Monday, December 9, 2019 10368 View all Fort Lewis College news FLC Director of Student Union & Event Services earns high honors Jill Coons received the Silver Torch Award for her career in auxiliary services and years of service in NACAS. National Association of College Auxiliary Services, the largest auxiliary and ancillary services support organization serving higher education, named Jill Coons, director of Student Union & Event Services at Fort Lewis College, winner of the Silver Torch Award at the C3X 2019 Annual Conference & Expo in Phoenix, Arizona. Coons will retire in May 2020. “Receiving the Silver Torch award reminds me of all the times throughout my professional career that I’ve had the opportunity to positively impact people’s lives,” said Coons. “Even after retirement, I aspire to continue along that path.” Coons has been involved in auxiliary services for 30+ years and has been deeply involved and committed to NACAS since 2002. Her constant enthusiasm, positive attitude, and willingness to help others has made a huge impact on the association and the members. She helps navigate new associates to the resources and people that make up our unique organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of our students. “Jill Coons is without a doubt the most energetic, welcoming, and hardworking member of NACAS,” said Joe Eggleston, Assistant Vice President of Auxiliary Operations at Southern California University of Health Sciences. “To put it plainly, while it can be stated that no organization can be defined by an individual, I would posit that without Jill’s 13 years of dedicated involvement, NACAS would in no way be the organization it is today. We are the better for her contributions and our students – past, present, and future – are as well.” The Silver Torch Award honors an employee of a member institution or Business Partner who retires during the conference year, has served in the profession for ten or more years, and has served NACAS on a regional or national level. “NACAS is my extended family,” said Coons. “The association has been responsible for my career growth and development, providing education through all facets of issues on college campuses, supporting me through regional and national committee work, and loving me through friendships built to last a lifetime. It’s hard to imagine my life without NACAS.”