Ripon College staff members honored with César E. Chávez Service Awards

Honorees of Ripon College’s inaugural César E. Chávez Service Awards were announced recently by the Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI).

Chávez was a champion for social justice and defending the rights of workers. The new service awards honor workers in the Ripon College community who reflect César Chávez’ principles and ideals of service to others and who work to create a safe campus community.

• Suzie Fude, administrative assistant in Physical Plant. She manages the front desk and operations related to facility needs and dispatches workers as needed. She helps ensure the CDI is connected to appropriate resources.
• John Tobin, grounds manager in Physical Plant. He manages the direct operations as related to all facility and infrastructure needs as well as housekeeping. He assisted with extra demands because of the pandemic and took the lead in moving the food pantry to Campus Apartments for student use during summer break.
• Stuart Thayer, maintenance worker in Physical Plant. He was cited for being instrumental in helping the CDI with a makeover.
• Pearl Terbilcox, food service worker in S.N. Pickard Commons. “She made sure that every student, faculty, staff and worker was welcomed with a smile and with dignity,” the CDI stated.

(Clockwise from top left: Suzie Fude, John Tobin, Stuart Thayer, Pearl Terbilcox)