Koenig Awarded Department of Defense Patriot Award

Whitehall School District Principal Kurtis Koenig was awarded a Department of Defense Patriot Award in recognition of the extraordinary support of his employee serving in the United Air Force Reserve Colonel Donna Loomis.

The Patriot Award was developed by Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a program of the Department of Defense, to publicly recognize civilian employees serving in the guard or reserve. Without supportive employers, the strength and readiness of the nation's Guard and Reserve units cannot be maintained.

The nomination from Colonel Loomis reads, "Principal Koenig is very supportive of my military service in the Air Force Reserves. During his tenure as Principal of Whitehall Elementary, he has been understanding when I have been called up to support hurricanes, the COVID response, Medical Readiness Team augmentation for our state, and to participate in state, regional, and national preparedness training. He recognizes the value of the training I have received as a member of the military and the experience I bring to the school district. He draws on my military training in assigning me to leadership teams and committees."

Congratulations Whitehall Elementary School Principal Koenig for being a supportive civilian employer of our Montana Guard and Reserve. You provide a valuable service to our country by hiring our Montana Guard and Reserve members. We applaud you for being an understanding employer.

ESGR is celebrating 50 years of working to foster a culture in which all employers support and value the employment and military service of members of the National Guard and Reserve of the United States.

Colonel Donna Loomis is a Fourth Grade teacher at Whitehall Elementary. Though she will continue her teaching career, she will retire on 1 August from the United States military after serving 35 years in the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard.