Departments
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Week of 17 April 1998 |
Vol. I, No. 28 |
Feature Article
CAS senior named Student Employee of the Year
by Eric McHenry
Although BU's top student employees are named Andronica, Boggie, and Case, the process by which they were selected was not as simple as ABC.
The University has over 9,000 students on staff. Amy Andronica (CAS'98), the 1998 Student Employee of the Year, and runners-up Matt Boggie (CAS'99) and Emily Case (CAS'98) were chosen from a group of 12 finalists, whose nominations had been winnowed from an initial group of 61.
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Student Employee of the Year
Amy Andronica (front) has worked for four years in
the CAS dean's office. Behind her (from left) are
coworkers Todd Zinn, senior staff assistant, Brandy
Gibbs, administrative assistant and student
employee supervisor, Rochelle Robbins, assistant
dean, and Tara Abbatello, program coordinator.
Photo by Kalman Zabarsky
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Andronica was somewhat taken aback by the news that she had won, she said. Hard work has always been its own reward, to her mind, so accolades are a pleasant surprise.
"Because of the work ethic instilled in me by my parents," she said, "I've always just expected to work hard. But I've never expected this sort of recognition. It's great to feel appreciated when you've put your heart into something, but I really don't think of that as going above and beyond the call of duty. I've never wanted to put my name on anything but my best work."
Each member of the evaluating panel reviewed nominations separately, then ranked them. The winner and runners-up were determined by cumulative score and were recognized at an awards ceremony that took place April 8 in the GSU Faculty Dining Room. Event organizer Michelle Gormley, senior assistant director of the Student Employment Office, read excerpts from each of the honorees' nominating letters. Barbara Tornow, executive director of the Financial Aid Office, presented Andronica with a plaque and a $500 savings bond. Boggie and Case each received certificates and $100 bonds.
"We're here to honor three very special people who have really demonstrated the highest level of performance, not just by student employees, but by any employees of the University," said Tornow after conferring the awards.
"We're also recognizing the contributions that all student employees make to our offices and to the University. We could not provide the quality of service to students or be as knowledgeable about the needs of students on our campus if it weren't for those student employees.
"These three, however, have made real commitments and provided exemplary service, far beyond the expectations of their jobs. As you heard from the recommendations, they are outstanding people and have done a tremendous job, which I'm sure will bode well for success in the world beyond Boston University," Tornow said.
Andronica has worked for four years in the CAS dean's office. In an unambiguous letter of recommendation, Brandy Gibbs, administrative assistant and student employee supervisor, praised Andronica's ability to handle multiple tasks with grace. She wrote with particular enthusiasm about a guide to registration for declared students that Andronica had prepared: "Amy took the initiative to call each individual department in the College of Arts and Sciences and inquire about departmental-specific procedures for advising and registering declared students," Gibbs wrote. "She compiled a marvelous guide that our office uses to direct students during registration once they have declared a major concentration."
"Amy has a stronger work ethic than any student I've ever worked with," Gibbs said, echoing her letter's introductory paragraph. Although Andronica has a valuable familiarity with the operations of her office, both internally and as it interacts with other University offices, she never hesitates to ask questions about how best to perform new tasks. It is a "measure twice, cut once" approach to the job.
"She's a phenomenal individual," said Gibbs. "I have full confidence that she'll be able to go on and do anything she wants. Her work for our office reflects only a small part of her abilities."
Multitasking in life as she does at work, Andronica recently gained early admission to the law school at Duke University and is currently planning her August wedding.
Boggie is a three-year employee of the Orientation and Off-Campus Services Office. Recently he codesigned a Web site that has brought national recognition to the office and to him, beating out over 250 other entries to earn the Outstanding Non-Print Media and Emerging Technology Publication award at the November 1997 National Orientation Directors Association Conference in Denver.
Case has worked for four years in the Office of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. Heidi Shore, senior program coordinator, wrote in her letter of recommendation about the experience of being trained by Case: "Only in her sophomore year, she nonetheless helped me become acclimated with the department and prepared me to answer the myriad of questions and calls that come in daily. It takes a mature and sensitive individual to be able to step up and train her supervisor . . ."