In The News: Community awards highlight selflessness, service

Written by: Seth Gordon, Newberg Graphic 

Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce and school district honor those who work on behalf of others

Shining the spotlight on those who dedicate their time to serving others, especially students, was among the highlights Friday at the Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce Newberg Community Awards banquet, as three of the major awards came in the realm of education.

The chamber bestowed its Volunteer Organization of the Year award to the parent group responsible for running student resource rooms at five local schools and named school board student representative Capri Wheaton as its Junior Citizen of the Year.

Continuing on that theme, Newberg Public Schools presented psychologist Dr. Jeri Turgesen, clinic manager Elise Yarnell and intern Danny Rodriguez of the Providence Newberg Multi-Specialty Clinic with its Partner in Education award.

After the school district announced that several current and former students had committed suicide in span of a few months, the trio from Providence jumped in with both feet to help identify students in crisis and either provide treatment or help connect them to other health professionals.

In addition, Turgesen, Yarnell and Rodriguez have continued to work with the district to develop a cooperative and systematic approach to student mental health. That has included providing tools for screening, extensive staff training at the school, and participating in monthly consultation meetings around students.

Rodriguez, who is bilingual and working toward his doctorate at George Fox University, often met with students at school, either because they would otherwise have been unable to access services or hadn't yet been connected with a provider to provide ongoing treatment.

"They have voluntarily given their time and expertise and the resources that Providence Medical Group specialty clinic has," Schamp said. "They have just leveraged that in ways that you just dream that a community partner would do and far above what we would have expected."

The chamber recognized the "Resource Room Volunteers" for providing a different, but also much needed service, for students in the Newberg area by opening four new centers where students can receive free food, personal hygiene and clothing items.

Parent leader Emily Chlumak helped lead the district's first resource room at Chehalem Valley Middle School for two years before helping to establish a second at Newberg High School this year.

Rooms have also been opened this school year at Mountain View Middle School, Dundee Elementary and Mabel Rush Elementary, meaning five of the district's 10 buildings have one now.

Among the other leaders and co-leaders are: Holly Gaunt (NHS), Sarah Foster and Mindi Hynes (Chehalem Valley), Melanee Henkes and Emily Garrick-Steenson (Dundee) and Sonya Reed and Misty Marie (Mabel Rush).

"The process really is that someone steps up at their school to lead and sees the good it's causing at other schools, the support and community connection it creates for people to be able to contribute to our most vulnerable kids," Chlumak said. "So when they see it, it's like, 'Why doesn't our school have it? I guess I'll do it.'"

In addition to serving as one of three student representatives on the school board, Wheaton is an active volunteer through groups like the Rotary Interact Club and National Honor Society. A junior, Wheaton also serves in a number of student leadership positions, ranging from Associated Student Body representative and administration liaison to NHS Site Council member.

"Capri is determined to help be an advocate and voice for those who would otherwise not be heard," NHS Principal Kyle Laier said. "There is no doubt that Capri will be successful no matter where she goes or what she does in life, because she has both the intellect and personality to achieve whatever she sets her mind to."