Student Employee of the Year Nominees (2025)

Matthew Boyle is being nominated for student employee of the year withing the category of technology and innovation. Matt is a live broadcasting student worker within the athletics department who works on the broadcasts of Monmouth University sporting events which are live streamed or shown on linear television. He is a senior who has spent the past four years working for the Monmouth Digital Network.

Matt is being nominated in the category of technology and innovation for his dedicated work on cameras and technical directing. He has a tremendous amount of experience with all different types of cameras. Matt has the ability to trouble shoot, setup, and break down any camera by himself. Not only is Matt proficient on camera but he being working for the Monmouth Digital Network four years ago as a technical director. Matt has directed over 50 SNY/NBC Philadelphia broadcasts since he started four years ago. He is extremely bright and has a mind for broadcasting. Matt has the confidence and drive to think of the shots he wants to achieve and creatively execute them well while being exposed to variables such as weather, equipment and athletic players.

Overall, Matt is an outstanding student worker who exceeds expectations when it comes to technology and innovation within his position. I am always confident that when Matt is working a camera or as the technical director, a creative and great job will be done.

I would like to nominate Victoria Chiusano (s1332016) for Student Employee of the Year 2025 at Monmouth University. Victoria has worked for me as a Desk Assistant (FWS) in Writing Services for more than three years, and during that time she has demonstrated an incredibly high degree of professionalism, integrity and skill in handling her role as the “face” of Writing Services when Sharon Botwinick, our secretary, is away from our desk. She is highly deserving of this award, and I am very proud of the work she has done for us. I have no reservations or hesitation whatsoever, therefore, about nominating her.

Victoria applied for the position of Desk Assistant in October 2021. It is hard to believe that she came to us as a first year student only about a month into her time here at Monmouth. We needed someone to cover the front desk to handle walk-ins, drop-ins, answer calls and emails and help student get checked in for their appointments when both Sharon and myself could not be in the writing center. Victoria demonstrated very quickly that she was more than equipped to handle the job. She always presented herself as mature beyond her years, and she always handled situations with calm and aplomb. Being in the role of Director of Writing Services myself for only two years myself at that point and still learning while on the job, I felt so reassured that I could rely on such a capable undergraduate student to handle the necessary tasks of the position when I was not there. Victoria not only manages the scheduling platforms Navigate and Accudemia with ease, but she is diligent about responding to student emails and is a friendly, pleasant face to greet students when they arrive for appointments.

Because of the student-facing nature of her work and because she takes on a large obligation on behalf of a bustling student support service here at Monmouth in Writing Services, I think Victoria best fits the leadership category for excellence. The writing assistants who meet directly with the students for their appointments take their cue from the example of professionalism and courtesy that Victoria sets for everyone in the writing center. Whether she is having a bad day or a great day, Victoria never fails to be exemplary – in both the sense of being excellent and in the sense of being someone to follow – for her peer student employees.

Victoria has a very bright future in whatever career path she chooses. She is a political science major, and she has expressed interest to me in applying to law school. Whether as an attorney or in some other field, Victoria will be successful. I do not flatter myself that the work she performed as a Desk Assistant for us in the Writing Center will contribute anything overly substantial toward her future career endeavors; I would like to think of this, instead, as an early stop on her journey toward becoming a highly successful individual in her chosen arena. She is just that type of person.

Most importantly, Victoria is just a good person. She is personable, thoughtful, compassionate, intelligent, has a great sense of humor, and is just a joy to be around. I have felt so fortunate to know her and have her work for us for the last three-plus years, but more than anything it has just been wonderful getting to know her as a person. I can think of no other student more deserving of this award. I ask that you give her the strongest consideration for this honor.

It is with great enthusiasm that I nominate Leslie Fuentes for the Student Employee of the Year award. Leslie has been with our department for three years, and during this time, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, knowledge, initiative, and professionalism. Leslie currently holds three positions on campus while also balancing her academic responsibilities and student teaching. Her ability to manage these roles while excelling in each speaks to her remarkable time management, dedication, and leadership qualities, making her an ideal candidate for this prestigious recognition.

