BBCC library to be renamed for former president

MOSES LAKE - Former Big Bend Community College president Bill Bonaudi will be the guest of honor at a ceremony naming the college library for him Feb. 17. College trustees voted to name the library for Bonaudi during its Sept. 12 board meeting.

Bonaudi served 17 years as BBCC president, retiring in 2012. He is the college's longest serving president, Doug Sly, the college's public information officer, said.

"In my 46 years with community colleges, the most special reward I received was seeing the light go on in a student's eye when he or she understood the concept I was teaching. This honor of naming the library after me personally ranks right up there with student learning," Bonaudi said.

"A gracious host on behalf of the college and its partners, Bonaudi opened his home to the community, hosting many events and receptions, making friends for the college and installing a family atmosphere," Sly wrote.

Bonaudi also led efforts to expand the college's curriculum as well as upgrading and expanding facilities, Sly said. Bonaudi promoted programs that allowed students to obtain bachelor's degrees in some subjects without being forced to move or commute, he said.

He championed the construction and led the fundraising effort for the Advanced Technologies Education Center, which opened in 2005. The ATEC building houses the library, the dining hall, meeting rooms and the center for four-year colleges.

During Bonaudi's tenure the college also opened a new fine arts building, in 2008, and day care center in 2003, the same year improvements were made to the intra-campus road system, Sly said.

The 2008 financial crisis took its toll on the college, and eventually cost BBCC 25 positions and forced the trustees to declare a financial emergency in 2012, Sly said.

"Leaders shine in difficult times. Bonaudi found ways to keep the college moving in important directions despite the gloomy financial situation," Sly said. Those included grants for academic support for Hispanic students and increased emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers.