Ruwitch is Student Employee of Year

Psychology major Sarah Ruwitch (’08) has worked for two years (including summers!) as an office assistant in the Graduate school’s teacher education department. In the office, she has done everything from general office stuff, to preparing a program for accreditation, in addition to what she described as “weird projects for faculty.”

Ruwitch, who also has an off-campus retail job and an internship, has thoroughly enjoyed her position at the grad school office. “The women who work there are great. They are flexible, amazing bosses,” she said. She also explained that the job has given her a really different perspective about the higher education system and how it works. Working with faculty and program coordinators has made her understand how complicated the system is.

Ruwitch said that she had not heard of the Student Employee of the Year program until her boss told her she’d nominated her. When asked Wednesday, before the winner was announced, how she felt about the upcoming awards ceremony, Ruwitch said, “They’re going to give us dessert or something, so I’m excited about the possibility of free food.”

Ruwitch also appreciated the value of the employee of the year program. She said that, in contrast to the “standard” student job, some positions require students to be a real member of the team and interact with real adults. “I think it’s great that they’re recognizing that,” said Ruwitch, who added that this aspect of her job makes it enriching.

The Student Employee of the Year award ceremony took place Thursday night, and twenty finalists, from many different departments, were honored. Ruwitch will be entered into a Regional and National competition against other colleges from around the nation.