Federal Way Public Schools (FWPS) is committed to making a difference in the lives of every scholar, but the truth is schools and the district cannot do it alone. On Saturday, April 22, 2017 the district hosted the second annual Heroes Banquet to celebrate community partners who help reach and teach FWPS scholars.

“Families, schools, and community who collaborate together build stronger supports for our scholars,” said Dr. Tammy Campbell, FWPS superintendent. “The Heroes Banquet celebrates our extraordinary efforts our community partners engage in on a daily basis to ensure each of our scholars reach their full potential.”

Over 100 community members, FWPS board members, principals, administrators, students, and parents attended the event held at Todd Beamer High School.

Student voice is central to achieving the district’s vision of reaching and teaching scholars’ academic and social emotional needs in FWPS. Staying true to that mission, the event was emceed by Phillip Philbrick, Lea Kordyshevskiy and Jameyah Rogers — student advisors to the superintendent. Other student advisors including, Benny Sanchez, Paul Kwon and Lepa Fuamaila volunteered as ushers and helped hand out trophies to honorees. Student Mikayla Reedy read a poem that captured the essence of being a community partner, and the audience enjoyed musical performances by Lakota Middle School choir and the Decatur High School jazz band.

Each school, and the district, nominated people or organizations who have made a difference at each site. The honorees are as follows:

Elementary school honorees:
• Adelaide Elementary School: St. Luke’s Lutheran Church
• Brigadoon Elementary School: Ben Campbell, Little Ceasars Owner
• Camelot Elementary School: West Hill Church
• Enterprise Elementary School: Joanne McDaniel
• Green Gables Elementary School: Melanie Dawn Buxton
• Lake Dolloff Elementary School: DaVita
• Lake Grove Elementary School: The Church of the Good Shepherd
• Lakeland Elementary School: Smile Partners
• Mark Twain Elementary School: All Saints Lutheran Church
• Meredith Hill Elementary School: Dwayne Bell, Watch D.O.G.S.
• Mirror Lake Elementary School: Kid Reach Tutoring Program
• Nautilus K–8: Alaska Airlines Stores Department
• Olympic View Elementary School: Robert Dockstader
• Panther Lake Elementary School: Miles Tolentino
• Rainier View Elementary School: Brandy Woods
• Sherwood Forest Elementary School: SOMA Federal Way
• Silver Lake Elementary School: Seattle Tracon
• Star Lake Elementary School: Gideon Mission Church
• Sunnycrest Elementary School: Captain John Paluska
• Twin Lakes Elementary School: Deseret Industries
• Valhalla Elementary School: Meggin Hunt
• Wildwood Elementary School: Terri Wolfe
• Woodmont K–8: Leslie Graham, UW Physicians, Des Moines Clinic

Secondary school honorees:
• Decatur High School: Pastor Franklin Dailey, Overcomer Covenant Church
• Employment Transition Program: Trillium Employment Services
• Federal Way High School: Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2886
• Federal Way Open Doors: Multi Service Center
• Federal Way Public Academy: Doug and Dawn Dale
• Illahee Middle School: Shyan Selah
• Kilo Middle School: South King County Fire and Rescue
• Lakota Middle School: Museum of Flight
• Sacajawea Middle School: Christ’s Church
• Saghalie Middle School: Pastor Scott Dungan
• Sequoyah Middle School: Jacob Sonnen, Boy Scouts of America
• TAF Academy: Susanne McIntyre
• Thomas Jefferson High School: Open Doors for Multicultural Families
• Todd Beamer High School: Life Way Church
• Totem Middle School: Bikes for Kids
• Truman Campus: Lawrence Garrett, Advancing Leadership

FWPS district honorees:
• CHI Franciscan Health
• Deep Dive 3 partners including:

o Communities in Schools of Federal Way
o Community Café
o Darlene Coleman
o Good Shepherd Youth Outreach
o Josh Coleman
o Leap4Kidz
o Multi-Service Center
o Open Doors for Multicultural Families
o STEMTAC 
o Teresa Garcia

• Federal Way Community Caregiving Network
• Integrity Life Church