Donations

Baker Boyer bank donated $32,500 from its Legacy Giving Grant Program to be distributed to nonprofits and organizations in Walla Walla, Milton-Freewater, Tri-Cities and Yakima in response to the coronavirus pandemic and its continued impact on the most vulnerable people. These donations focus on food insecurity, providing support to low-income individuals facing challenges of homelessness, access to health care, and those seeking refuge from domestic violence.

In the Tri-Cities, grant recipients were Second Harvest, $5,000 to support increased need for food assistance, including specific programs such as the Hanford Feeding Families Fundraiser and Red Nose Day (in addition to the $5,000 donated earlier in the year) and Grace Clinic, $2,500 to support the volunteers and staff that provide medical, dental and mental health services to low-income uninsured residents of Benton and Franklin counties.

Accreditation

• The Central Washington University College of Business in Ellensburg has received continuing accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, joining about 5% of business schools globally that have earned the designation. CWU was among 73 business schools that received continuing accreditation this year by AACSB, a global nonprofit association that connects educational institutions and businesses in more than 100 countries and territories worldwide. CWU first achieved AASCB accreditation in 2010. After initial recognition, schools undergo comprehensive “continuous-improvement” peer reviews every five years to reaffirm accreditation.

Scholarships

• Peter Hale of Benton City, Aspen Peters of Prosser, Scott Barfuss of West Richland, Jazzell Tovar of Prosser and Brad Dowson of West Richland each received an $8,000 Benton REA academic scholarship to aid with college or university tuition.

Thirty-eight students applied for the cooperative’s academic scholarships. No applications were received this year for Benton REA’s two $4,000 trade and technical scholarships.

When unclaimed ownership credit checks are returned to Benton REA, the cooperative uses the money to fund member education programs, including scholarships for students whose parents or guardians are members of Benton REA. Ownership credits are Benton REA members’ equity share of the cooperative. Since forming in 1937, Benton REA has paid more than $15.5 million in ownership credits back to its member-owners.

The academic scholarship committee determines recipients by reviewing applicants’ high school grade-point average  and 500-word essay. The cooperative’s academic scholarships are distributed in increments of $2,000 per school year. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher to maintain the scholarship.

New Hires

• Ashley Amey, a certified physician assistant, has joined Miramar Health Center in Pasco. She earned her master of science in physician assistant studies at Stony Brook University in New York. She’s particularly interested in helping women get the best health care they can and making sure transgender adolescents feel comfortable talking through all their health care needs.
• Keri Lashbaugh has joined Edward Jones as a financial advisor in Kennewick. She began her career in finance in 2002 in the Walla Walla Valley and has worked as a financial advisor since 2007. She’s been proud to call the Tri Cities home for five years. She offers financial strategies to individuals, families and business owners. Her areas of focus include investment management, retirement planning, college savings, insurance planning and estate considerations. She is excited to learn about what motivates her clients, understand what they’d like to accomplish and to help them to live life on their terms. She holds a master of science degree in personal financial planning from the College for Financial Planning. She serves as a committee member of Habitat for Humanity and board member of the Kennewick Kiwanis Young Professionals Club.

Promotion

• Amy Spurlock, formerly market success manager for Northwest Cancer Clinic with offices in Kennewick and Hermiston, has been promoted to regional compliance officer. She will assume her role with GenesisCare USA, covering the western division centers in Washington, Oregon, California and Nevada. GenesisCare USA acquired Northwest Cancer Clinic in 2020.

Appointments

• Trios Health in Kennewick has appointed two chief residents for the hospital system’s family and internal medicine residency programs. Dr. Brandon Hanley has been selected as chief resident for the Family Medicine Residency program, and Dr. Matthew Kheir has been chosen for the Internal Medicine Residency program. They will serve as chief residents for one year, starting July 1.
  Chief residents provide leadership within a medical residency program by teaching, facilitating conferences, supervising, scheduling, implementing policy, mediating and serving as role models for other residents.

• Framatome named Adam Kornbau as Engineer of the Year at the Fuel Business Unit in Richland. Candidates are nominated by their peers. They are evaluated based on their contributions to their business unit during the year and how well they exemplify operational excellence through their commitment to safety, quality, performance, delivery, innovation and community involvement.

Awards & Honors

• Sonja Yearsley of Sonja Photography in Kennewick was named the 2021 Photographer of the Year during Professional Photographers of Washington’s 2021 Photographic Competition in March. She also won several other awards including Washington State Photographer of the Year, Illustrative Photographer of the Year, Best Photojournalism for “Wagging Tails on Happy Trails,” Judge’s Choice for “I like long walks on the beach,” Honor Court for “I like long walks on the beach,” and the American Color Imaging Excellence Award.
• Jason Hogue, an American Family Insurance agency owner in the Tri-Cities, has been recognized for providing an outstanding customer experience under the American Star Excellence in Customer Experience Certification Program. Hogue has been an agency owner for American Family since May 2011. His agency office is at 5109 N. Road 68, Suite D, Pasco.
• Navigate Wireless, which has offices in Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, has been named a 2020 “Elite Performer” by UScellular for the sales and operational excellence their locations in Washington and Oregon displayed throughout the year. The recognition is awarded annually by UScellular to its best-performing exclusive retail agents that meet specific goals across a range of categories. Navigate Wireless is one of 17 independently-owned businesses across the country that received this honor for its 2020 performance.