March 2022

SSC Grounds Department is working in collaboration with the Texas A&M AgriLife department and the Horticulture Options in Plant Science program, or H.O.P.S. The following information is provided via the Texas A&M Center on Disability and Development; the HOPS Project is a two-semester training program whose purpose is to provide instruction and support individuals with disabilities to gain the necessary skills and experiences in work readiness to transition into competitive integrated employment in the horticulture industry successfully. Students have the option to become certified on the state/national level. Three of the students in this program have joined the SSC team for the spring semester. These students have been involved in multiple facets of the grounds program, further advancing their skills in horticulture and experiences in the work place. Grounds management has enjoyed this opportunity and appreciates the great contribution these students have made. We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Agrilife program and the students of the HOPS program.

A Safety Stand Down is where all work stops and every team member involved comes together to discuss and/or train on topics regarding hazards present in the workplace. During the first week of February 2022 Maintenance employees held a Safety Stand Down to learn about the risk of falls and how to protect themselves utilizing fall protection PPE such as a full body harness, lanyard, and anchorage points.

Maintenance employees encounter many hazards at work including falls from heights. Safety is our highest Priority and communication is invaluable. YOU and your attitude regarding Safety contributes to either building up or tearing down our Safety Culture. Thank you for building it UP.

Maintenance Safety Stand Down

On February 10th the maintenance department received a work order requesting help to retrieve an Aggie ring from one of the picnic tables at the residence hall. Angel Gonzalez and Jeff Novasad were sent to complete the task.

The picnic table had to be disassembled and the men had to clean trash and debris that had collected inside the picnic table but finally found the treasured Aggie ring they were looking for. Evidently the ring had been lost in the picnic table since last fall.

Texas A&M student, Jordan Rhodes was very excited to get his ring back so he would have it for graduation!

Maintenance Associates Retrieve Lost Aggie Ring

Grounds Tree Ring Maintenance

As the winter temperatures have set in and the turf has transitioned to dormancy, our Turf crews have started working on tree ring maintenance throughout campus. Maintaining a proper mulch ring is not only aesthetically pleasing but beneficial to the tree in many ways.

Mulch holds moisture and decreases competition from the grass near the root zone of the tree allowing the tree to receive more water and nutrients from the surrounding soil. A properly maintained mulch ring can double the rate at which a young tree grows. A recent building our Turf crews have completed is the Zachry Engineering Education Complex. presented by Richard Scher, Turf Manager

In Memory of Marshall Wilson Sr.

Mr. Marshall Wilson Sr. has worked on the TAMU Campus for 32 years for Facilities Services, 12 of these years, with Residence Life.  Marshall was an Assistant Unit Director IV of the South Area Crew where he was loved and respected for his role as the Supervisor. He was more than a supervisor he was a friend and he was part of our SSC/TAMU family.  Marshall also had a great working relationship with all his co-workers. He loved working for SSC and took his job seriously. He will be well remembered for the way he treated others. Marshall lead by example, one example he demonstrated daily was “treat others as you wanted to be treated”.

Rest in Peace our dear friend and family. You will never be forgotten as long as life and memory last. You will forever live in our hearts. We will miss your smile, your prayers your gentle face.

Loving memories never die as years roll on and days pass by.

In our hearts a memory is kept of ones we loved and will never forget.

Your Custodial family

Marcus and Shenita Heard Celebrate Son Marcus Jr.

Marcus and Shenita Heard are the proud parents of Marcus Heard Jr. also known as MJ. Marcus works as maintenance technician for SSC, he is hardworking and dependable; his son MJ is no different. SSC would like to congratulate MJ on his commitment to attend school and play football at Davidson College in North Carolina starting in this fall! Not only is MJ an all start athlete, but he is also ranked #27 in his class with a 4.12 GPA at Rudder High School in Bryan. MJ is also highly involved at school and in the community including National Honor Society, Vice President of Student Council, volunteer at Boys and Girls Club, youth leadership for United Way, volunteer and coach for AAU Aggieland Sports Alliance. We wish MJ and his parents all the best in this exciting new chapter!

February New Associates

CUSTODIAL NEW ASSOCIATES

Maria Banda

Tori Booker

Teran Castillo

Dalisa Cotton

Natalie Cruz

Jordan Densey

Manuel Flores

Xavier Franklin

Vince Galindo

Samuel Graham

Tiffany Guzman

Tyron Harris

Regina Herrera

Marion Jones

Beverly Lewis

Ma Josefina Lopez Chavez

Flora Loredo

Courtney Morales

Angelica Perez

Lizeth Rodriguez

Ofelia Romero

Kendra Smith

Elvin Sneed

Maria Villanueva

Richard Vasquez

Zyijonee Lewis

Tosha Womack

GROUNDS

Travis Hubacek

Richard Kahill

Antonio Maldonado

Jason McCleery

Chris Pizana

Sergio Ramos

MAINTENANCE NEW ASSOCIATES

Jose Cruz

Leobardo Flores

Mario Reyes

Mia Schultea

Brendon Smith

Joseph Thoele

Travis Turner

January New Associates

CUSTODIAL NEW ASSOCIATES

Richard Aguilar

Jessica Austin

Andre Bisor

Cynthia Brown

Jasmin Caballero

Teandrea Cooke

Silvia Cortez

Donnell Crawford

Sonia Diaz

Christopher Dowden

Fernando Gomez

Keasia Green

LaKeisha Green

Marilyn Jackson

Kerry Jones

Erwlaysia Lewis

Jennifer Lewis

Frederick Matthews

Isaiah Pierce

Edith Rojas

Jennifer Salinas

Carmen Sanchez

Darryl Sandles

Shannon Schultz

Michael Taylor

Elbert Thomas

De-ontrae Tucker

Martina Velazquez

GROUNDS

John Baker

Mitchell Ballis

Wyatt Casey

Dario Gonzalez

Noah Martin

Lewis Mologne

Rodrigo Salinas

Thomas Sisemore

Bracy Sweed

MAINTENANCE NEW ASSOCIATES

Alejandro (Alex) Alvarez

Jolene Glenn

Bryan Mejia

William Marquez

February GEMS

Grounds

Jesus Aguirre

Leslie Reed

Jeremy Stavinoha

Maintenance

Raymond Covington

Justin Crowley

Robert Gonzales

Jerry Toland

January GEMS

Custodial

Toni Hayward

Lakesha Henderson

Guadalupe Patlan

Shankeria Smith

EDCS Quarterly

Kenny Marek

EDCS GEM OF THE YEAR

Grady Winkler

Grounds

Patricia Estes

Dalton Martin

Noradino Ramos

Maintenance

Cody Bernhard

Marvin Mathis

Patrick Nowlins