Securitas Security Services USA recently awarded GC security supervisor Michaela Powell with a Supervisor of the Month award for January. Michaela received the award for outstanding service to a Securitas client, in this case, Goshen College.
“Basically we try to do what the client asks and hopefully not too much of it is out of our reach” said Powell. This is Powell’s third award from Securitas and she modestly attributes some of her success to the good behavior: “If students don’t cooperate, it gets reported.”
Powell has worked at GC for seven years. “It’s been amazing,” Powell said, “I’ve always had a very positive outlook from the students. When I first started here it was not what I expected and it turned into more than I thought it could be.”
The window to Powell’s office is partially covered with photographs from her years at GC. She has more undeveloped film and hopes to eventually blanket the glass with memories.
Powell’s position in security does not distance her from students because her attitude gives her the opportunity to meet and befriend people she wouldn’t otherwise know. One year CAC asked Powell to chase them off the stage during a campus event. Powell agreed, but got very sick on the arranged night. Rather than cancel the stunt our security supervisor came to school and chased CAC off the stage.
Memories and people are important to Powell. She collects the tassels from past graduations and a small shelf in her office displays gifts from Goshen students (ceramic mugs, a jewelry box from Peru, an Indian Charm necklace, a Valentine from Kratz 4, and other presents).
“The college has brought a lot of joy to me in the years I’ve been here,” Powell said. “I get to watch [students] grow into young, beautiful adults. I think that would be the highlight of it all.”
Bruce Miller recently celebrated his tenth year on the Goshen College security staff and received an award for his service. Miller almost unfailingly meets students with a greeting and a smile. “You get along with the students better if you talk to them,” explains Miller.
