District Court Clerk receives Outstanding Individual Achievement Award

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By JESSICA ROBINSON

A new plaque is proudly displayed at the Big Horn County District Court office after Clerk Serena Lipp received the Outstanding Individual Achievement Award from the Wyoming Child Support Association in August for her contributions to the child support program. 

Lipp has been a member of the board of directors for Basin Authority, the local child support program, since January of 2015 when she was first elected as clerk of district court.

In a release, Basin Authority’s executive and state attorney Jodie Thompson says Lipp “has been an invaluable member of the board who works passionately to serve her constituents and takes pride in doing things right and well. She truly cares about people.”

Lipp’s staff commended her for an expectancy of compassion to maintain a cohesive work environment and making customers a priority.  

Brianna Williamson, Jan Johnson and Vickie Collingwood, who serve as deputy clerks in Lipp’s office, submitted a nomination form in June. They wrote, “Serena’s sheer dedication to the people of Big Horn County should be enough to receive this award. Serena takes her job seriously and recognizes that we don’t just accept money and disburse it. She understands and ensures the whole child support staff realizes what the money they receive could mean to a family.”

They continue, “When someone calls, comes in to pay, or has questions, she stops everything to make sure that person knows they are a priority. When dealing with families on the in-depth level that the clerks of district court do, there is an expectancy of compassion to maintain a cohesive work environment. Some customers drive from all over Big Horn County, just to pay child support, because of the standards of respect and service they receive from our clerk of district court.”

They finish by writing, “Serena K. Lipp, elected by the people, always working for the people.”

In a release, Tracy Haley, the child support supervisor in Basin stated that Lipp is “awesome to work with and is willing to help out with anything she can.”

Haley said Lipp has made numerous improvements to the clerk’s office to make things easier for Big Horn County residents including improving the passport application process and taking child support payments via credit card over the phone.

During the COVID-19 restrictions, Lipp made sure her office continued to run smoothly and that there was no delay in services.

In the release, it was stated that Lipp’s award was based on her exemplary dedication to the people of the Big Horn County.

“I am so thankful for my staff and staff members of Basin Authority,” said Lipp. “We are a great team and everyone works hard to provide cordial and outstanding service every day.”

“This award is as much for them as it is for myself. It takes all of us working together.”

A quote Lipp recites is, “Great things are never done by one person. They are done by a team of people.”

“I am so proud of the work that we do and how we do it together,” she said. “I appreciate all of them and all they do. They are a wonderful group of hard-working women, both my deputy clerks of district court staff and the staff of the Basin Authority Child Support Agency.”