Leadership and Initiative

Leslie’s leadership abilities have been evident from her first day with our department. As the lead Student Employment office assistant, she plays a central role in assisting students through the hiring process and mandatory trainings. She takes the time to explain the steps involved in securing on-campus employment, walking students through the necessary paperwork, and ensuring they understand the expectations of their positions. Leslie’s clear and patient guidance has helped numerous students navigate the often-complex hiring process, making their experience seamless and stress-free.

In addition to supporting students through the hiring process, Leslie has also been instrumental in explaining mandatory training sessions for new student employees. Leslie’s ability to impart this knowledge in an engaging and approachable manner has been invaluable in setting students up for success in their positions.

Beyond her role in training and guiding new hires, Leslie also serves as a mentor to other student employees within our department. She is a go-to resource for her peers, offering support, advice, and a helping hand whenever needed. Leslie’s willingness to share her knowledge and experience with others has created a collaborative and supportive environment within the office. She fosters a sense of camaraderie among student employees, helping them feel connected and empowered to succeed.

Professionalism and Initiative

Leslie’s professionalism is evident in every aspect of her work. She approaches her tasks with a strong sense of responsibility and dedication, always striving to do her best. Her communication skills are outstanding, and she excels at explaining complex information in a clear and concise manner, ensuring that students, staff, and faculty understand procedures.

Leslie’s initiative extends beyond her regular duties. She has proactively created resources to help student employees in our department, such as step-by-step guides for the hiring process. Her efforts to improve office processes and provide additional training have made a lasting impact on the department and have significantly improved the student employment experience for everyone involved.

Impact and Dedication

Leslie’s contributions to our department are immeasurable. She not only assists students with the technical aspects of their employment but also provides emotional support, helping students balance their academic and professional responsibilities. Her willingness to lend an ear, offer advice, and help students navigate challenges has made her a beloved member of our team.

Leslie’s ability to successfully balance her three roles—our office, Athletics, and FWS off-campus with the local school system, along with her student teaching responsibilities—demonstrates her exceptional dedication, time management, and work ethic. She continues to excel in each of her positions in our office, Athletics and FWS off campus with local school system, despite the demanding nature of her schedule. Leslie’s impact on the student employment process has been profound, and her efforts to teach and guide others have helped countless students grow in their roles.

Conclusion

Leslie Fuentes is an outstanding student employee whose leadership, initiative, and professionalism have had a significant impact on the Student Employment Office and the broader University community. Her dedication to assisting students through the hiring process, leading mandatory trainings, and mentoring her fellow student employees demonstrates her commitment to the success of others. Leslie’s ability to balance multiple roles while excelling in each is a remarkable achievement, and it is with great pride that I nominate her for the Student Employee of the Year award.

Jefferson Gonzalez is an outstanding candidate for student employee of the year, in the category of technology and innovation, demonstrating exceptional creativity and dedication as a key member of the Monmouth Digital Network. As a content creator, Jefferson has played a vital role in shooting, editing, and producing high-quality video content for social media, video boards, and MonmouthHawks.com. His ability to craft compelling visual narratives has greatly enhanced fan and team engagement and strengthened the brand of Monmouth Athletics. Whether capturing game highlights, producing feature stories, or designing engaging promotional content, his work has made a huge impact on how Monmouth Athletics is presented to the public.

In addition to his creative contributions, Jefferson has excelled in live broadcasts, taking on a variety of camera operator roles on our award-winning productions that air nationally on FloSports and on regional television broadcasts. His versatility has been instrumental in helping deliver seamless broadcasts for Monmouth Digital Network. His composure under pressure and attention to detail have elevated the overall quality of live productions, making him an invaluable asset to our team. Jefferson’s ability to transition between creative storytelling and the technical demands of live broadcasting showcases his well-rounded skill set and professionalism.

One of Jefferson’s most notable contributions came during the 2024 football season when Monmouth secured a historic FBS victory over FIU. He played a pivotal role in editing postgame content, ensuring that the highlights and storytelling captured the magnitude of the game. His ability to quickly produce engaging and professional-quality content allowed fans, alumni, and recruits to relive the moment and celebrate the program’s success. Jefferson’s commitment to excellence, creativity, and work ethic make him a truly deserving candidate for this recognition, and his impact on Monmouth Digital Network and Monmouth University will be missed as he is set to graduate this May.

I would like to nominate Joseph Guglielmo for Monmouth University’s student employee of the year. Joseph has been an integral member of our department for the past three years. Although he is not an international student nor did he study abroad during his time at Monmouth, he took his role in our office very seriously. He is someone that our department relies on and can count on when we need him. While all five categories are relevant to Joseph’s work, I am focusing on his exceptional contributions to Community Service.

Over the last year, Joseph has been pivotal in revitalizing the Study Abroad Club. After the club was put on hiatus due to the pandemic and dwindling numbers of students who were interested in traveling abroad, he stepped up as President last spring to lead the charge in rebuilding the club and its membership. He worked closely with other student employees to create the budget proposal so this returning club would have a budget this academic year and helped with recruiting efforts. While the club is student run now, our office played a large role in laying the foundation for this club in spring 2024 since it was not active at the time and Joseph was a huge part of that.  He also dedicated many afternoons to tabling events, increasing visibility for the Study Abroad Office and spreading awareness across campus. His efforts, along with our other team members, have sparked a renewed sense of excitement about study abroad opportunities.

Joseph’s most significant impact, however, has been his role as co-editor of our International Student Newsletter. Each month, he collaborates with two other student editors to create a publication that serves as a vital resource for our international student population. The newsletter not only keeps students informed about campus events and local happenings, but it also provides critical information regarding immigration matters. This resource has filled a gap at Monmouth helping international students feel supported, valued, and included. His excellent intercultural communication skills and his ability to think outside of the box has helped our office evolve. We now have more resources available at our international students’ fingertips than ever before. His dedication and work ethic has ensured the continuity of the newsletter, leaving a legacy that will benefit students for years to come.

In conclusion, I strongly recommend Joseph for this award. His unwavering commitment to the Global Education community and his lasting contributions will continue to make a positive impact on our department and the broader University community long after his graduation.

It is our pleasure to nominate Luke Hernandez for student employee of the year based on his extraordinary demonstration of critical thinking abilities. Luke is a senior Biology major and will graduate this year. Luke has worked as a lab assistant since Sophomore year. This has been a great learning experience for him. This position provided Luke the ability to teach underclassmen the lab skills and learning that has afforded him at this position.

The Biology department is a busy place with many interruptions and last-minute decisions. What sets Luke apart is his capacity to question the norm and seek better solutions. Luke can adjust easily to change and procedure. We feel confident enough to let Luke make the decisions needed at a single moment. This helps our labs run smoothly and efficiently.

This position provides Luke with the experience and use of lab skills that other students only get to use once a week.

Luke was a part of Dr. Andrianarijaona’s research team on mosquito bioinformatics research. He learned how to code in python and what AI and computers can do for the field. Luke had to think like a computer to write new code. This was a valuable experience for him and one that utilized his critical thinking.

Animal documentaries provided Luke with an interest in Biology and animals. Due to watching documentaries, Luke has a strong passion for conservation and research. He would love to study and fight against invasive species as they are one of our biggest threats to local ecology.

In doing so, he is very interested in graduate school. He would love to do something with insects or ants. His dream would be to study the spread and ecological impact of red imported fire ants.

On campus he is very involved in the theatre program. He volunteered for the shows and for the Monmouth University players. He has been a tech for more than a handful of shows, and have even acted in some.

In conclusion, Luke is the politest student and model student employee. He is very pleasant to know and work with. Luke has shown a real love for science and figuring out solutions. Just yesterday, he put on his thinking cap!

I am pleased to nominate Michael Ivanicki for the Monmouth University Student Employee of the Year award. As his supervisor, I have had the privilege of observing Michael’s exceptional dedication and strong work ethic over the course of his employment as an events assistant for athletics engagement. Though he prefers to work out of the spotlight, his quiet determination and tireless work behind the scenes make him a truly deserving candidate for this recognition.

Michael began working for athletics in the fall of 2021 when he was a first-year student. His job duties include setting up and operating the cash bar in the Varsity Club for trustees and athletic donors at home football and basketball events. In his role, he has consistently demonstrated a high level of responsibility and reliability.

Some of the most notable aspects of his work include:

1. Steady and Dependable Performance: Michael consistently completes tasks with accuracy and efficiency, often going above and beyond without the need for constant supervision. His ability to handle complex tasks independently has been a tremendous asset to our team. He approaches every task with an unwavering commitment to quality, always ensuring that expectations are exceeded. He stands out as a dependable student that is willing to work numerous basketball games that take place between fall and spring semesters when many of his fellow student workers are away from campus and unavailable to work.
2. Diligence and Quiet Leadership: While Michael may not seek the spotlight, he leads by example. His quiet yet effective approach to problem-solving and task completion has set a positive tone for the entire team. He is always willing to help co-workers, offering thoughtful solutions and providing support, even when it was not asked of him.
3. Commitment to Excellence: The quality of Michael’s work speaks volumes about his dedication and focus. Whether performing routine administrative tasks or handling more complex assignments, he consistently produces high-caliber results.
4. Quiet, Positive Attitude: Michael consistently maintains a positive and respectful demeanor, fostering a productive and collaborative environment. His presence is felt through the quality of his contributions and his ability to get the job done with a calm, collected approach.

In summary, Michael is an excellent student employee—quiet yet exceptionally hardworking, reliable, and dedicated. It is clear that his efforts have significantly benefited the University, and I believe that he is a worthy candidate for this award.

Thank you for considering this nomination for Michael Ivanicki as Monmouth University student employee of the year. I am confident that his contributions will continue to be impactful, and I am proud to recommend him for this well-deserved recognition.

We are writing this letter to nominate Alexander Kalina for the Student Employee of the Year award. Alex started as a biology laboratory assistant in September 2021 and has proven to be an invaluable asset since. He is a positive role model to our incoming freshman and underclassmen employees that he helps train. He logically and simply explains procedures to his peers, promotes a supportive group environment and relates to all group members on a consistent basis. The students like and respect him. Plus, he always displays a willingness to assume additional responsibilities and learn more.

Since the first day of working with us–Alex has shown that he is a quick learner and can rapidly think on his feet to solve problems–therefore the trait that best defines him is critical thinking.  

The Biology department is a busy place with many interruptions and last minute demands and things go wrong. Alex is calm and handles multiple priorities with ease. We are spread out on three floors plus a greenhouse and can trust that Alex can handle a task on the first floor while we are on the third floor. Working in Biology is not a glamorous job; on any given day, he can be making media, pouring agar plates, making molar solutions, operating the autoclave, cleaning glassware, checking the inventory, testing the safety showers for compliance, calibrating pH meters, running to the mailroom to pick up live goods needed for a class; all tasks that keep the student labs run smoothly! When Alex is working, we know that the tasks will be done correctly and in a timely manner.

Academically, he is in the Honors School and will graduate this spring with a degree in Biology with a concentration in Molecular Cell Physiology and a minor in Statistics.

In his four years at Monmouth, Alex has accomplished the following:

Freshman year:

• Participated in the Summer Scholars Program: conducted research with Jeffrey H. Weisburg, Ph.D., to study the effects of apple and pomegranate on oral cancer (specifically the NF-kB pathway). Continued research during the school year ($5000 in grant and stipend funding)

Sophomore Year

• Participated in research with Professor Jon Polishook, isolating unique fungi from seeds and honey. Currently trying to identify fungal species. (Schering plough Grant/Scholarship)
• Drug Development Summer Internship at Novartis 

Junior Year

• 1st place at HawkTank: Presented “Link”, a business pitch for improving patient recruitment in clinical trials
• Clinical Operations Summer Internship at Novo Nordisk; notable recognition was second place in innovation in action case competition. With a team of interns, he developed a socially media marketing campaign for a rare disease drug.

Senior Year

• NSF I-Corp: He was the entrepreneurial lead and conducted 20+ patient interviews to understand the patient recruitment landscape and problems associated with it in clinical trials. (and won $1,000 in grant funding).
• He is a part of the Center for Entrepreneurship (working to start a business related to clinical trial optimization).

As you can imagine, all these accomplishments require exceptional critical thinking abilities, where he had to analyze complex situations from different angles and anticipate potential outcomes. Alex excels in this when performing his biology responsibilities as well as his research. Outside of Monmouth, he enjoys spending time with his family, friends, his dog and he works part-time at Taka in Asbury Park.

In conclusion, Alex represents the model student employee that every University would be proud of. Upon him graduation we will have some BIG shoes to fill in the biology department and will miss this dedicated, organized, fun and friendly young man very much. Alex truly deserves to be considered as the student employee of the year at Monmouth University.

