Awards, Scholarships & Presidents

For many years, the Rotary Club of Washington, Iowa has given a number of awards and scholarships for dedication to the community or to the Club. We also have an almost century of club presidents and leaders.

Washington Rotary Club Scholarships

This scholarship to area high school seniors was established in 1966. Most years, there have been two scholarships awards. In 2013 and since 1998, each scholarship was for $1,500. The funding to award these scholarships comes from Rotary fund raising activities. For the past 15+ years, the primary event that funds scholarships has been the Annual Turkey Dinner, held each September at the United Methodist Church, which feeds almost 800 people.

Congratulations to the present and past Washington Rotary Club Scholarship Winners!

2018  Meredith Raber
2018  Trevor Moravec
2018  Mark Engelken
2017  Reid Basten
2017  John Dillon
2017  Alexis Turner
2016  McKenna Brinning
2016  Libby Schnicker
2015  Kyle Basten
2015  Emily Vittetoe
2014  Katlynn Wellington
2013  Lauren Kimball
2013  Johannah Vittetoe
2012  Brock Kimball
2012  Alex Thode
2011  Mirassa Gaal
2011  Jordan Hoffman
2010  Nolan Breard
2010  Paige Dieleman
2009  Kyle Blakeney
2009  Zachariah Nebel
2008  Deidre Dickinson
2008  Donavon Greiner
2007  Julie Bartmann
2007  Kathy Mostek
2006  Kristen Gilmere
2006  Katherine Mitchell
2005  Tallynna Ryan
2005  Marissa Stout
2004  Stephanie Liebe
2004  Cody Negrete
2003  Hillari Hoerschelman
2003  Robert Roe
2002  Tiffany Chalupa
2002  Joshua Emry
2001  Jennifer Carr
2001  Jennifer Goedken
2000  Jacob Boyd
2000  Nicole Guy
1999  Katie Lewis
1999  Amy McFarlane
1998  Nicole Harris
1998  Erin Richardson
1997  Zachary Conway
1997  Nicole Wehr
1996  Brandy Remington
1996  Terra Swift
1995  Kent Davison
1995  Sarah Lindmeier
1994  Michelle Blum
1994  Aaron Schaver
1993  Linda Fritz
1993  Joni Kurtz
1992  Andrew Bartlett
1992  Kathleen McConnell
1991  Aira Hazell
1991  Nancy Kleese
1990  Heidi Crone
1990  Ted Drain
1989  Steven Mullan
1989  Janelle Murphy
1988  Angela Mouser
1988  Ruth Potratz
1987  Mary Ann Nebel
1987  Candi Wagler
1986  Ann Hennigan
1986  Lori Shepherd
1985  Tom Arnold
1985  Jane Rosien
1984  Lynelle Nieman
1984  Bruce Schnicker
1983  Krista Flory
1983  Tim Reschly
1982  Jody Bandy
1982  Lora Howell
1981  Narda Dunbar
1981  Scott Schnicker
1980  Wendy Bandy
1980  Sherri Knight
1979  Galen Crawford
1978  James McEldoon
1977  (no info, sorry)
1976  Stephanie Cousins
1976  Teri Giardino
1975  Lori Hotchkiss
1975  Jolene Roth
1974  Michael Schooley
1974  Roy Wilson
1973  Jim Humston
1973  Mike Mitchell
1972  Colleen Venzke
1971  Carmen Black
1970  Donna Proudfit
1970  Judy Roth
1969  Stephen Gardner
1969  Russell Green
1968  Barbara Humston
1967  Arthur Potratz
1966  Illa Mae Earnest

John Prochaska Rotary Service Award
Rotary awards the John Prochaska Rotary Service Award to a Washington High School senior for their commitment to serving others.

John Prochaska was a family man, educator, businessman, Rotarian, and an avid community booster. His "love thy neighbor" philosophy aided him in being a skilled organizer, negotiator, and peacemaker. He promoted community betterment throughout his life. He was proud of Washington and believed "it's the best place to live and raise a family."

