NAWGJ WA

 Announcements

Lee Bjella has been chosen for the 2018 NAWGJ Green Flag recipient posthumously for her amazing technology talents.  Our Region 2 recipient is Devany Plentovich and the National recipient is Lee's dear friend Winnie Witten.  Devany and Winnie will be honored at the NAWGJ Symposium banquet in July. 

Priscilla Hickey has been chosen for the NAWGJ Helping Hands Symposium Award because of her contributions to our organization, which have been many and greatly appreciated.  For this award she will have her registration paid and an additional $325.00 from NAWGJ Helping Hands.  Congratulations Priscilla!

Donna Lucero- 2008 Judge of the Year

DONNA LUCERO, a great contributor to Washington gymnastics, passed away on Thursday, November 29th after a short battle with cancer.

Donna started judging high school in 1972 encouraged by friends Pat Hatmaker and Kay Canedy. She was a founding member of Washington NAWGJ and later went on to become the NAWGJ State Director from 1989 – 1994. She judged for over 30 years in Washington State and Region 2 achieving what was then an Elite rating.

Donna will best be remembered for the mentoring she provided to new judges and her strong advocacy for high school gymnastics programs in Washington. Donna worked with school districts and WIAA administration to promote the value of high school gymnastics and advocated for the sport to be expanded and treated similarly to football and basketball. Donna was always the first to welcome and encourage new judges often inviting them into her home to learn from her experience. She had the unique ability to judge and explain at the same time, all with an encouraging smile on her face. Through her efforts Washington gained many new judges who are still actively judging today.

In 2008 she was inducted into the USAG Washington Hall of Fame and was also honored as the Washington Officials Association (WOA) Judge of the Year. In 2010 she was the inducted into the WOA Hall of Fame and remains the only gymnastics official to receive this honor.

Donna will be greatly missed by family and friends in the gymnastics community.

Services will be held on Friday, December 7th at 11:00am at St. Mary’s Church in Monroe (601 W. Columbia St). The family has requested no flowers but donations may be made to Catholic community services or a charity of choice in Donna’s name.

Please congratulate Priscilla Hickey- 2018 Regional Judge of the Year

Three great judges!  Laurie Reid, Priscilla Hickey, Laurel Tindall

Judges - If you need a replacement at your assigned meet- CALL Michelle Ripple- immediately. Do NOT get your own replacement.

If you are contacted privately by a club to do a NON-SANCTIONED intersquad - notify Michelle Ripple in writing for NAWGJ insurance purposes.

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