Gianna Olsen is the Production Services employee of the year for 2025. It is difficult to choose one category to nominate Gianna but if I must, it would be in the category of Technology and Innovation. To succeed as crew you must be able to ramp up quickly on technology and then apply a creative overlay to this technical knowledge. In the past two years, I’ve witnessed Gianna learning and excelling at video editing, web design, graphics, and digital cinematography. Each of these skills on their own is a specialized career path, requiring hours of training. Gianna approached each discipline with the drive to learn as much as possible in an effort to produce quality work for the department.

Gianna was also instrumental in working within a producer role. This requires the ability to communicate clearly with clients and coworkers. When it came to mentorship, Gianna, without hesitation, assisted new crew members with learning technology. Gianna admitted to me when she was first hired that she had anxiety working with the technology. This position requires that individuals gain the confidence to work on a professional level with outside clients. Working with me throughout the summer, I watched as Gianna overcame her anxiety, faced her fears, and mastered each skill. She would literally have sweaty palms when faced with new technology but never retreated and worked hard to talk her body and mind off the ledge. I’m in awe of how far she has come. She has graduated from the timid employee to a position where she now helps others to overcome their fears of working in a professional content creation environment. Gianna takes time to explain to others that she was, at one time, in their shoes and terrified of being behind the camera on set. Her empathy helps other crew members to understand that they too can overcome their anxiety.

Gianna will be missed when she graduates in May. She has become a talented part of the crew and has learned so many distinct technological skills that it will take time to train someone who could replace her. She is a cameraperson, editor, graphic designer, producer, and researcher. Her congeniality has made her a favorite with other crew members and clients.  Gianna is always on time, prepared, creative, and invested. She is already a professional and I look forward to seeing her belief in herself manifest into a media position with a sports outlet.

I am writing to enthusiastically nominate Emilia Porier for the Monmouth University Student Employee of the Year award. As an events assistant for athletics engagement, she exhibits superior leadership, interpersonal and critical thinking skills to ensure our alumni, donor and supporter events run smoothly. Her work ethic, positive attitude, teamwork and dependability help make our engagement events a positive experience for all attendees.

Emilia began working with athletics as a first-year student in the fall of 2021 during an important time when spectator attendance at basketball and football games was reinstated after a year-long layoff due to COVID-19. Her job duties include setting up and operating the cash bar in the Varsity Club for trustees and athletic donors at home football and basketball events. From her first day, she has flourished in her role displaying excellent interpersonal skills with the constituents and exhibiting maturity well beyond her age. She has established herself as a leader of our student worker team and is known by her fellow students and our Blue/White Club members for her positive attitude and outgoing personality.

As a result of her high level of service, we have expanded her duties to include office work related to data analysis of our food and beverage offerings at each home game. Throughout the 2024-25 school year, she has maintained our sales records and tracked spending for our athletics engagement events to ensure we stay within our budget. She proactively will illustrate sales patterns and share feedback that enables us to better serve our event attendees. Her attention to detail and her ability to independently solve challenges that arise set her apart from our other student workers.

Beyond her work for athletics engagement, Emilia is a model student and active member of the University community. She will graduate this spring with a degree in business administration and she maintains a 3.84 grade point average. She served as a peer assisted learning leader tutoring fellow students in various business courses and is a member of the Dean’s Student Advisory Council for the Leon Hess School of Business. She currently is the president of the Monmouth University Chapter of ENACTUS, an organization that supports United Nations sustainable development goals. In 2024, she won the Leon Hess Business Council Societal Impact Award.

Emilia is consistently punctual, reliable, and a positive presence in the office and at our events. She exhibits a level of professionalism that is rarely seen in student employees and it is evident that she takes pride in her work and in making a meaningful contribution to our department. Emilia has made an outstanding impact in her role as a student employee, contributing significantly to the success of our department.

I wholeheartedly recommend Emilia Porier for the Student Employee of the Year award. She truly deserves this recognition, and I am confident that her future endeavors will continue to reflect the same excellence and dedication she has displayed at Monmouth University.

