Campus News

Trotchie named Great Falls College Service Leader of Year

Gary Trotchie, student government vice president at Great Falls College, has been named the college's Service Leader of the Year.

Gary Trotchie has crammed a lot into his time at Great Falls College MSU.

Service Saturdays, food pantry volunteer, student government vice president and founder of the gaming club to name a few things.

For all of that, Trotchie has been named the Service Leader of the Year for Great Falls College by the governor's office of community service.

"From the minute Gary walked into student engagement on our campus, he was thinking about new ways to do almost everything," wrote Joshua Archey, director of the Office of Student Engagement at Great Falls College, in his nomination letter for Trotchie. "Gary has invested his time fundraising and encouraging membership into Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, including basket raffles, PTK awareness days and contributing to the groups journey through the star chapter process."

Trotchie said he doesn't get involved in projects for the accolades.

"I just want to see positive change," he said.

A big part of his service is with the food pantry where he follows in the path of his mother, Deb Kemper, who organized the Boy Scouts of America's citywide food drive in Great Falls for years.

"I got here and heard that we have a food pantry, and I thought I could do something like my mom did but on a smaller scale, and I found out it's a lot of work, but it's really rewarding," Trotchie said. "When the shelves start out full and then they're empty, that means people are eating, and that warms my heart."

He said it's been gratifying to see increased use from the pantry as Trotchie and Aaron Frank, president of the student government, made it a priority for this school year.

"Food security is a big issue in America," Trotchie said. "If our neighbor is full, we're full, most likely we're too stuffed to argue."

Trotchie, who is a student-worker who at maximum can work 20 hours a week in the Office of Student Engagement, said the support of the college helps a lot.

"I've got to tip my hat to Josh (Archey)," he said. "He's an awesome boss. He'll never say, 'No,' to a bad idea. He just polishes it."

This school year has provided an extra set of challenges with the pandemic, but Archey said student leaders such as Trotchie have made a difficult time a lot easier.

"As all students venture through the unique situation that Covid-19 has brought, Gary has continued to ensure that students have continued to get critical resources to help their success," Archey wrote in his nomination letter for Trotchie.

A big part of the work Trotchie has done is working to decrease any any barriers students may feel about making use of the pantry.

"He has positively contributed to a variety of projects that have helped eliminate stigma and increase usage on campus, through Grab and Go Dinners and always (being) available during off hours to get someone in the pantry," Archey wrote.

Trotchie also worked to create the Great Falls Gaming Club and worked to ensure students have access to it while building camaraderie within the club and increasing visibility for it on the campus.

Trotchie, who graduated from Paris Gibson Education Center in 2008 is working on pre-requisites before applying for the nursing program, is one of 12 people from various campuses to receive the honor.

"These young Montanans embody the spirit of service that is at the core of our values as a state," said Gov. Steve Bullock said. "This year, more than ever, we need folks like these students who get out there and work to effect positive change in their communities. This is only the start of what is likely a lifelong commitment to service, and I cannot wait to see what each accomplishes in the upcoming years."