Olympia Branch Service Award

ABOUT THE AWARD

For service to our Olympia Branch above the call of duty. The Mountaineers Olympia Branch Service Award consists of two plaques, one large plaque listing all recipients with the new name added each year, and a small individual plaque. Each plaque has the recipient's name engraved on it. Recipients also receive a service award pin.

HOW TO OBTAIN

A committee comprised of the three most recent service award recipients chooses the next award recipient (from nominations submitted to the committee from fellow Olympia Branch members). Each award recipient serves a term of three years. The first year, the award recipient becomes the chair of the Service Award Committee. 

Current Recipient

Donna Kreuger

A Mountaineers member since 2013, Donna has held numerous leadership roles across the Olympia Branch and is currently serving as the Chair for the Olympia Hiking and Backpacking Committee. Donna’s dedication has made a lasting impression upon our community. As one of her recent trip participants shared, “Donna is one of a kind.”

Donna’s first Mountaineers engagement was as a student of the Wilderness Skills course in 2013. As she witnessed her course instructors' dedication to volunteerism, she was inspired to follow in their footsteps and began volunteering as a Hike Leader the following year. In 2015, Donna made a significant impact by establishing the Olympia Branch Conditioning Hiking Series course. For six years, she meticulously administered this course, guiding and inspiring many Mountaineers to embrace the fun facets of hiking and outdoor exploration. Donna’s extensive list of volunteer activities is a testament to her generous spirit.

Donna has exhibited extraordinary leadership by serving as Co-Chair of the Hiking and Backpacking Committee from 2015 to 2021, and she recently stepped back into this role in January 2023. Her leadership has been instrumental in fostering a welcoming environment for new members, providing essential training, and facilitating a nurtured introduction to hiking and backpacking adventures. As noted in her nomination for the Service Award, “Her volunteer work and her outdoors activities are all for the joy and helpfulness of it […] She is in it for the long haul for her Mountaineers community.”

We are thrilled to recognize Donna’s clear commitment to serving our community. Thank you for your service to The Mountaineers, Donna!

Award Recipients