NORTHWEST CONFERENCE – PERSON OF DISTINCTION AWARD
The Northwest Conference puts high value on celebrating our students, programs and communities throughout the school year. From “Leaders in Sportsmanship,” to “Coaches vs. Cancer” and “Only 7 Seconds,” The Northwest Conference consistently goes above and beyond with outreach to every school and their corresponding communities.
Starting this spring, each school in the NWC will have the opportunity to highlight someone from their community as a “Person of Distinction.” This honor will celebrate someone associated with each athletic program and draw a spotlight on the amazing selfless people who help make this conference so special!
Burlington-Edison Athletics
Person of Distinction – Dave & Jackie Carpenter
Dave and Jackie Carpenter first landed in the Burlington area back in 1978 when they first became involved in the Burlington-Edison Athletic world when their son wrestled from 1983 to 1986 becoming a State Wrestling Champion. During that tenure Dave and Jackie began to film the wrestling team and the individuals. While at the Tacoma Dome, they were also involved in keeping track of the local Skagit County wrestlers for the KAPS radio and were involved in broadcasting the results.
Shortly after, the Carpenters were approached by Athletic Director Jim Clem to see if they would be interested in filming the varsity football games. They began filming when Jack McTaggert took over as head football coach for the Tigers and filmed over the next 30 years. While traveling alongside the football team, they also got involved with chaperoning the cheerleaders, as their daughter Charley Anderson was the cheer coach at the time.
Dave and Jackie became the biggest cheerleaders themselves following the Tigers. And to this day, you will see them at Football, Boys Basketball, Wrestling, Baseball, and Track. While filming football games and when Bruce Shearer took over the Head Football Coaching position, they became close friends with Bruce and his family. When Bruce hung up his cleats and tied on some basketball shoes to take over the reins of the Tigers Girls Basketball Coaching duties, the Carpenters were right there watching the girls basketball teams. And when they realized that some of those girls also played volleyball became huge Tiger Volleyball fans and have been there for all of their success.
What Dave and Jackie are the most proud of is their son Tim Carpenter, Daughters Corinn and Charley Carpenter all were B-E HS Tigers. Their three grandsons Mitchell, Joey, and Nicky Henderson all graduated as a Tiger. Their youngest grandson, Landon Anderson is currently attending B-E HS as a junior. They also have 4 great grandchildren, Floyd, Makenna, Sloan, and Liam Henderson will more than likely graduate from B-E HS.
Dave and Jackie not only have hosted many Bellingham Bells baseball players over the years supporting Jim Clem and the Bells, they have also hosted several exchange students from Japan, Sweden, Germany, and France.
To this Day…Dave and Jackie are the #1 Tiger Fans as they travel all over the state to watch our Tigers. You can turn around and there they are, in Yakima, for the week or weekend. The Tigers truly appreciate their support.
Testimonials
“Dave and Jackie are both such great people! Tops! They are the type of people who will help you out whenever you need them. They always have others’ best interests at heart, willing to help, wanting to help. I can’t express enough just how terrific they are! They are dependable, if they make a commitment to do something, you know it’s going to get done, and it’s going to get done in the most amazing way! Talented people, who are kind and considerate, who have a heart of gold, looking for ways to help others, but always doing it quietly, never looking for praise or recognition. I can’t thank them enough for all of their help through the years..They are simply the best people! I’m so proud to know them and to call them my friends.”
Jim Clem, Former B-E Athletic Director & Head Baseball Coach
“Over 23 years supporting the Tigers Football season, the Carpenter were at all Football games, Wrestling matches, and girls basketball games. They went to state competitions all over the state. They spent their time at youth football games on the weekends. You could always count on them to be in the stands.They would film from the bleachers at many of the contests and by 8 am the next morning it would be ready for a coaches meeting. I can not tell enough about these wonderful people. They never were opinionated, only supportive of the Tiger Athletes. When film was traded among the football coaches in the league, our film was superior. It is a pleasure and a privilege to support Dave and Jackie for this distinguished NWC Persons of Distinction as athletic supporters.”
Bruce Shearer, Former B-E Head Football, Former B-E Girls Basketball Head Coach & current Boys JV Golf Coach
