Thursday, October 1, 2026
WENATCHEE — Each year, former Wenatchee Valley College students can be found leading classrooms, running businesses, strengthening social services and volunteering in communities across North Central Washington. The WVC Foundation is once again asking the public to help identify those stories.
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award, an annual honor recognizing alumni whose professional achievements, community contributions and personal integrity reflect the college’s long-standing role in the region. Submissions are due by March 27.
Established in 1975, the award celebrates graduates who have translated their time at WVC into meaningful work locally and beyond. To be eligible, nominees must have attended the college for at least one year. Self-nominations are permitted, and teams or groups may be considered if all members are alumni.
In recent years, the recognition has highlighted a wide range of careers and service: 2025 recipient Bertha Sanchez, director of counseling services at WVC; 2024 honoree Ricardo Escobedo, a clinical social worker; 2023 award winner Dennis Carlton, an Omak entrepreneur; 2022 community volunteer Darrel Dickenson; and Eastmont educator Jaime Ramirez in 2020.
Foundation leaders say the award is as much about the community as it is about the individual recipient, offering a chance for colleagues, friends and family members to publicly recognize people whose work often unfolds quietly in classrooms, offices, clinics and nonprofit organizations.
The honor also underscores the college’s reach across the region, with alumni contributing to education, health care, business, public service and civic life throughout North Central Washington.
Nominations must be submitted online at bit.ly/2026_wvc_alumni_award.
Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here