Nancy Toche honored with Blue and Gold Spirit Award

Nancy Toche’s days start early, long before most students and faculty arrive on campus. As a Grounds Maintenance Worker for the Yuba Community College District, she is often the first to see Yuba College’s Marysville Campus . With her endless positivity and years of dedication, Toche has become a familiar and beloved figure on campus, known for her energy, warmth and pride in her work.

This year, her commitment has not gone unnoticed. Toche is the recipient of the Blue and Gold Spirit Award, an honor chosen by Yuba College employees to recognize a District level employee for making a difference at the college.

“Working at Yuba College is always exciting,” she said. “There’s never a dull moment, for sure. When it slows down, you find ways to make it exciting and fun.”

The college employees who nominated her praised Toche as someone who stands out in her field for her excellence and the way she lifts others.

She distinguishes herself in a male-dominated field, embodying the inspiring spirit of Yuba College. Her unwavering enthusiasm and positivity create a warm and welcoming atmosphere on campus. Her deep affection for the Yuba College staff and students shines through in her dedication to making the campus inviting and appealing.

Toche says she loves the freedom of working outside. “I love mowing and the outside freedom,” she said. “And I still get to go home early enough to be with my family.” Her work, while physically demanding, brings her joy, especially knowing her efforts contribute to the safety and beauty of the campus.

One of her main daily priorities is ensuring the campus is clear of hazardous debris before students, faculty and staff arrive. It’s a task she takes seriously. “Overcoming it becomes a bit easier when you have various motorized equipment to move faster, so it gets taken care of as a priority,” she said.

Being recognized with the Blue and Gold Spirit Award has been gratifying for her. “I’m humbly blessed,” Toche said. “It’s an honor. I’m very grateful, both personally and professionally—thank you!”

As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field, Toche faced her share of challenges early on. “It was difficult at first, just like any place where you’re new and trying to fit in,” she recalled. “Especially because I entered as another female grounds maintenance worker who hadn’t been hired in years prior.” But she soon found her footing and formed lasting relationships with her coworkers, many of whom she still keeps in touch with after they’ve retired. “We became family,” she said.

Her motivation, she says, comes from her children. “They’ve grown up watching me do ground maintenance their whole lives,” she said. “I wanted to teach them a good work ethic and that you can do anything regardless of your gender, so they have no excuses.”

Toche’s work is more than just a job: it’s a reflection of her pride, her dedication and her desire to lead by example. Whether she’s clearing the grounds, mentoring through her actions, or sharing a laugh with colleagues, Toche continues to leave a mark on the Yuba College community, one that is as lasting as the well-tended paths she walks each morning.