Annual Educator Impact Award
Lynn Eide, a teacher at Skyview High School, has been named a winner in the second annual Educator Impact Awards in the Blended Learning category. This award recognizes an innovative use of curriculum to improve student outcome. The awards ceremony took place in Philadelphia.
“Lynn Eide is a dedicated teacher who consistently goes above and beyond for the students of Vancouver School District,” said Skyview High School Principal Jim Gray.
Eide provides learning support to students who have struggled in the general education classroom, and anticipates close to 100 percent of students in the program graduating on time.
Tourism Award
Visit Vancouver USA has announced Kim Bennett as the recipient of the 2019 Spirit of Tourism Award, in recognition of her 20 years of service to the organization and to the growth of tourism in Clark County. The Spirit of Tourism Award is presented annually to an attraction, venue, event, business, or person that has taken great strides to attract visitors to the region.
Bennett founded the tourism office in 1999 and retired on June 28. Annual visitor spending to the area has increased by $311.5 million dollars in the two decades since the office’s formation, with 2018 seeing a 15 percent increase from the previous year.
“Kim was instrumental in growing both leisure visitation and group business in Vancouver during the past 20 years. I can think of no person or entity more deserving of the 2019 Spirit of Tourism Award,” said Mike McLeod, board chair of Visit Vancouver USA.
Elections Employee of the Year
Secretary of State Kim Wyman recognized Clark County Elections employee Janielle Tomlin of Vancouver as Washington State’s County Elections Employee of the Year for 2019.
Tomlin has been instrumental in contributing to the VoteWA movement, a new electronic management and registration system which will be one of the most advance statewide election systems in the country. Tomlin’s efforts have ensured that the system will be implemented in time for the 2020 presidential election.
Items for Applause should be brought to The Columbian, News Department, 701 W. Eighth St., mailed to P.O. Box 180, Vancouver, WA 98666, emailed to neighbors@columbian.com, phoned to 360-735-4550 or faxed to 360-735-4598. Please include an address, which won’t be published, so we can ascertain the correct neighborhood.
