Big Bend honors staff

MOSES LAKE — Randy Fish warms up vehicles for the maintenance crew. Tom Willingham created a process to identify at-risk students. Kathy Starr made quilts for children.

Fish, Willingham, Starr and other staff were recognized at a Big Bend Community College awards ceremony Friday.

Five-year and 10-year certificates were passed out to longtime staff, in addition to a 20-year certificate for Fish. Zachary Geesaman, Todd Sauer and Angela Weber received five-year certificates. Sergio Cervantes and Barbara Collins received 10-year certificates.

Assistant to the President for Human Resources and Labor Holly Moos announced award recipients at the event and read nominations for excellence in customer service awards recipients. Fish, Willingham and Starr all received awards.

"Randy shows up early on his own time in the mornings to start up the vehicles and equipment to be used at 6 a.m.," Fish's nomination reads. "His dedication and customer service gets the early shift of (maintenance and operation) out and working safely with defrosted windshields and warm equipment. And most of all, he does it all with a smile."

Fish is lead grounds for maintenance and operations at the college.

Starr's nominators noted she made more than 50 quilts, blankets and mattress covers for childcare on campus. She is an accountant in the college business office.

"Her unselfish act created a warm spot in the hearts of children in our BBCC Children's Learning Center," the nomination states. "Children were delighted to have new blankets. They take turns picking out their favorites."

Willingham is a classroom technician for Office Information Technology.

"Tom has developed a process for identifying students who are at risk throughout the quarter," his nomination reads. "Because of this, we can contact those students who have not started a class or those students who are falling behind."

In addition, maintenance and operations staff were recognized for their remodeling work completed during the summer.

Ken Turner presented the crew with a trophy, which read, "M&O crew. Under budget. On time. Perfect." They received a certificate for a catered meal.

Board of Trustees member Mike Blakely said the crew is responsible for saving the college hundreds of thousands of dollars.