May 5, 1998 Contact Pauline Austin (541) 346-3129 EUGENE--The University of Oregon College of Education Alumni Society has recognized four Lane County residents and one business for significant contributions to education. The alumni society established the awards in 1997 to recognize the "quiet heroes" who contribute their time behind the scenes to school districts throughout Oregon. John Halgren, principal of Ridgeview Elementary School, received the Distinguished Alumnus award for his outstanding contributions as a school administrator in the Springfield School District. Halgren has been an administrator for the district for 25 years. He is president-elect of the UO Alumni Association and is a past president of the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators. Rick Hayes, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers park ranger, received the Friend of Education award. Hayes has been a key volunteer in "A Tale of Two Rivers," the three-year project in watershed studies of the Willamette and McKenzie rivers. The project, funded primarily by the Eugene Water and Electric Board, involved about 1,800 students from eight middle and high schools in the Eugene 4J, Bethel and McKenzie school districts. Hayes helped write grant proposals and assisted the Eugene school district in developing partnerships with other government and community agencies participating in the project. Julie DePauw, principal of Riverbend Elementary School in Springfield, received the Educational Excellence award. DePauw was honored for her leadership role in establishing one of three new schools constructed in the district since 1980. She became principal of Riverbend in 1996, one year before the new school opened. Judith Reyneke received the Community Award for her work behind the scenes as a volunteer at three Eugene schools: Gilham Elementary School, Cal Young Middle School and Sheldon High School. Reyneke is the president of People for Cal Young, the school's parent organization, and tutors both struggling students and the academically gifted. She was nominated not only for her own outstanding work as a volunteer, but also for her successful recruitment of other parent volunteers. The Siuslaw Valley Bank received the Business/Education Partnership Award for its support of students in the Oakridge School District. The bank has donated $360 to the district to allow students with orthopedic impairments to swim at the Easter Seal Pool in Eugene each week. Employees at the bank also "adopted" a second grade classroom. They spend an hour a week tutoring students in the class and help arrange field trips and special speakers. Oakridge Branch Manager Cheryl Smith accepted the award for her bank which has a policy of supporting education. -30- #G-6101/Local