Michelle Song
Volunteers are the heart of The Mountaineers operations, and this past year was no exception. A heartfelt thank you to the more than 3,000 members who generously gave their time during Fiscal Year 2025 (October 2024–September 2025), and to the many others who supported us from afar. Your contributions have truly made a difference.
At the start of each year, we recognize a select group of volunteers who went above and beyond to support our programs. Among the thousands of dedicated individuals powering The Mountaineers, we’re excited to celebrate our 2025 Volunteer Award recipients. Please join us in congratulating these exceptional volunteers who have earned a Branch Service Award or an Organization-Wide Award.
table of contents
- Bellingham Branch Service Award
- Everett Branch Larry Ingalls Distinguished Service Award
- Foothills Branch Service Award
- Kitsap Branch Service Award
- Olympia Branch Service Award
- Seattle Branch Service Award
- Tacoma Branch Service Award
- Outdoor Centers Service Award
- The Mountaineers Service Award
- The Mountaineers Leader of the Year Award
- Martinique Grigg Leadership in Youth Education Award
BRANCH SERVICE AWARDS
BELLINGHAM BRANCH SERVICE AWARD
Tim Schafermeyer
Tim joined The Mountaineers in 2021 already bringing significant climbing experience. They earned Basic Course Equivalency and dove straight into the Intermediate Course in 2022 - knocking out nearly all coursework and volunteer requirements in their first year. They quickly became a glacier rope leader and began assisting on climbs.
By the following year, Tim had become a Climb Leader, leading Intermediate climbs like Mount Triumph and harder routes on The Tooth. That same year, they served as the Basic Course Instructor Coordinator, keeping the Basic Course running smoothly and everyone moving in the same direction.
In 2024, Tim stepped into the role of Bellingham’s Board of Directors Representative. They also contributed for multiple years to revising the Basic Course student manual. If there’s a better “Sultan of the Spreadsheet” or “Wizard of Word and Web,” we haven’t met them yet.
Tim was recognized as a Mountaineers Super Volunteer in 2022, 2023, and 2024, logging 150+ volunteer hours each year. By the end of 2024, they had completed all requirements to graduate from the Intermediate Course. And then, as if that wasn’t enough, Tim handed off their Board Of Directors Representative role and stepped up as Climbing Committee Chair. Recently, they’ve put major effort into clarifying and promoting leadership pathways within the Branch, and it’s paying off, with a big surge in rope lead and climb lead applications this year.
Outside The Mountaineers, Tim also serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Bellingham Running Club and somehow still finds time to organize an outstanding trail race each year on Blanchard Mountain.
Thank you, Tim!
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LARRY INGALLS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
Rodica Manole
Throughout her years of involvement, Rodica has exemplified the spirit of volunteerism and community that defines The Mountaineers. She has played an instrumental role in strengthening our climbing programs, mentoring new leaders, and fostering collaboration across branches with programs like Alpine Ambassadors.
A silent contribution that shouldn’t be overlooked is the amount of financial support she brings to the Everett Branch because of her employer matching program for the hundreds of hours she volunteers every year.
Her commitment to inclusivity has elevated the quality of our educational programs and inspired countless members to grow, lead, and give back to The Mountaineers.
Thank you, Rodica!
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Foothills Branch Service Award
Liz McNett Crowl and Magda Bojarska
Liz joined The Mountaineers in 2013, and over the years has become one of the Foothills Branch’s most influential and far-reaching volunteers. From expanding beginner-friendly hiking opportunities to strengthening urban walking programs and representing Foothills at the organizational level, her work has helped open the outdoors to countless new members. She co-created the GoHike: Beginning Hiking Course — now a flagship entry point for new hikers — and later expanded that pathway through the GoHike Alumni Course, and has facilitated meaningful stewardship partnerships that have connected hundreds of participants to hands-on conservation work. As founder and chair of the Foothills Urban Walks Committee, a leader and instructor across multiple activities, and the Foothills Branch’s elected representative to The Mountaineers Board of Directors, she has consistently combined vision, follow-through, and mentorship in service of our community.
Magda joined The Mountaineers in 2018 and has become a driving force behind the Foothills Branch’s climbing community. As Chair of the Foothills Climbing Committee, she helps shape the long-term direction of a rapidly growing program, overseeing courses, supporting instructors, and creating a welcoming, confidence-building environment for climbers at every level. As a climbing leader and instructor, her impact goes far beyond technical skills. She is known for mentoring new climbers and leaders, strengthening community, and helping members find their place in the mountains. In addition to her climbing leadership, she serves the Branch through roles on the Foothills Branch Council and as Chair of the Strategic Investment Sub-committee, where she ensures member-directed donations are used thoughtfully to support volunteers and sustain the Branch’s future.
