It's 'pretty cool'





Pictured are, from left, Tulsa's American Red Cross CEO Regina Moon; and TCC staff Akiko Simmons, Mina Herren-Smith, Sybil Ogden and Dr. Peggy Dyer.





I've heard some amazing things this week about what TCC employees are doing to help others, not just within Tulsa, but across the state and globe. It makes me feel, in the words of SNL's spoof of Miley Cyrus, that it's "pretty cool."

Akiko Simmons was visiting her family in Japan when a the March 11 tsunami hit. Both Simmons and her family made it safely through the disaster that killed thousands. When she returned to her job at TCC's West Campus, she made it her mission to raise money for the Japan Relief Effort. She and a group of employees raised $1,301.31, and the money is now in the hands of Tulsa's American Red Cross. So, if you are at the TCC West Campus, find her and tell her "thank you!"

Another person who gets snaps this week is Rhonda Wilhite, who works in the Resource Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, received the President's Award at this past weekend's Oklahoma Association of the Deaf conference. She was the driving force in making sure the Miss Deaf Oklahoma pageant and Youth Leadership Day were not canceled this year. If you are at the TCC Northeast Campus, tell her "congrats!"