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 Mitch Bevers, support personnel and Elva Pruitt, certified personnel.

Mitch Bevers came to SWTC in July of 1998 as part-time maintenance personnel and came on full-time in September of 2000. Prior to coming to SWTC, Mitch was employed by Oklahoma Cotton Co-op in Altus. Mitch is the husband of Libby and together they have one child, Kyle. Mitch is a true inspiration to the entire SWTC staff. Although he has faced medical problems over the past couple years he always greets others with a smile and is happy to be at work. Leslie Brown, nominator, said, “In spite of (his) illness and times of not feeling well, when he meets me in the hall he always has a smile and some silly comment that always makes me laugh.” Mitch is reminder to the entire SWTC staff that health is not always guaranteed and helps all to appreciate healthy days.

Elva Pruitt, recently retired director of Practical Nursing, came to SWTC in 1991 as an instructor and named director of the program in 1995. While at SWTC, Elva graduated 20 classes of practical nurses with more than a 90% pass rate on national licensing examinations. Elva resides in the Hobart area and is the wife of Harold and mother of Craig and Wendell. She retired June 30, 2010 from SWTC to be a grandmother to her two grandchildren Bryce and Cameron. Elva has not only made a difference in over 262 practical nursing student’s lives by training and showing them hands on what it takes to be a compassionate, successful nurse in today’s medical field, but also inspires the entire SWTC staff as well.

Other nominees for the “You Make a Difference” awards were; Don Biddy, Leslie Brown, Felicia Castillo, Monica Cox, Casey Crume, Cassie Farr, Sandra James, Wanda Jones, Rodger Kerr, Brenda Krieger, Chandler Lingle, Doug McCormick, Tiffany McCormick, Jill Owenby, Tiffany Riley, Jr Rowland, Matt Switzer, Loretta Trammell, Cindy Thomas, Bill Weldon and Martha Wooldridge.