Thank you, Liz and Magda!
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Kitsap Branch Service Award
Tom Finley
Tom has been a Mountaineers member since 2018. In that time, he has graduated from Basic Alpine Climbing, completed multiple AIARE courses and Climbing Self-Rescue, and stepped into key volunteer leadership roles. He is a Scramble Leader, Climb Leader, Glacier Climb Rope Leader, and Conditioning Leader, and has also been a Super Volunteer and Key Leader for multiple years.
As our Branch Gear Officer, Tom helps keep climbers and scramblers safe by inspecting, maintaining, and replacing branch gear. He has taught both levels of Climbing Self-Rescue and the Outdoor Leadership course for several years. In 2025, he also developed and led the Kitsap Branch’s first Sport Climbing course.
Thank you, Tom!
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Olympia Branch Service Award
Bob Keranen
Bob joined The Mountaineers in January 2008 and has logged more than 2,500 volunteer hours — and, as any leader knows, the true total is much higher. He has served as Branch Chair three times, a nine-year commitment across the Chair-Elect, Chair, and Immediate Past Chair roles. He has also led as Climbing Committee Chair and First Aid Committee Chair, holds leader badges in 17 activities, and has achieved Super Volunteer for 11 consecutive years. Bob has been recognized as a Key Leader six times and earned a Key Instructor badge the past two years.
Bob was nominated by multiple Olympia Mountaineers who highlighted his extensive involvement and his steady willingness to help others succeed. As one nominator shared, “He has offered help and assistance any time I needed it — whether inviting me to carpool, supporting my growth in an activity, or being available to answer general or specific questions about the club.” Another wrote, “He has been kind and helpful to all participants, instructors, and students.”
Thank you, Bob!
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Seattle Branch Service Award
Amanda Piro
As a longtime Seattle Branch member, Amanda consistently goes far beyond what we expect of even our most dedicated volunteers. Her leadership, integrity, and deep commitment to our community have made a meaningful and lasting impact on The Mountaineers.
Amanda donates countless hours of her time serving at the highest levels of the organization — as the Vice President of Branches on the Board of Directors and as a member of the Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Prevention Committee. In her VP of Branches role, she serves as the central voice for all branches, advocating for volunteers and ensuring alignment and cohesion across the entire organization.
Her service represents the very best of the Seattle Branch: a volunteer who gives her time, expertise, and heart to strengthen not just her own community, but the experience of every Mountaineer across the organization. When she is not contributing her time as a Board-level volunteer, Amanda enjoys hiking and backpacking, and she is a member of the Intensive Basic Climbing community.
Thank you, Amanda!
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Tacoma Branch Service Award
Jerrick Linde
Jerrick is a high-impact instructor and leader across several of Tacoma’s most skills-intensive programs: Alpine Scrambling, Navigation, Basic Alpine Climbing, Sport Climbing, and Hiking & Backpacking. Over the past year, he led and supported an impressive volume of field activities, showing up consistently, stepping in when needed, and helping ensure programs ran smoothly. Jerrick is also known for strengthening the branch beyond individual trips by mentoring new leaders, encouraging course graduates to return and volunteer, and contributing to program quality through standards work and training improvements. One standout example of his reliability is when Navigation was suddenly at risk of losing a key field-trip location, Jerrick helped secure a replacement within days, keeping the course on track without any cancellation. Through 382 hours of instruction and leadership across Scrambling, Navigation, Climbing, and Hiking/Backpacking, Jerrick strengthened safety and risk management, expanded program capacity, mentored new leaders, and ensured key programs stayed on track.
Thank you, Jerrick!
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Outdoor Centers Service Award
Amalija Kopac and Michael Wynn-Jones
Longtime co-chairs of our Baker Lodge, Amalija and Michael have been instrumental in revitalizing lodge operations though supporting weekend hosts, tightening onsite logistics, and aligning Baker’s systems with our other Outdoor Centers, all while helping advance updated Outdoor Centers charters that strengthen collaboration across all three lodges.
Michael’s steady leadership shows up in the small moments and the big weekends - hosting, running stewardship work parties, and calmly keeping the lodge humming at full capacity. As one guest wrote, “Mike was friendly, professional, and organized even under the pressure of herding and feeding over 80 people at once!”
Amalija brings an equally deep commitment-pairing her lodge leadership with year-round volunteerism as a trip leader and instructor, from local trail-running courses to Global Adventures, then channeling that experience back into Baker to improve guest experience, safety, and community.
