Two Bart the Cougar woodcarvings by Barry Bowers have been making the rounds at Barton Community College since last November. Barton President Dr. Marcus Garstecki asked the Great Bend man to make them as traveling trophies for outstanding employees.

“I thought we needed a way to recognize faculty and staff – all the wonderful people that we have,” he said. “We have a rich tradition here at Barton and it continues on today because of the people that we have.”

One carving shows the college mascot wearing a suit and tie, while the other has Bart in a basketball uniform.

Garstecki recalled the first time he saw one of Bowers’s Bart carvings.

“I thought, ‘That’s really cool; who doesn’t want one of those?’”

The two carvings are now awards, presented monthly, with Dr. Garstecki making the inaugural awards presentation in November. When passing them on, the recipients select the next individual or department to receive it and they also contribute something personal, such as a note or small gift. This creates a meaningful chain of recognition across campus, he said.

The first recipients were Julia Clemons, who has been a custodian on campus for 36 years, and Myrna Perkins and the Financial Aid team – Jennifer Miller, Leann Steinert, Shanda DeYoung, Michelle Freeman, Logan Marshall, Kaitlin DeWerff and Latisha White.

Clemons passed her award to Amye Schneider, assistant to the president and clerk to the board of trustees. Financial Aid’s choice was the Military Academic Services team of Abby Kujath, Janet Balk, Megan Phillips, Carly Page and Samantha McDaniel.

It traveled from Schneider to Todd Moore, assistant athletic director and sports information director. Kujath and her team chose the Enrollment Services department – Jessica Vsetecka, Lori Crowther, Kim Neifert, Shanda Mull and Sara Martinz.

The Barts are still traveling to people who have gone above and beyond, Garstecki said.