2025 Hanford Award Ceremony - August 14, 2025
Honoring visionary leaders whose impact ripples through our communities, inspiring growth and opportunity for all.
About Denton
Denton Hanford served on the Green River College Foundation Board for 15 years and was a devoted champion of education and community service. Denton and his beloved wife, Judy, established the Hanford Family Scholarship, which has been awarded more than 32 times over the past 15 years, empowering students to pursue higher education.
Denton’s passion for tutoring students in math and sharing life lessons reflected his deep commitment to nurturing others’ growth. Known for his servant leadership, he led by example—mentoring aspiring leaders, engaging in hands-on service, and selflessly supporting his family and community.
Thoughtful and ethical, Denton avoided the spotlight, always focusing on uplifting those around him.
Beyond his contributions to Green River College, Denton excelled in a distinguished career as a leader in aerospace engineering at Boeing, fueled by his fascination with space exploration. His dedication to volunteer work extended to organizations like Rotary, Ryther Child Center, and his church, where his leadership and generosity left a profound and lasting impact.
Denton’s quiet yet powerful legacy lives on through the countless lives he touched and the leaders he inspired.
| 2025 Honoree, Virginia Cross
Born in 1939, on the Muckleshoot Indian Reservation, Virginia Cross lived in poverty from a young age, enduring some of the tribe’s toughest times. With a love for learning as a child, she realized the importance of education early on. As the only Muckleshoot student in her graduating high school class in Auburn, she went on to be first in the Muckleshoot Tribe to earn her college degree, with a master’s in education from the University of Washington.
During the 1960’s Virginia become the first Head Start Director of the Muckleshoot Tribe, and the first Indian Education Coordinator in the Auburn School District. In the early 1970’s she helped launch Native Education programs in school districts in both King and Pierce County. Auburn School District named their program the Virginia Cross Education Center, which provides students with the educational support to meet high school graduation requirements, as well as support in exploring higher education opportunities.
Virginia has been a councilmember of the Muckleshoot Tribe for 40 years. Leading the council for nearly half that time, she was instrumental in the tribe’s path to prosperity, and the ability to provide support for housing, healthcare and education to tribal members, as well as millions of dollars each year to non-profit organizations in the greater community.
Over her lifetime as a leader and connector, Virginia has been honored with prestigious awards at the local, state and national level. We are pleased to honor Virginia with the 2025 D.R. Hanford Leadership Award.
| 2022 Inaugural Honoree, Erin Jones
“The D.R. Hanford award was created to honor those who have committed to the power of education and service to the community,” Jim Tanasse, chair, Green River College Board of Directors, said. “We were — and continue to be — impressed with Erin’s passion and commitment and can think of no one who better embodies the spirit of the award than Erin.”
Erin Jones has dedicated over 26 years to education, teaching in diverse communities and holding various leadership roles. She was named the Most Innovative Foreign Language Teacher in 2007 and the Washington State Milken Educator of the Year in 2008. In 2013, Erin was recognized as a “Champion of Change” at the White House and was awarded Washington State PTA’s “Outstanding Educator” in 2015.
Erin’s career has spanned teaching, instructional coaching, and executive roles with two State Superintendents. She later shifted to college-access work at the school district level. In a groundbreaking move, Erin became the first Black woman to run for State Superintendent in Washington, losing by just 1%. Since her campaign, Erin has focused on sharing her personal story and delivering racial equity training for K-12 and higher education educators.
About the Award
The Green River College Foundation leadership team is dedicated to making a lasting impact on education by championing access and innovation while successfully implementing lasting changes to improve learning environments in local and regional communities.
D.R. Handford Leadership Award candidates inspire personal and professional growth, building strong relationships that foster trust and collaboration across organizations. Through their commitment to policy adoption, mentorship, and fostering a culture of respect, they continuously encourage achievement and drive initiatives that benefit both their communities and the broader educational landscape. Together, we are shaping a future where education is accessible to all.
Stop by our campus and you’ll find a wall dedicated to community members whose committment to education has brought about change and brought together communities across Washington.