I am in a fortunate situation where it was truly impossible to pick from potentially the most dynamic duo on campus for my student employee of the year nomination, which brings me to my second nominee, Kylie Schadt. If it was acceptable, I would have written these nominations together, as while they are individually amazing, the combination of the two is nothing short of tremendous. I have been fortunate to have Kylie as a student employee for three of her four years at Monmouth, where she has blossomed into an incredible young woman in the sport industry. She has dedicated so much of her time on campus to her role in our department, where she has become an everyday face to our coaches, administrators, student-athletes and beyond. Kylie has excelled in her position and has developed into an outstanding female leader in the world of sport and amongst out staff.

Kylie is one of those very special beings that is sunshine in human form. She genuinely radiates constant positivity, which is something that I aspire to emulate regularly. I remember after her interview thinking to myself, “that girl has such a bubbly personality, she’s going to do really well here,” which in hindsight was a massive understatement. She brings an infectious energy to work each time, and while I know that she must have them, I have never seen her have a “bad day” in three years. Her kindness is unmatched, and it has shown the most in her communications with her fellow student employees, our professional staff, and our fanbase. Kylie has participated in on-boarding and training most of our new hires since her junior year, where she has been a massive part of creating the welcoming and warm workplace culture that I strive for. She leads with love and has an incredible ability to be extremely high functioning and task oriented while remaining her altruistic self.

Kylie’s threshold for work is truly impressive, especially for an individual who maintains a 3.5 GPA in the Leon Hess School of Business, participates on the board of Love Blue, and fulfills the typical responsibilities of all college students. Collegiate athletics, specifically the marketing and fan experience realm is a high pressure, incredibly fast paced environment that requires the ability to stay levelheaded, constantly “think on your feet,” and be quick with decision making all while consistently interacting with fellow employees, fans of all ages, etc. It’s not that Kylie just does a “good job” with all of it, she absolutely thrives! She carries herself with confidence and grace, never appearing overwhelmed, flustered or frenzied. Whether in the office or at a home game, her ability to complete any task that comes her way (and there have been tasks of all shapes and sizes) with a smile on her face, continuously shows her skillset way beyond her years. Her great intuition for the industry combined with her impressive customer service abilities promises she will continue to be a force in the sport world.

As a member of a smaller college athletics department, I have often had the opportunity to “wear many hats,” especially over the course of the last three years. Our student employees are essential to not just being able to complete our roles but take on the “other duties as assigned” portion of the job description as well. Kylie has become someone that I can always rely on, who has really taken on learning all parts of the job and shown impressive initiative. I never hesitate to give her tasks, as she completes everything, not only in a timely manner, but always correctly as well. She is an incredibly fast learner and quick to pick up new assignments. Similarly, there is nothing that she shies away from on a gameday, whether it be helping a fellow student employee with an issue at a birthday party, assisting a sponsor with set up, or adjusting a media timeout, there is nothing that Kylie can’t and won’t do. I missed my first ever home basketball game last year due to illness, and while you might assume my duties would be absolved by another professional staff member, leading the troops that day, was none other than Kylie and her “partner in crime” Cat (I watched on the broadcast from home, and they obviously crushed it). It’s truly a testament to how well both know the job, the duties on a game day (which include working with numerous sponsors, youth teams, birthday parties, executing a game script from start to finish, and run all the promotions on the court and videoboard- just to name some), as well as how much trust our entire department and their fellow staff have in both Kylie and Cat. Both have taken on revamping our social media, going beyond assigned duties and completing tasks that students have not done for the department before.

Kylie is an exemplary student employee and is sure to continue to shatter glass ceilings for women in sports. She is the perfect combination of positivity, kindness, confidence and stellar work ethic, and will be a massive asset wherever she may go following her time at Monmouth. She is a leader amongst her peers and in our department, consistently showing initiative and growth. She thrives as an individual, in the greatest partnership I’ve had the pleasure to witness with her coworker (and more importantly, now friend) Cat, and with our student and professional team.

I am so honored to just know and even more so to nominate my athletics marketing assistant, Catherine Senatore, for the 2024-25 student employee of the year. I hired Cat in the fall of 2021, and she has since dedicated a remarkable amount of time to not only excelling in the classroom in the Honors School, but also learning every possible avenue of this department. She has become a face and a name recognized by every person within Athletics (and I’m sure outside of the department too with how much she works) and has truly grown into an outstanding female leader in the sports industry.

