant principal for Hawthorne Elementary in the coming school year. She previously was assistant principal at Jackson Elementary and taught at Whittier Elementary. She is also the recipient of the Snohomish County NAACP President’s Award and the EvCC Tanya Royer Community Service Award.

“Everett Community College was like my second home and still remains that way. I tell everyone to go to EvCC, including my elementary school students,” Reyes said.

Surface attended EvCC in the late 1960s and followed his passion for youth service. Following a 24-year career with Boys and Girls Clubs of Snohomish and King Counties, Surface served as executive director of Camp Fire Snohomish County for 27 years prior to his retirement.

In an alumni spotlight article Surface describes EvCC as “local and friendly … a place that allowed me to pursue my other thoughts and dreams, where I could channel into something and go for it. I think the community college route is the only way to go.”

The two join a notable list of previous Distinguished Alumni award recipients. To read about previous winners, visit EverettCC.edu/Alumni.

New leaders in Arlington School District

Arlington Public Schools recently announced several administrative changes for the next school year.

Karl Olson, who served as principal of Kent Prairie Elementary, is the new director of categorical programs. Colleen Van Belle, who’d been assistant principal at Kent Prairie, will be the new principal at the school.

Bob Stoddard, an assistant principal at a middle school in Marysville, will be the new assistant principal at Kent Prairie Elementary.

Jamie Miller, who’d been assistant principal at Presidents Elementary, takes over as the school’s principal. She will replace current principal Derek Larsen, who is leaving for an elementary principal position in the Snohomish School District.

Lisa Foslien, an assistant principal in the Marysville School District, will be the new assistant principal at Presidents Elementary, pending school board approval on July 12.

Everett Central Lions member receives prestigious award

Lee Woodard, past president of Everett Central Lions Club, has received a Melvin Jones Fellowship Award from Everett Central Lions.

The humanitarian award for community service was created by the Lions Clubs International Foundation to be presented by local clubs.

Woodard was cited for his work locally in leading food drives, working on projects to prevent blindness and helping expand the goals of Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest service organization.