The Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence recently honored four education professionals at its seventh annual Gold Star Awards fundraising luncheon.

Bobbie Daligcon of Cascade Middle School was named Outstanding Teacher of the Year.

Rick Healy, facilities service grounds lead, was honored as the Outstanding Classified Employee of the Year.

And Lora Bolding, PTSA president at Pacific Middle School, was recognized as Outstanding Volunteer of the Year.

A Lifetime Achievement Award was given posthumously to Carl Jensen, founder of Camp Waskowitz and superintendent of the Highline Public Schools from 1953 to 1971.

Attended by 300 local business, education, government and community leaders, the event raised over $75,000 for the foundation.

"It was very inspiring to see such a great turnout at this year's luncheon," said Sandra Eliason, president of the board of trustees. "We would like to thank everyone for their support of the foundation."

The Gold Star Awards Luncheon, held at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Southcenter, is the primary fundraiser for the foundation.

Emceed by local radio and television personality Pat Cashman, it was sponsored by Countrywide Home Loans, Rogers & Norman Insurance and Glacier Northwest.

The program included students who have benefited from the foundation's Excel Grants and scholarship programs.

Students featured were Tanner Schatz from Bow Lake Elementary School, Claire Downhour and Claire Fernandez of Sylvester Middle School, Stephanie Hoag from Aviation High School, and Kristen Boyovich, a STIA (Seattle-Tacoma International Airport) Scholarship recipient currently attending Highline Community College.

Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence was established in 2001 "to develop community resources to help students succeed."

It is the only 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization supporting all Highline public schools. The Foundation supports academic achievement, classroom grants, scholarships and the arts