MENDOTA – This year's Tom Merwin Gold Star Employee Award was announced at the Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner, Nov. 9. Nominated by the general public, this award is given to someone who is considered an outstanding employee.

Colleen Myers of Sublette was recognized as the 2018 award recipient. "It was a great surprise. I still can hardly believe it," said Myers, recalling the evening's event.

Myers has been a fitness instructor at the Mendota Area YMCA for the past four years.

During the award presentation, Jesse Arellano, Chamber executive director described the nominee. He stated that her nominators said she is always upbeat, welcomes everyone, goes out of her way to make class fun, and gives 100 percent to her students.

Arellano continued that her employer mentioned how she is innovative and keeps her classes fun and interesting. By the description, Myers thought the award was meant for a teacher who was sitting at another table in the room.

"I thought how nice for her and she doesn't even know she's getting the award," she joked.

Both Myers and her husband were persuaded to attend the evening's festivities under the guise of supporting the YMCA. Then manager, Frank Bromenschenkel told Myers he wanted to get as many people from the YMCA as possible to fill their table. "I like to be a team player so I said, 'sure,'" Myers commented.

Bromenschenkel casually asked Myers to bring her husband, too. The couple did not suspect a thing. When her name was called, Myers said she was shocked.

"I looked at my husband. Did they just call my name? I was lucky I could squeak out 'thank you' because I couldn't even think. It was the last thing in the world I would ever have expected," she said.

Myers is suspecting a few of the women from one of her fitness classes are the culprits to the nomination. "I never imagined when I first started teaching there how that class would grow. It has become a nice, friendly, almost intimate group of women who work out together," she said.

Colleen Myers is a long-time resident of Sublette and an even longer fitness enthusiast. She said she was thrilled when the YMCA facility opened in Mendota.

Shortly afterward, she obtained several certifications to teach group fitness classes and began teaching classes there in stretch, dance fitness, and body strengthening. One of her newest classes is a senior fitness class. "I really try to inspire everyone to take good care of their health," she said.

Myers also likes to inspire people to be positive and grateful for everything they have. After reflecting on the award, she noted that her students have given her cause to be grateful, as well. "It is heart-warming to think that what I am trying to do in my classes has hit the mark. It means that I am being valued for the effort that I make. I really appreciate that," she said.