By Ariel Jicha
Elm Staff Writer
Faculty, family and friends gathered in Litrenta Lecture Hall last Friday afternoon to recognize the hard work and dedication of Washington College students at the annual Student Employee of the Year Awards. Each year the Washington College Student Advisory Group selects a winner and three finalists during National Student Employment Week. To be nominated, a student must have worked for at least two semesters in the same department and be in good academic standing. Having a great work ethic and being dependable also helps. Seven students were nominated out of 500 student employees. Nominees included: Phoneathon Caller sophomore Valerie Bardhi; Baseball Administrative Assistant freshman Andrew Huelskoetter; and Multi-Media Assistant freshman Andrew Ritsch. Vice President for Admissions and Enrollment Management Kevin Coveney announced the four finalists: senior Billie Joe Ricketts, senior Jessica Klein, junior Claudette Erickson, and senior Isabell Blakey.
Klein was nominated by her supervisor, Assistant to the Athletic Director for Communications and Academic Support Phil Ticknor, for her notable work as athletics communication assistant. Erickson handles all of the forms and letter certificates for student-athletes under Athletics Office Manager Susanne Kelly.
Blakey, nominated by Administrative Assistant Vickie Anderson, is an office assistant in Health Services.
This year’s Employee of the Year is senior Billie Joe Ricketts. Ricketts worked as an animal caregiver in WC’s psychology department under Gail Russell, coordinator of Living Resources. According to Russell, Ricketts worked long hours, weekends and holidays and could always be counted on to cover an open shift. Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Michael Kirchner said, “We will be hard-pressed to find a comparable individual next year.”
Adding to the accolades Russell commented, “She has become an integral part of yearly inspections,” referring to the evaluations animal control officials must conduct. Coveney congratulated all of the nominees and student-employees in general, praising them as “vital to the operation of this institution. We’re happy to be a part of your lives.”