Golden Acorn

The Golden Acorn Award is a prestigious honor presented by local PTAs across Washington State to recognize volunteers who have shown outstanding dedication and service to children and youth. Since the program began in the 1930s, more than 54,000 Golden Acorn Awards have been presented statewide.

Recipients receive a certificate and pin, and a donation is made in their name to the Washington State PTA Scholarship Program, which supports students pursuing post‑secondary education.

At Green Lake Elementary, the Golden Acorn tradition is one way of celebrating the parents, caregivers, staff, and community members who go above and beyond for our school. Below is a list of past recipients from GLES. Some years include notes or commentary from past PTA historians; some years have missing records entirely. If you have information about the “lost years,” we’d love to hear from you.

GLES Award Winners

2024 forward: the post-pandemic digital age. We're getting better at documenting, let's keep it up!

2025 Kat Johnson & Remy Nixon (award ceremony slides)

2024 Kate Muller & Stacey Nakagawa

2008 - 2023: the lost years. Awards were given but sadly we have no record of them. Contact the PTA if you know someone who was awarded in this timeframe!

Late 90's and Early Aughts - the era of power couples & multiple awards

2007 Mary Roe Minor, Karen and Steve Dolde

2006 LB Kregenow, Julie Clark, Dianne and Mark Engelbrekt

2005 Casey Gouveia, Penny and Danny Swanson, Bob Coyne, Mary Jewet

2004 Mike Lennstrom, Chris Nefcy, Roger Hamlyn (Educator)

2003 Marty Moberg, BJ Stokey and Roger Westberg, Maureen Dahlstrom

2002 Michele Paquette, Cheryl Behrens, Mary Clare Thompson

2001 Beth Monks, Joyce Lucas, Nina and Ed Geiger, Cathy Butler (Educator)

2000 Steve Brown, Carol Deckelbaum and Stephen Godbe, Carol and Jonathon Frodge

1999 Joyce and Larry Madison, Rosemary and Bob Baines

1998 Patty and Paul Gotz, Richard Reinhardt, & Vickie Lamb (Educator)

1997 Helen Salzwedel & Rene' Routier

1996 Cindy MacIsaac & Carolyn and Steve Bea

The 70's 80's and early 90's. Charlene Oldrish got 2 Acorns!

1995 Kathy Cripps

1994 Wendy and Ref Lindmark & John Swanson

1993 Linda and Lou Cutler & Sandra Hixson (Educator)

1992 Marnie McIntyre & Jane and Robin Hutchensen

1991 Hiroko Hasegawa & Betty Jo Michaelini

1990 Harvey Deutsch (Educator)

1989 Gail Schlick & Lee Miley

1988 Jim Croop

1987 Moira Ivary & Gunter Geddicks

1986 Linda Huntley

1985 Nancy Haugen

1984 Geraldine Brady

1983 - 

1982 - 

1981 - 

1980 - 

1979 David O'Neal

1978 Ruth Hunt

1977 Carrole Mabie

1976 Sharon Long

1975 Eve Gough

1974 Dorothy Jzyk & Charlene Oldrish

1973 - 

1972 Winnie Koruga & Charlene Oldrish

1971 - 

The 50's and 60's, a time of last names only or patriarchial honorifics that identified women by their husband's names. Except for Esther Vaughn, you go girl:

1970 Mrs. Billie Baxter

1969 Mrs. Earl Carlson

1968 Mrs. Alfred Brown

1967 Mrs. Harry Anderson & Marshall Weiss

1966 Mrs. FE Carlson & Mrs. EL Cornings

1965 Esther Vaughn

1964 Barlow

1963 Grapp

1962 Gaptil

1961 Leren

1960 Lappero

1959 Johnson

1958 Engman