Rotary donates $100 to the Washington Betterment Foundation (established by William Sitler) in the name of the selected student.

2018  Jessica Hora
2017  Aaron Vittetoe
2016  Libby Schnicker
2015  Kyle Basten
2014  MaryKate Horak
2013  Samantha Ellingson
2012  Carissa Pascual
2011  Kathleen Kennedy
2010  Nicholas Kleese
2009  Mike Adrian
2008  Katie Threlkeld
2007  Meliah Marie
2006  Jacayla Vittetoe
2005  Mary Beth Harris
2004  Lindsay Vittetoe
2003  Tony Caldwell
2002  Caroline Capper
2001  Chris Bauer
2000  Cheyenne Cuddeback
1999  Sara Trcka
1998  Karin Dallmeyer

Bill Sitler Rotary Community Service Award

Since 1953, the Washington Rotary Club has recognized an individual that is making a difference in our community, whether for a single outstanding service, or as a lifetime achievement. In 2007, the award was renamed the Bill Sitler Rotary Community Service Award.

William (Bill) Sitler's life exemplified the Rotary motto "Service above Self." Sitler was a family man, business entrepreneur, volunteer, and the ultimate Rotarian. His humor, determination, and commitment to serve others left an indelible mark on Washington. His quote "May I never miss a sunrise or sunset because I am looking down" captures Bill's philosophy.

Rotary makes a $100 donation to the charity or organization of the selected awardees choice.

2018  Lyle Moen
2017  Bob Ruppert
2016  Don Patterson (Past District Governor)
2015  Max Cousins
2014  Jim & Margaret Dunn
2013  Carl Dallmeyer
2012  Jim Gorham
2011  Joe McConnell
2010  Dave Stoufer
2009  John Hays
2008  Margaret Wolf
2007  Lee Buchholz
2006  Bonnie Boshart and Bert Jaspering
2005  The Andy Ross Family
2004  Lil Perry
2003  Marde McConnell
2002  Ione Burham
2001  Gary Murphy
2000  Dick Colby
1999  Bob Day
1998  John Moenck
1997  Boyd White
1996  Bob Toland
1995  Harvey Holden
1994  Mike Worley
1993  Washington Economic Development Group
1992  Mike Orris
1991  Karen Gorham
1990  James Eash
1989  Kathy Cuddeback
1988  J. Roland Crandall
1987  John Prochaska
1986  Paul Shearer
1985  William and Hazel Sitler
1984  E. Kelly Schlapkol
1983  Percy Holder
1982  David Elder
1981  Charles Morris
1980  Bob Huber
1979  Dorthy Helscher
1978  Mary Koehler
1977  Louie Jones
1976  W. Carlton Bump
1975  E.D. Morrison
1974  Ralph Martin
1973  Walter Farrell
1972  Cornie Day
1971  Lucy McGaffey
1970  Theodore Johnson
1969  Marion McAvoy
1968  Ralph Bauer
1967  Hugo Lensch
1966  Richard McCleery
1965  William Perdock
1964  Dr. C.A. Boice
1963  Roberts Evertts
1962  Dr. Murry McCreedy
1961  Walter Smith
1960  Ralph Shannon
1959  Marr Schell
1958  John Winga Sr.
1957  Glen Mace
1956 Bruce Cowden
1955  Lee Holland
1954 Artemas Brown
1953  Cloid Willits

Rotarian of the Year

The recipient of this award has demonstrated outstanding service to our club. Rotary donates $100 to the Rotary Foundation, toward a Paul Harris Fellowship for the awardee.

2018  Sue Baston
2017  Denise Erpelding
2016  Terry Engelken
2015  Nancy Rash
2014  James Mostek
2013  Ed Raber
2012  Susan Wellington
2011  Rebecca Patterson
2010  Emory VanGerpen
2009  Paul Horak
2008  Cheryl Kurtz
2007  Kent Dallmeyer
2006  Donal Patterson
2005  Mary Ann Drain
2004  Gary Murphy
2003  Richard Colby
2002  Bob Ruppert and James Eash
2001  Craig Davis
2000  Curt Wyse
1999  Leonard Goeke
1998  Dr. Ann Harris
1997  Charles Morris
1996  William Sitler
1995  Paul Shearer

Past Presidents of the Rotary Club of Washington

The Rotary Club of Washington was founded in 1921, just 16 years after Paul Harris and colleagues held their first Rotary meeting in Chicago in 1905. Women were first invited to join the club in the early 1990s, and the first woman club president was Dr. Ann Harris. Since then many women have served as club president.

