By Forrest Maynock
A man was near tears after receiving an award and simply thanked everyone. His eyes glazed and voice cracked as he spoke to the crowd.
His mother sat in the front row of the audience listening intently.
The trustee received a standing ovation from the board of trustees and audience.
“I need to let my family know about this one. The honor of the one is the honor of all…,” is what Dwayne Johnson said ran through his mind after finding out that he had won the award.
Peninsula College Board of Trustee member Dwayne Johnson was officially recognized by the U.S. Congress.
Johnson was awarded with the Rural Community College Alliance 2016 National Trustee of the Year on Tuesday, Oct 18.
“I wanted to thank Deborah Frazier for the for the nomination and President Robins for the submission,” Johnson said of his initial reaction to learning of the award win.
Out of 600 colleges in the United States that are classified as rural, Johnson was chosen as the winner.
Johnson was also recognized by Derek Kilmer of the United States House of Representatives.
Kilmer was not in attendance, but President Luke Robins of Peninsula College spoke on behalf of Kilmer.
Johnson recalled that the proudest moment of his career was, “Working with the members of the ‘Board of Trustees’ Julie McCulloch, Chair, Mike Glenn, Dr. Michael Maxwell, and Judge Erik Rohrer on the opening of the multiple new buildings on the PA campus, Forks Campus, and now the Port Townsend campus.”
Johnson spoke highly of his fellow board members saying, “We are doing our due diligence as trustees for the faculty and students at Peninsula College while holding honor to our guiding principles that were established—this is how we do PC business. PC staff finds the pathways for individuals to find successes…I believe in President Robins and cabinet members Deborah Frazier, Sharon Buck, Jack Huls, Getta Rogers and Kari Desser, for the direction that we have continued to move the college forward.”
Johnson also spoke about the college’s responsibility to students, “While the student must earn everything, we must provide the guidelines and facilities for their successes. At times we provide the safety net and allow individuals to regain their balance and continue on their journey in life.”
Moving forward Johnson said, “Finishing stronger than we started. Lights for Sigmar Pitch, Allied Health and Early Childhood Development Center grand opening, ctcLink, and the next biennium budget plan. I would like to see the number of transfer degree continue to rise, 230 in 2011-12, to 356 in 2015-16. Continue growing the Native American student population at PC and the utilization of Longhouse by facility, students, and community. “Together We Open Doors to Learning” across Clallam and Jefferson County.”
