Award-winning performance

Cathi Lamoreux

WSU Extension Spokane County Master Gardener

Cathi was nominated by fellow volunteers Matt Velasco and Marcia Sands. Cathi has been volunteering with the WSU Extension Spokane Master Gardener program since 2008. In that time, she led and participated in most of the Program and Foundation activities available. She also actively represents county, state and national boards and program activities and in doing so earned her Presidential Lifetime service award. She’s taught in a variety of capacities, but most notably are her teaching positions with the American Horticultural Therapy Association, local speakers bureau, cabin fever, WSU Master Gardener Advanced Education Conference multiple years, WA State Parks & Rec, WA State Association of Activity Professionals, LeadingAge WA, Friends on Manito, and the PNW-ISA Arborist regional conference.

Through her involvement she has enriched the culture of the program at both the local and state level. The legacy that she will leave is not limited to a particular program, but rather it is her modeling of the volunteer spirit. Her passion for gardening draws audiences young and old, novice to experienced. Cathi is an inspiration to other volunteers by stepping up first, mentoring, listening, valuing, and leading with persistent dedication and devotion to fellow volunteers. Cathi’s legacy is a group of extension master gardener volunteers who are motivated to do more and accept challenges they may not have tried without her encouragement.

Cathi’s commitment, leadership, involvement, and lasting impact make her the 2023 WSU Extension Master Gardener of the Year! 

Howard Voland

WSU Extension Snohomish County Master Gardener and Program Coordinator, retired

Nominated by Jackie Trimble, Howard Voland is the epitome of a committed WSU Master Gardener. He has worked both as a Master Gardener volunteer and as Program Coordinator at the county level and devoted more time to the state program than perhaps any person not employed at the state level.

Howard is one of those people who can work quietly in the background or stand in front and lead in new directions. He leaves a legacy of authentic, relationship focused leadership and a WSU Extension Master Gardener Program that is better than it was prior to his involvement, commitment, and service.

“I worked very closely with Howard over the years.  We often visited during Program Coordinator meetings when I was with Chelan/Douglas.  I learned a tremendous amount from Howard about patience and grace, and about ensuring the systems, policies and processes we put in place did not adversely affect participation.  Howard was my sounding board at the State level. We talked at least weekly. We kept each other focused and inspired. The ways in which Howard has impacted our program are countless. Many are tangible, but most and probably the ones that are most important are intangible.” Jennifer Marquis, Statewide Program Lead.

Pat Munts

WSU Extension Spokane County Master Gardener

Nominated by fellow volunteer, Cathi Lamoreux, Pat mastered multiple media forms in her support of the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program in Spokane County and throughout the state. She has helped countless people across the state through regular newspaper columns, magazine articles like the ones found in Master Gardener Magazine and the American Gardener and in her popular book Northwest Gardeners Handbook.  Her voice can be heard on radio, podcasts and in classrooms teaching new and experienced gardeners.  And her straightforward style brings clarity to a wide variety of gardening topics, making her a popular television personality.  Her writing can also be found in the 50^th Anniversary Commemorative Magazine and her voice can be heard in the videos telling the story of who we are, what we do and why we do it.