Two Altoona Area School District employees honored with Loretta Woodson awards

Representatives of the Blair County chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees (PASR) presented the Loretta Woodson awards to two recipients from the Altoona Area School District during the board meeting.

Donna Messner, president of the local Blair County PASR chapter, said the organization solicits nominations from school districts and that this year both award recipients came from the Altoona district. Bill Neugebauer, who presented the award's history, described Loretta Woodson’s trust and said the prize is a framed certificate and a pin rather than a cash award.

Lynn Ruggles, who was identified by a board speaker as a professional educator at Jefferson Learning Express Preschool and noted to have worked in the district since 1991, accepted the educator award in person. PASR representatives said the second recipient had many nominations but could not attend because of medical issues; they asked a board member (Val) to deliver the certificate and flowers.

Board members and attendees offered congratulations and thanked both recipients for their service.

Next steps: PASR said it will send membership information to recipients upon retirement and the district will coordinate award delivery to the absent recipient.