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At Lane Community College, we are proud of every student. The Distinguished Alumni awards give us an opportunity to profile students who have gone on to "do good" in the world, and who have remembered the college along the way. The Foundation first honored alumni during the college's 25th anniversary and then at its 40th anniversary.Nomination application forms for Distinguished Alumni awards are available by clicking on either of these links:
Download the Distinguished Alumni Award nomination form. (.doc file, type in answers)
Download the Distinguished Alumni Award nomination form. (.pdf file  )
The awards go to alumnus who completed at least 30 credit hours at Lane or earned an associate's degree. Nominees have demonstrated achievement in their chosen profession, service to the community, or outstanding contribution to the college.
Distinguished Alumni — 2008 Awardees:
 Molly Bedortha
Registered Nurse 2 - Head of Triage Team at the University of Oregon’s Student Health Center. Earned two degrees from Lane: Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) in 1970 and Associates of Nursing Degree (RN) in 1982. Founding member of the Ask-A-Nurse program, a very popular service that offered telephone advice to people seeking to manage medical conditions, or wondering whether they needed to see a doctor. Invaluable mentor and advocate for students in Lane’s nursing programs.
 Sherry Duerst-Higgins
Real Estate Broker for Hemenway Real Estate and education volunteer living in Cottage Grove. Earned a Dental Assisting degree from Lane in 1965 and returned in 1992 for training in Real Estate. South Lane School Board member for 22 years and served as the Oregon School Boards Association president. Business and Chamber of Commerce leader with many awards to her name – including Cottage Grove’s First Citizen honor.
 Lorraine Kerwood
Founder and Director of NextStep Recycling, a nonprofit that not only recycles computers and electronic equipment, but also distributes rebuilt computers locally and abroad. Started at Lane in 1987 taking adult education classes, then college-credit classes, participated in the Transitions to Success program for women. Received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon then enrolled in Lane’s Nonprofit Management Program in the Business Development Center, where she remains a client. Provides training, internships, and even employment to Lane students at NextStep’s West Eugene headquarters. Serves on Lane’s Computer Information Advisory Committee.
 Juan Carlos Valle
Social Insurance Specialist for the Social Security Administration. An immigrant who didn't finish high school and couldn't speak English, he earned a high-school equivalency certificate (1989) and an Associate's degree in Hospitality Management (1997) from Lane. That led to a Bachelor's Degree in Spanish and Business Administration from the University of Oregon, a certificate in Not-For-Profit Management, and current work to complete a Masters in Public Administration at the UO. Sits on the Boards of Directors for Centro LatinoAmericano, Birth to Three, and serves as a commissioner for the Eugene Police Commission.
Distinguished Alumni — 2007 Awardees:
 Dr John Holtzapple, M.D.
Family Medicine Physician with PeaceHealth Medical Group
Earned an Associates Degree in Nursing at Lane in 1983 before becoming a physician. He selflessly serves our community as a volunteer with White Bird Clinic, the Latino Medical Access Coalition, and the Lane County Medical Society.
 Alison Donway
Manager of Pilot Service for Horizon Air and liaison between Horizon Air and the FAA
Earned an Associate of Applied Science in Flight Technology from Lane in 1996. Alison was a flight instructor in LCC’s aviation program, and was instrumental in the donation of a Frasca 142 simulator which is used to simulate conditions experienced by pilots when flying without reference to the horizon (i.e. in the clouds!).
 Cambra Ward
Vice President/General Manager of KMTR-TV, Regional Vice President/Northwest Group for Clear Channel Television.
Graduated from LCC in 1984, with an Associates of Science in Broadcast & Visual Design. Cambra serves on the Lane Community College Media Program Advisory Board. As a community volunteer helped implement Oregon’s Amber Alert Plan.
 Lee Beyer
Chairman of the Oregon Public Utility Commission, Former Oregon State Senator & Representative.
Studied Journalism and Political Science at Lane in 1973. Lee has served over ten years as an advisor on Lane’s Professional and Technical Education Coordinating Committee. He’s currently an elected member of Willamalane Park and Recreation Board and the Springfield Planning Commission.
Distinguished Alumni — 2005 Awardees:
Jeanne Benson, BS, MS
(Retired) Executive Director of Catholic Community Services
Attended Lane in the 1960's
Supervised Lane Community College interns at Pearl Buck
Center and Catholic Community Services.
 LuAnne Boettiger, ADN, RN, MN
Director of Staff Development, McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center
Earned her Associate Degree in Nursing from Lane in 1976. She facilitates clinical internships for many of Lane's students, and has served as a member of the Nursing Advisory Committee for 15 years, 10 years as chair.
Jerry Smith, BS, MS
Chief of Police, Springfield
Earned an Associate of Science in criminal justice from Lane in 1972. Chief Smith teaches criminal justice classes at Lane and chaired the Criminal Justice Advisory Council.
Timothy Wahlberg, AAS
President, Evergreen International Aviation, Inc.
Earned an Associate of Science and Airframe/Power Plant license from Lane in 1969. He served as Lane's Aviation Technology Advisory Committee Chair. Evergreen offers internships to Lane's aviation graduates, many of whom have been hired by the company.
Distinguished Alumni — 2004 Awardees (40th Anniversary):
 Marciann Gaston, AAS
Head Start Regional Manager
Earned AAS in Early Childhood Education from Lane in 1979
Served on Lane's Advisory Committees and provided placement for Lane practicum students at Head Start
 Pete Gribskov President, QSL Print Communications Took business and college prep courses at Lane in 1968-71 Supervises Lane business and graphic arts student interns at QSL, teaches small business classes on printing, and has contributed press time for college projects.
Kathryn Harrison, LPN Former Tribal Council Chair, Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Earned Licensed Practical Nursing degree from Lane in 1972 Helped secure a $100,000 gift for Lane's Native American Longhouse project.
 Dan Luoma, BS, MS, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Forest Science, OSU
Studied Biology and Geography at Lane in 1975-77
Mentors Lane students as part of his work with the Mt. Pisgah Wild Mushroom Festival.
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