2018-19  Lynn Koch
2017-18  Michelle Redlinger
2016-17  Cheryl Kurtz
2015-16  Tsalika Drown Rich  (first pregnant president)
2014-15  Susan Wellington 
2013-14  Rebecca Patterson 
2012-13  Terry Engelken
2011-12  Denise Erpelding 
2010-11  Nancy Rash 
2009-10  Jim Mostek
2008-09  Myron Graber
2007-08  Sue Basten 
2006-07  Timothy Coffey
2005-06  Chris Marshall 
2004-05  Rev. Scott Nesbitt
2003-04  Don Patterson
2002-03  Eric Goers
2001-02  Mary Ann Drain 
2000-01  Paul I. Horak
1999-00  Rev. Brian Gentz
1998-99  Bert Turner 
1997-98  Kent Dallmeyer
1996-97  Stan Carlson
1995-96  Walt Stutzman
1994-95  Dr. Ann Harris  * 1st woman club president
1993-94  Robert Kennedy
1992-93  Craig Davis
1991-92  Robert Toland
1990-91  Dave Snow
1989-90  John Prochaska
1988-89  Bill Burns
1987-88  Rev. George Bishop
1986-87  Darwin Sherman
1985-86  Leonard DeHoet
1984-85  Jim Gorham
1983-84  Charles Morris
1982-83  J. Roland Crandall
1981-82  Tom Doughty
1980-81  John Moenck
1979-80  Robert Day
1978-79  Jerry Malin
1977-78  John Scheldrup
1976-77  Richard Colby
1976-77  Pete Peterson
1975-76  James Eash
1974-75  Richard Myren
1973-74  Walter Farrell
1972-73  Gary Murphy
1971-72  Richard Gipple
1970-71  Richard R. Colby
1969-70  Marion S. McAvoy
1968-69  Roy A. Hodges
1967-68  Stan Kiesey
1966-67  Jim McQuaid
1965-66  E. Kelly Schlapkohl
1964-65  Judson F. Mallory
1963-64  William C. Sitler
1962-63  E.D. Morrison, Jr.
1961-62  Robert Everetts
1960-61  George C. Stewart
1959-60  William Tweeten
1958-59  Murry L. McCreedy
1957-58  John Winga
1956-57  Willis Jones
1955-56  Art Brown
1955-56  Jay Brewer
1954-55  William J. Grossheim
1953-54  L.J. Kehoe
1952-53  Melvin Hill
1951-52  Hugo Lensch
1950-51  L. Cloid Willits
1949-50  M. Marr Schell
1948-49  Fred E. Miller
1947-48  Maurice J. Cruise
1946-47  George Kerr
1945-46  Charles R. Wilson
1944-45  Clyde A. Boice
1943-44  W.A. Erbe
1942-43  Frank L. Kos
1941-42  Harland W. Mead
1940-41  LeRoy Pratt
1939-40  Harry W. Ramseyer
1938-39  Frank B. Miller
1937-38  William A. Alcorn
1936-37  Henry B. Bailey
1935-36  Charles W. Davis
1934-35  Louie A. Jones
1933-34  Shirley A. Clark
1932-33  Arbor W. Clow
1931-32  Loyd F. Morrison
1930-31  H.H. McCleery
1929-30  Ed B. Hammer
1928-29  J.H. Peet
1927-28  E.E. Stutsman
1926-27  Marsh W. Bailey
1925-26  Ralph E. Shannon
1924-25  W.M. Keeley
1923-24  Orville Elder
1922-23  Frank L. Wilson
1921-22  James D. Glasgow