One World, One Valley Awards honor quiet excellence

They are often considered to be the quiet leaders of our communities. Some of them have risen to the status of more formal leaders, but for the 17 men and women being honored at the 10th annual One World, One Valley Awards on Monday evening, recognition is not the intent of their work.

The award ceremony, which has come to be known as the Unsung Hero Awards, recognizes the community's "worker bees," who function mostly behind the scenes. They give their time and energy to help others and bridge the gaps that sometimes exist among the diverse cultures and ethnicities throughout the Yakima Valley.

Although 17 people will be honored, just three will walk away with the crystal globe awards. Past winners include Lee Paggett, Steve Hill, Alice Pleasant and Steve Gaulke. Last year's winners were the Rev. Dave Roberts, Cyndi Mullenhoff and Virginia "Judee" Hassanin.

Each year, winners are selected by an eight-person panel made up of past award recipients and other select community members, including Herald-Republic editor Sarah Jenkins, who chairs the group.

Here are the 2008 nominees, in alphabetical order:

* Paul Almedia of Yakima, nominated for his dedication to humanity and hospice programs.

* Henry Beauchamp of Yakima, for his decades of service through OIC of Washington and the Southeast Yakima Community Center and as the first African-American mayor of Yakima.

* Al Bradley of Yakima, who was instrumental in starting the Southeast Yakima Sports League, was a coach for a number of Grid Kids teams, mentors children and has worked as one of the organizers of the annual "care day" for homeless veterans.

* Dale Carpenter of Yakima, who has volunteered for the March of Dimes, Salvation Army and Operation Harvest, among many other community efforts.

* Rosemary Falon of Yakima, who was called "the Yakima community piano accompanist" for her service in local churches, funeral homes, schools and other organizations.

* Brian Hetzer of Yakima, who started Servant's Heart Outreach at Stone Church and serves as executive director of Love INC of Yakima.

* Gail Huibregste of Wapato, who has been a teacher at Wapato High School for 29 years and has been involved in many community and youth activities in Wapato.

* Evelyn Kohler of Yakima, who has spearheaded many of the improvements and changes at the historic Woman's Century Club home.

* Holland Lewis of Yakima, who as pastor of West Valley Church has continued several community outreach groups and has established Hispanic Ministries, Primetime CARE and Upward Soccer.

* David Lynx of Yakima, who is curator for information design for the Yakima Valley Museum and has been an important part of Yakima's "Big Read," GEAR UP, the Larson Gallery Guild and the Yakima Enological Society.

* Maureen Monahan of Zillah, who moved to Toppenish more than 30 years ago and since then has contributed time and energy to projects such as the Toppenish Community Chest, the literacy group First Book and the Buena Library.

* Luz Monroy of Yakima, who is director of operations at La Casa Hogar and has been instrumental in encouraging Latino participation at the YMCA, at Hoover Elementary School and in the East Yakima Learning Initiative.

* Opal Myhres of Yakima, who is the state librarian for the Daughters of the American Revolution and is very active in the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society, Daughters of American Colonists and Mount Olive Lutheran Church.

* Mark Nedrow of Selah, who has taken on a "mission" of aiding others through all kinds of help and gifts to individuals and local groups.

* Gregory Sawyer of Yakima, who is committed to developing the next generation of leaders through the Boy Scouts and other local groups. "He sets the bar and then coaches people up and over it," according to his nomination.

* Benjamin Soria of Yakima, who, as superintendent of the Yakima School District, is dedicated to excellence in education for all students.

* John Urlacher of Yakima, who was described in his nomination as "the most selfless person I know" for all the help he provides to people throughout the community.