2017 Annual Awards Banquet

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Caelynn Ferguson
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
The 17th Training Support Squadron and Top 3 hosted the Annual Awards Banquet at the Cactus Hotel in San Angelo, Texas, Feb. 3.

“It’s fantastic,” said Master Sgt. Douglas Earl, 316th Training Squadron operations superintendent. “It’s an amazing venue and a beautiful ceremony. I can’t believe we have one of the last surviving Doolittle Raiders with us. It’s just an incredible tie between Goodfellow’s inception.”

The ceremony hosted a guest speaker, Retired Chief Master Sgt. Gerardo Tapia, who spoke about the necessary recognition of Annual Award nominees.

“These are the people that need to be recognized at the highest levels,” said Tapia. “When you dig into those records you find what I call the one degree of separation … I’ve found the one degree in Airmen who’ve helped build other Airmen, or step in freely when they find other Airmen hurt, alone, angry or afraid. They remember that leaving no Airman behind is more than just a catchy phrase.”

Col. Michael Downs, 17th Training Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Bobbie Riensche, 17th TRW command chief, presented a 200 dollar check to Tapia for the Air Force Enlisted Village.

The following annual awards presented were:

Airman of the Year: Senior Airman Audacity Harris, 17th Comptroller Squadron.
Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Jessi Baugh, 17th Medical Support Squadron.
Senior NCO of the Year: Master Sgt. Esther Duhon, 315th Training Squadron.
Company Grade Officer of the Year: Capt. Karmisha Reeb, 517th Training Group.
Civilian Category I Non-Supervisory of the Year: Alonzo Etheridge, 312th Training Squadron.
Civilian Category II Non-Supervisory of the Year: Sean Carrol, 17th Training Support Squadron.
Civilian Category I Supervisory of the Year: Adam Jara, 17th MDSS.
Civilian Category II Supervisory of the Year: Joseph Gomos, 312th TRS
Unit of the Year: 17th MDOS
First Sergeant of the Year: Master Sgt. Bryan Peel, 316th TRS
Volunteer of the Year: Staff Sgt. Kristine Troy, 315th TRS
Honor Guard Airman of the Year: Senior Airman Joshua Schnegg, 17th Medical Operations Squadron
Honor Guard NCO of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Noah Wells, 17th Training Wing
Key Spouse of the Year: Margeret Falk, 315th TRS

Retired Col. Dick Cole, the last Doolittle Raider, attended the banquet as a guest of honor and presented the 17th Training Wing unit of the year award and gave a few remarks before the Team Goodfellow annual awards.

The following are the Team Goodfellow Annual Awards:

Junior Service Member of the Year: Senior Airman Audacity Harris, U.S. Air Force
Service Member of the Year: Petty Officer 1st Class Erin Kidd, U.S. Navy
Senior Service Member of the Year: Gunnery Sgt. Celia Marcussen, U.S. Marine Corps
Volunteer of the Year: Staff Sgt. Jason Paulovkin, U.S. Army
Joint Color Guard of the Year: Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Traverse, U.S. Navy

In addition to the 17th Training Wing and Team Goodfellow annual awards, the wing presented the International Student Support Award to Dr. Carol Anne Bonds for her long-term, volunteer efforts for the international students.