Together, Amalija and Michael uphold the welcoming Baker Lodge culture — hot meals, warm bunks, clear communication, and a “pitch-in” spirit, while organizing the volunteer power that keeps the building and its systems running through every season. They’ve championed the work-party tradition and the behind-the-scenes tasks that make Baker feel like home for hundreds of guests each year.
Thank you, Amalija and Michael!
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Organization-wide Awards
The Mountaineer Service Award
Courtenay Schurman
A Mountaineer for 30 years, Courtenay helps people discover and sustain the joy of moving through the outdoors.
In the past fiscal year alone, she led 39 trips impacting 224 people, including 17 CHS hikes with four graduation hikes. She pairs thoughtful route planning with genuine care on trail - coaching pacing, checking in with each participant, and following up with post-hike emails packed with practical tips. Many of our new leaders credit Courtenay’s mentorship for their growth and confidence.
Nominators describe Courtenay as warm, knowledgeable, and relentlessly caring. They shared: “Courtenay is a leader who goes above and beyond. I've been blown away at her commitment as a hike leader. She really gives it her all! On every hike she has this special attention to detail and incredible empathy for whatever is happening for each participant.” One hiker first met her during a series of cold-weather hikes designed to keep folks conditioned through winter. As that hiker grew into a co-leader, they “learned so much” from Courtenay, such as practical strategies for supporting participants in all kinds of scenarios, as well as how to provide calm, compassionate leadership.
Courtenay also invests off-trail, presenting conditioning and wellness seminars through the Leadership Development Series, and sharing naturalist knowledge. Beyond trips and courses, she’s a regular author for Mountaineer magazine and has written 50+ blog posts, all focused on helping people build the fitness, confidence, and skills to keep exploring.
Thank you, Courtenay!
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The Mountaineers Leader of the Year Award
Karen (KT) Trilevsky
In the past fiscal year, KT led 52 trips for 236 registrations, reaching 116 unique participants, and contributing an incredible 1,014 volunteer hours.
KT’s trips are models of safety, learning, and fun, and her calendar shows the breadth of her leadership: day hikes, backpacks, scrambles, mentoring, and instructing, delivered consistently across all seasons and all places, from Cascade Pass the Goat Rocks to the Redwoods. Participants know exactly what to expect, feel supported on trail, and come away with new skills and confidence. As one successful trip participant shared, “The amount of work and the information in the emails are incredible. It was very useful and easy to learn about the hike — I can see the passion and enthusiasm by the leader that is catching. Planning a 5-day hike with all the logistics… I am so thankful for such an ambitious plan."
Most of all, KT creates welcoming, high-trust experiences that keep people coming back, opening doors for first-timers and leveling up returning hikers alike. A new hiker spoke about KT’s influence: “This was my first backpack trip with The Mountaineers and Karen could not have made me feel more welcome. She is a skilled leader that created a very open, collaborative and safe environment. The hike was fabulous start to finish. We knew exactly what to expect… Her attentiveness to every detail is amazing."
Thank you, KT!
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Martinique Grigg Leader in Youth Education Award
Nigel Turner
Nigel has been a steadfast Tacoma Youth Programs volunteer since 2018, long after his daughter graduated from Mountaineer Adventure Club, and this past year alone he contributed 190 volunteer hours supporting MAC youth year-round on snow outings, backcountry skiing, avalanche education, scrambles, and glacier climbs.
Nigel is known for kindness, patience, and steady stoke - especially when the weather turns. He’s the perfect sweep: positive, helpful, and unflappable with any struggler or straggler. Over the past season he instructed on avalanche skills at Paradise, toured at Roaring Ridge, organized Mailbox Peak conditioner nights and Panorama Point scrambles, led Eldorado Peak and Glacier Peak alpine climbs, plus supported summer camp overnights at Tubal Cain Mine, and helped welcome new families at MAC Kick-Off events.
Nigel’s impact shows up in the pipeline. He volunteered as an assistant leader for Teen Backpacking Week, and multiple teens came to MAC kickoff and joined “because Nigel was so awesome!” He does whatever the group needs - teaching, mentoring, sweeping - and always models safety, inclusion, and joy in the mountains.
Thank you, Nigel!
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THANK YOU!
A heartfelt thank you to all of our 2025 Branch Service and Org-Wide Award recipients for their unwavering dedication to our community. We would also like to express our gratitude to all of our Mountaineers volunteers who consistently go above and beyond. Your efforts are truly appreciated. Thank you!
