Rounds of applause and praise were heard during the 2011 Literacy Appreciation Luncheon sponsored by the Great Plains Literacy Council at the Altus Public Library on November 1. The purpose of the luncheon was to thank adult learners, tutors, volunteers, and contributors for their roles in the literacy programs. Autumn leaves and fall decorations were used on the tables. The board and staff provide the meal.

GPLC Board President Sharon Duffy welcomed those in attendance after the luncheon. New GPLC Board member Ryan Howard opened the recognition program with a prayer before the introductions.

One highlight of the program included the presentation of the State Literacy Legacy awards. Altus residents Noel Beltran, Beverly Johnson, Pedro Perez, and Hugo Villegas were given bronze literacy certificates for each donating over 50 hours to teaching.

Mariana Briones of Altus received the Silver Literacy Tutor Award certificates for contributing over 100 hours in tutoring.

Mary Beth Williams of Hollis and Lynne Collingwood, Maria Gover, Jackie Henson, and Hector Trevino of Altus were awarded the Gold Literacy Tutor Award with gold certificates for each having over 150 hours in volunteer tutoring.

The Master Tutor award certificates were given to Helen Cohn and Elsa L. Garcia, both of Altus. This honor was given only to active tutors with at least 250 hours of cumulative instruction. The Great Plains Literacy Council received engraved plates in their honor to put on a Master Tutor plaque at the Altus Public Library.

Grace Dempsey of Altus and Teddie Brookman of Hollis each received certificates for the “Above and Beyond” honor. This is an award for continued tutoring past the Hall of Fame Award and for support to the literacy program. These two volunteers contributed about 1,500 hours collectively in tutoring over the years.

Frances Rodriguez of Tipton was honored as the state winner for the Krueger “ESL Learner of the Year” Award. Mrs. Rodriguez won $100 and a trophy at the state meeting. A certificate was presented to Mrs. Rodriguez for her diligent work.

Wayne Roach, formerly of Snyder, was recognized as a finalist for the Krueger “Literacy Learner of the Year” award. He received a certificate for his improvement.

Dawn Hagan, Fernando Julian, Hortenica Flores and Lynn Beaulieu were recognized for their achieving the US citizenship this year. Each of the four learners and their tutors received a patriotic token for their efforts.

Coordinator Ida Fay Winters showed the new Celebrating Our Journey book with published stories from adult learners across the state. The GPLC learners who had their writing accepted in the book were Three TANF Success Class students Valerie Badillo, Kim Shelton, and Sherrie Jesuit; three literacy students Harold Wilson, LaDonna Brodnex and Brittany Shelton; and nine ESL students Valentin Alonzo Vasquez, Diana Granado, Isela Fernandez, Lorena Castro, Martha Martinez, Leonor Martinez, Jose Domingo Rosalee Reyes, Frances Rodriguez, and Elsa Castro.

Recognition was also given to the current GPLC Board of Directors. This included President Sharon Duffy, Vice President Rick Cheaney, Secretary Nancy Evans, Treasurer Kathy Hale, Gloria Birdine, Casey Daniels, Robbie Holder, Ryan Howard, Lynn Hyde-Osterhout, Anduin McElroy, Carlos Mendoza, Gail Miller, Jacquelyn Parrish, Mel Rader, Sonya Revilla, Carol Steen, and Rana Womack. Also recognized were Miguel Agosto, Rachel Beckner, Ed Fayak, Rosalyn Hall, Sally Keelty, Jay Richeson, and Rebecca York who served on the board during the past year before their terms expired.