ISU Bengal

Issue date: 4/19/06 Section: News

Media Credit: Megan Isaak Dean of Students Doug Covey and Interim President Gallagher present Qureshi the annual award of "Student Employee of the Year."

Five ISU student employees received awards for outstanding service to the campus at a reception in their honor. The ISU Student Employee of the Year selection process started in February, when campus employers were encouraged to send in their nominations for their outstanding students in the department.

Thirteen students were nominated, and of those, five received awards, said Jan McDougall, Student Employment Coordinator. "Unfortunately we don't have enough awards for everyone to win," she said.

The five winners who are being recognized are each getting prizes for their effort.

First prize goes to Maria Qureshi, who works in the International Student Admissions office.

"Maria's such a hard worker, she's instrumental to this office," said Tami Carson, who nominated Maria for the award. There are only three people working in the office, and we all rely on each other, Carson said.

Qureshi has worked in the International Student Admissions office for two years and is the only student in the office, Carson said. A $2000 scholarship has been awarded to Qureshi. She also received a plaque with her name on it at a reception for her on Friday, Carson said.

The first runner-up won the Jim and Arlene Lupher scholarship, McDougall said. This was awarded to Brandon Hunt who works in the Foreign Language department.

"We nominated Brandon for his technical skills in the department," said Donna Gilbert, who works with Hunt. Hunt is an office assistant, who also works with computers. To help out the office, Hunt wrote storage and database programs, Gilbert said. He wrote these programs during the summer, and they really help out, she said. The scholarship he received is worth $470, McDougall said.

Michelle Bilodeau, who works as a Lab Assistant for Mary Ann Stoll in the Biological Sciences Prep. Room, won the second runner-up prize. "I have so many great students in my department, that I had to flip a coin to decide which one I was going to nominate," Stoll said. Her employees make many decisions on their own, and do not need a whole lot of supervision, she said. "Michelle's a quick learner, and we're very happy to have her," Stoll said. Bilodeau won a free parking pass for next semester, and a $50 gift certificate to the ISU Bookstore, said McDougall.

The third and fourth runners up won a $25 gift certificate from the ISU Federal Credit Union, McDougall said. Third runner up, Abdul Fatah Jabarkhail works for Pond Student Union Maintenance. Darla Bell, the Custodial Foreperson nominated Jabarkhail. Bell could not be reached for comment.

Fourth runner-up, Scott Odekirk, works in the Communication and Rhetorical Studies department. Sarah Partlow Lefevre, who works with Odekirk in the department, nominated Odekirk. She could not be reached for comment.

This is just one of the events that took place during Student Employee Week, April 9 through the 15.

"This is really a big deal for our campus for students to be recognized for their achievements," McDougall said.

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