News : VGH honors employees for milestones

15-year honorees included Nancy Good and Nancy Farmer.

Administrator Mike Rieger honored Michele Schoonover for 30 years at Virginia Gay Hospital.

These people were among the 5-year honorees.

Trudy Purdy, left, and Doris Smith, honored for 25 years of working at VGH.

VGH employees Cecilia Michael, left and Wendy Kirchner, honored for 15 years.

While Carol Salger set a record by being the first Virginia Gay Hospital employee to work there 50 years, several other hospital employees were honored for reaching milestones measured in decades.

The hospital held its annual awards banquet for employees, something administrator Mike Riege said has been happening each year since before he arrived 20 years ago.

The event took place at the Vinton County Club.

Honorees include:

Five years: Susan Bender, Bonita Bright, Dyann Buckingham, Lori Clark, Marcia Fisher, Rick Lazenby, Janine Riese, Lisa Rule, Kay Shepherd.

Ten years: Wendy Kirchner, Regina Malaska, Cecilia Michael, Vicki Whipple.

Fifteen years: Joyce Brunssen, Susan Delfs, Nancy Farmer, Tammy Neuendorf, Cindy Reinberg, Kriz Salzmann, Marcia Taylor, Karon Ahrenstein, Nancy Good.

Twenty years: Mike Riege, Marcia Thomsen.

Twenty-five years: Trudy Purdy, Doris Smith.

Thirty years: Michele Schoonover.

Thirty-five years: Wanda Skeries.

Fifty years: Carol Salger.