MOSES LAKE - A Big Bend Community College administrator was recognized with a national award last month. Terry Kinzel, director of the Title V grant program and a college grant writer, was among 400 people in the country to receive a John and Suanne Roueche Excellence Award.

Kinzel wrote 17 successful grant applications, generating $17.25 million, for the college during the last eight years, said Doug Sly, the college's spokesperson. The money was used to remodel and expand campus buildings, as well as build technology infrastructure and capacity, Sly said.

In addition, the grants helped college officials establish a campus child care center, make changes to student services and helped pay for faculty continuing education, Sly said. Her work supported the effort that "transformed how developmental math is taught at BBCC," Sly said.

The 2007-09 recession and its aftermath prompted budget cuts at the state level that cost BBCC 25 staff positions, Sly said. "Kinzel's success at grant writing helped the college keep moving forward," he said.

She led the effort that netted the college three federal grants, worth about $11.2 million, between 2009 and 2011, Sly said. That came at a time of heightened national competition for those grants, BBCC President Terry Leas said.

"The outcomes of recent years show the grant programs have helped expand academic attainment and increased opportunities for all our students," Leas said.

The grant money helped pay for a new STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) center and a new Student Success Center, Sly said.

Two of the grants include an endowment match, Sly said. Donations to the endowments are matched dollar-for-dollar with federal money, he said. If BBCC can raise the maximum amount in donations, the college could receive up to $1.12 million, he said.

The BBCC Foundation is working on the endowment fund donation project, Sly said. People who want more information on donating to the endowment fund, and the dollar-for-dollar match program, can contact the foundation office, 509-793-2004.