While I have been fortunate to have several, I am privy to how special it is to have a student through their entire college career. As a freshman, just a few weeks into school, Cat told me in her interview that she knew this job was what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. I had my doubts, as we have all been 18 and changed our career paths no short of several times, but Cat has proven that she is wise beyond her years and has known her calling since the second she stepped foot on campus. She spent her first year with us learning various student employee tasks from executing a game script, our in-game production elements like the videoboard and fan cameras, and various fan experiences that are offered at Monmouth Athletics events. She demonstrated incredible potential, and most impressively always maintained a stellar attitude while absorbing every aspect of the industry, even the often less than glamorous elements.

Sophomore year was a pivotal moment in Cat’s career, as I mentioned in my cover letter that I am lucky enough to have two students worthy of this nomination, the pair has become the ultimate dynamic duo. This dominating combination was born that fall when I hired Kylie. After one year with us, student employees train our new hires and are responsible for teaching our new teammates “the ropes.” Cat was assigned to training Kylie that football season and the rest is history! Cat has since trained many of our student employees and has demonstrated incredible leadership qualities in the process. She is kind and considerate while still communicating a sense of urgency in the fast-paced environment that is a college athletics game day. She is extremely detail oriented, an essential quality for any successful marketing personnel, and never misses a beat on a game day or in the office. Her last year and a half, she excelled beyond all expectations that I have of our student employees and has become someone who I not only depend upon, but can always count on, in our department. Our students work with not only the student body, faculty and staff, but our fans and the general public, which requires an elevated level of customer service skills and poise. She is an incredible representation our not only the Department of Athletics, but Monmouth of University.

Throughout her career, she has continued to grow and take on all tasks, and more importantly challenges, with extreme grace and a positive attitude. As I am the very rare one-woman show in a Division I college athletics marketing department, our students have become essential to providing an elite game day experience. Through her dedication and investment, Cat has continuously taken on more responsibility and become a massive contributor to our department. I missed my first men’s basketball game in my career last season when I was out with COVID-19, and that game was not headed by any other professional staff, but instead Cat and Kylie (I watched the broadcast from bed, and they crushed one of our highest attended men’s games of the season). Additionally, she has been at the helm of so many of our successful promotions, such as Pride Night, Family Fun Day, Trunk-or-Treat and has been dedicated to finding ways to improve our student experience on a game day. Most recently, she has expanded her talents even further, and is the mastermind behind many of our social media campaigns and even accounts. While an interesting subject matter now, she revamped the Athletics TikTok account and has successfully increased our following, views and interactions on various platforms such as Instagram. She is the first to step in when anyone in the department needs assistance and as only strengthened her skillset, resume and network by continuing to expand her knowledge of the collegiate athletics.

As a sophomore, Cat thanked me for providing her a place to feel like she belonged and fostering an environment where work teammates often form friendships outside of any given arena or field. That is a point of pride for me and has obviously been extremely important to her as she has become a major key in continuing to provide an awesome work culture. She has taken on a big sister role to many of our student employees and become a role model for so many others that are following in her footsteps. She knows all her colleagues (students and professional staff alike) beyond just whatever their role is in the department. She is someone that I have been so proud to lead and become someone I would be privileged to be led by. I have no doubts that Cat will succeed in any future endeavors she chooses to take on, though I do have a hunch it will be in the sports industry. She will be greatly missed by not just our marketing staff, but the entire Athletics Department, however her legacy will certainly never be forgotten.

Vaughn Staiger is being nominated for student employee of the year, specifically in the category of Outstanding Leadership. Vaughn is a senior live broadcasting student worker within the athletic department and Monmouth Digital Network who works on the broadcasts of Monmouth University’s sporting events which are either live streamed or shown on SNY Network and NBC Sports Philadelphia, local linear television. Vaughn has always worked hard at her positions that she is assigned to while working on broadcasts. Not only does she work hard every time she is working, but she is also consistently showing up excited and motivated to do the best she can do to greatly impact her fellow student employees, the work environment and the broadcasts positively. Her hard work and dedication for learning and improving herself has a lasting impact on the other students in the production room during broadcasts. Vaughn has grown tremendously in her role as a replay operator for our broadcasts. Being a replay operator sometimes has a bit of a learning curve during live broadcasts due to the fast pace of most sports, but that never deterred Vaughn from wanting to succeed at the position. She continued to work hard and grow in his position and has now become one of our main replay operators for most of our 100+ broadcasts. She is always thinking ahead and creating replay highlights for multiple different players within a game and selling them to the producer that they are ready to run, while also still clipping replays in real time and creating highlight packages for halftime and end of broadcast responsibilities. Not only has Vaughn grown so much in her role already, she continues to grow each time she works. 

