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Southwest Technology Center recently held the “You Make a Difference” awards celebration for SWTC employees who have and are making a difference around campus. The “You Make a Difference” awards are presented to nominated individuals in two categories, certified personnel and support personnel. Each SWTC employee can make a nomination for any other SWTC employee they feel is making a difference in the lives of students and staff of SWTC. The two people, in their respective categories, with the most nominations receive the award. This year the winners of the “You Make a Difference” awards were Cindy Thomas, support personnel and a tie between Casey Crume and Brian Chaney, certified personnel.

Cindy Thomas came to SWTC in 2009 as an Administrative Assistant in the Business Office. Cindy is the Wife of Scott, an Air Traffic Controller, and together share a home in Altus. Cindy is a true inspiration to the entire SWTC staff. Being part of support staff, Cindy has never been bound by the Administrative Assistant job description. She goes above and beyond to ensure all student and staff needs are being met. Cindy is professional, effective and efficient in all tasks. She is proactive in resolving issues and takes responsibility for any duties assigned to her. Not to mention she can make the meanest crock pot of chili known to man, spend all day and night preparing it, and spend a full Saturday on the square being the best SWTC representative she can be. She is compassionate and giving to others, due to her efforts SWTC has been able to donate over $17,000 to Jackson County Relay for Life with her as one of the captains on the team over the past two years.

Casey Crume is the Construction Trades instructor, married to Stephanie and lives in Snyder. Casey has worked tirelessly to meet the expansion needs of SWTC. He has accomplished many construction tasks while maintaining quality training in his program. Under his instruction, his students have added beautiful cabinetry in the facility and gained a marketable skill that will help get his graduates a job.

He had graduates this year who capitalized on the training opportunity and started their own construction company. Casey is definitely “making a difference” at SWTC.

Brian Chaney instructs the Electronics Technology program and recently added robotics to the curriculum over the past three years. Brian and his wife Lisa, Biology instructor at WOSC, have one son, Charles and live in Altus. Brian has continually implemented technology in the classroom. He has engaged his students though robotics and been to the World F.I.R.S.T. Robotics competition two out of the three years. Brian is involved in community awareness and encouraged his students last year to design a build a robot for the “Don’t Text and Drive” campaign that won awards on the state level. Brian continues to make a difference in the lives of his students.

Other nominees for the “You Make a Difference” awards were; Bill Weldon, Doug McCormick, Jill Chaney, Loretta Trammell, Carrie Dann, Wanda Jones, Monica Cox, Chad Johnson, Martha Wooldridge, Stacey Davis, Cassie Farr, Sandra James, Jill Owenby, Ericka Wiginton, Tiffany Riley, Geina Glenn, Matt Switzer and Casey Rowland.