APPLE BLOSSOM GRAND MARSHAL

2024 RECIPIENT, JULIE LEWIS

Julie Stimpson Lewis is a 40-year AIDS survivor, and mother to Grammy Award winning music producer, Ryan Lewis, was infected with HIV in 1984 but not diagnosed until the early 1990s when she was given three to five years to live. After years of silence about her disease, she found an unlikely community of friends to fight alongside and began using her story to make a difference. Her experiences as a woman living with AIDS offers insights about grief and loss, caregiving, spirituality and the importance of community in the midst of tragedy. 

Thirty years later, wanting to find a way to celebrate her incredible journey, and her passion for community health, she launched the 30/30 Project to positively impact the lives of other women, girls, and families who didn’t have the same access to the healthcare opportunities that she has had. 

The ten-year project has resulted in 30 healthcare facilities, built for 18 organizations in 9 countries, including the US and Puerto Rico. 

Julie has shared her story on CBS This Morning, Anderson Cooper and The Elvis Duran Show. Julie, a recipient of the Nelson Mandela Change-maker Award, has opened international conferences and been the keynote speaker at several events focused on healthcare, empowering women and uplifting communities whose voices need amplified.

Julie grew up in East Wenatchee, while her dad, Dick Stimpson, was Superintendent of the Eastmont School District.  She graduated from Eastmont High School in 1976 and went on to attend the University of Washington, graduating in science and health education. In 2019 Julie was named the “Distinguished Alumnus” at the EHS graduation. She currently lives in Tacoma with her husband, Scott, and enjoys spending time with Ryan, her two daughters Teresa and Laura,and her six grandkids! 

Julie’s memoir, Still Positive, was released in May 2023.

YOUTH PARADE GRAND MARSHAL

2024 RECIPIENT, DARCY BRUGGMAN

Darcy was born to Dan and Claudine Bertrand on September 25, 1967, and was the youngest of 4 daughters. Growing up in the Wenatchee Valley, she has contributed so much to our community through her love of swimming and teaching. At the age of 8, Darcy followed in her big sisters’ footsteps and decided to start her swimming career with the Barracuda swim club with long time coaches Jack and Jean Davidson. Early on she demonstrated her natural ability and was the 1st Cuda swimmers to make Jr. Nationals; a large swim meet where the top swimmers under the age of 18 from all over the country compete. 

Darcy attended Eastmont Schools and graduated in 1985. She didn’t have the opportunity to swim at Eastmont High School, as there was no swim program at the time. Through her exceptional performances with her club team, she was recruited to the University of Idaho as a scholarship athlete. As the start of college was soon approaching, the University of Idaho cut their Women’s swim program. Darcy’s husband, Matt, was enrolled at Washington State University and was worried about her going off to school somewhere far. He took matters into his own hands and went and talked with the WSU Head Coach begging for them to take his future wife as a stellar athlete. WSU took Darcy on as a walk-on and by the end of her freshman year (85-86) she had earned a full-ride scholarship and went on to swim 4 years at WSU with her daughters later following her legacy. In 1988, after numerous attempts, Matt successfully persuaded Darcy to embark on a wild adventure during their college years, leading them to tie the knot. Following this adventurous spirit, in the late 1990’s, they welcomed their surprise blessings, Cameron and Kelsey as they continued at WSU where Darcy graduated with her teaching degree in 1991. The family of four moved over to Puyallup, Washington where they started their careers; Matt working for a local plumber and Darcy beginning her journey as a kindergarten teacher.

In 1996, Darcy and Matt were blessed with their 3rd child, Hannah. They moved back to the Wenatchee Valley where Darcy started her impact on our community. She taught Kindergarten at Lee Elementary, started a plumbing business with her husband Matt, known as Plumb Perfect, and began coaching with her former swim team, the Barracuda’s. She was a natural. She had a knack for working with kids, holding high standards but also allowing a fun and exciting experience. In the early 2000’s, she and her friend Carolyn Magee started the WRAC swim club allowing more opportunity for kids in the swimming community. After many years, the two teams grew to the point where pool time was nearly impossible to come by. This is when the Barracudas and the WRAC decided to join forces, becoming Velocity Swimming.

In the Early 2000’s, Darcy made a career switch moving from the kindergarten classroom to teaching P.E. at Sterling Middle School and later at Eastmont Jr. High. Her first-year teaching P.E. was ironically the first kindergarten class she had when she moved back to the Valley. This was a very special moment for her. In 2014, Darcy became the Head Swim Coach for Eastmont High School, coaching 9-years of both the girls and boys season. Due to her hard work and dedication, she was coach of the year 2 times and coached multiple State qualifiers and placers. She has coached over 1,300 swimmers, multiple of whom were State qualifiers and placers, and approximately 50 of her athletes went on to swim in college.

After 32-years of teaching and 27-years of coaching in 2023, Darcy made the hard decision to retire. She misses her students and athletes and would never skip a beat to reunite with them over coffee and lunch dates. Her impact on many lives continues to show through in many ways; receiving Christmas cards from her first-year students, being invited to big life events – graduations parties, weddings, baby celebrations … the list goes on. She has an infectious personality, cares with her whole heart, and gives 110% to everything she does. Darcy isn’t one to sit still and have an empty calendar, but she is learning to enjoy the slower pace of life spending quality time with her husband, mom, children and 4 grandchildren.