For some people, working with technology is the bane of their existence. For others, like Wenatchee High School junior Ethan Toth, working with tech is a fun experience, and something that they are good at. On March 17, Toth was honored with the Future Tech Leader award, given by the Greater Wenatchee Area Technology Alliance.

For the past 15 years, GWATA has been seeking out and awarding tech-savvy businesses and people to honor them for helping to technologically advance the Greater Wenatchee area. More than 300 businesses are members of GWATA, and were present at the awards luncheon. Four awards were presented: Future Tech Leader, Ethan Toth; Entrepreneur of the Year, Jeff and Leanna Kurpis; Tech Savvy Business of the Year, Confluence Health; Innovative Use of Tech in the Classroom, Sara Rolfs. All recipients had to be previously nominated, and then were awarded during the four-day luncheon running from March 17-20.

Toth was selected as the recipient of the Future Tech Leader, which is only awarded to kids ages Kindergarten through 12th grade, by a group of confidential community leaders.  Program Coordinator Kathryn Franklin said city staff who are working with Toth on the Maker’s Faire were impressed with his “knowledge, leadership capabilities, and use of technology to organize the effort.”

“All of the nominees were extraordinary and deserving of the award,” Franklin said. “However, the selection committee evidently saw that Ethan stood out the most. We are honored to help Ethan in his efforts to achieve the Mini Maker’s Faire.”

“It was pretty cool,” Toth said. “With all the stuff I’ve been doing regarding the Maker Faire, it felt good to know there were still people who are with me.”

Toth also said that this year, GWATA had one of the largest turnouts for the event in the 15 years that it has been running. The luncheon, besides handing out the major awards for the year, featured keynote speakers who are leaders in technology from around the country. This year’s speaker was Dr. Robb Akridge, who is one of the inventors behind the Sonicare toothbrush, and the Clarisonic skin cleansing system.

“It was pretty exciting to see all those Wenatchee names in there,” school board member Jennifer Talbot said of the multiple nominations from Wenatchee schools at the March 24 board meeting.

Toth said he was really mostly excited to know that people were still with him for the Maker Faire, and that he was doing the right thing.

“This really validated, to me, that we are doing the right thing,” Toth said.