Vaughn is a tremendous leader not only because she is a senior and upperclassman, but also because of her actions. Her ability to walk in the production room every time she works with a smile on her face and saying hello to her fellow students is just the first step she takes to motivating the students working beside her. Vaughn continually encourages her fellow student workers to try a new position at work or help to motivate them while they are learning a new position and working it for the first time. She will always tell a fellow student that when she started learning replay it was a learning curve but now she feels confident each time he is on it. Vaughn started working for the Monmouth Digital Network as a freshman, about four years ago, and now is one of the most experienced students we have working broadcasts. 

Vaughn is also always ready to take advice and implement it into her own work and skill set. She continues to want to grow in her role as a leader and replay operator. The student workers who work in live broadcasting are not only students and learners, but also teachers themselves. Vaughn is one of the best student workers who in turn is one of the best student teachers. Not only is she a great leader and teacher, but she is able to teach in a way that the younger students understand and are able to grasp the concept. She is always willing to share the way she orders her shots in highlights or which camera he usually starts with when looking for a replay or simply how she can multitask live clipping plays and creating playlists. Vaughn never has trouble answering questions from the younger students who are learning and picking her brain about her role. Vaughn has also had to balance her job with us and being an RA on campus. This just shows her time management skills along with her ability to be a leader in the dorms for other students. Overall, Vaughn is a tremendous student employee who not only is a hard worker and great at what she does, but is incredibly motivating and positive as a leader and one the younger student employees look up to.

Dan Yeserski is being nominated for student employee of the year, specifically in the category of Technology and Innovation. Dan is a senior live broadcasting student worker within the athletic department and Monmouth Digital Network who works on the broadcasts of Monmouth University’s sporting events which are live streamed on FloSports or broadcasted on linear television networks, SNY Network and NBC Sports Philadelphia. Dan is a student worker who took the time to dedicate and learn new positions within the control room to elevate himself and his hard work. Moving up in different roles within the control room, Dan initially starting with the audio board mixer which controls all the audio going out on the broadcasts. He understood from his classwork and experience with WMCX the importance of audio and levels. Dan was able to quickly grasp the role of working the audio board and when to add music and not have the same music playing the entire game. He is now in a position with the audio board that if another student was starting out in the audio position, he would be able to help explain which sliders are for what, when to add music and when to mute. He is able to help teach other students this role which shows that he has grasped the technology of the audio board. 

Dan moved from working the audio board for broadcasts to expressing interest in the technical directing role and the technical directing board. This role and piece of technology is a very important role in broadcasting, as they oversee cutting all the cameras that the producer calls for, essentially making sure the people at home watching see what the producer wants them to see. At times this role can be extremely stressful with a lot of buttons to press quickly while listening for calls and replays. Dan was able to learn the board and quickly step in to working it for some our larger broadcasts such as football and basketball. With most of those games being linear television games, there are a lot of eyes that get on them beyond the reach of just family members of the athletes playing in the game. This never seemed to phase Dan of if he was technical directing for a tv game or not, he knew the board and knew what buttons to press when. Just like at the audio board, we place younger students next to Dan during games in order for them to watch the board being operated during a game and learn from a more experienced student worker like Dan controls it. He is quick to go over the different buttons for cutting different cameras, using different wipes and how we get in and out of replays during the games. 

Overall, Dan is a great student employee who not only wanted to learn the technology but learn more than one role and piece of technology. Not every game is perfect for every student worker but Dan has had the dedication in his time here at Monmouth Digital Network as a Live Broadcasting Student Worker to work past little mistakes and keep moving forward in learning new pieces of technology and more about the pieces he knows. He has progressed in learning the technology to being one of the go audio board operators to being one of the go to technical directors. We can count on Dan to come into the production room ready to sit down at the board with the motivation to do a good job therefore having a good broadcast.