Graig Mantle“Exceptional,” “outstanding leadership skills,” “respected by peers” and “WOW!” These were just a few of the many phrases used to describe Amy Swanson, who was chosen as the Outstanding Employee of the Year (OSEY) on Thursday.
Swanson, a Career Services employee and Counseling and Guidance Services and higher education graduate student, talked about how she felt winning such a highly regarded campus award.
“I’m completely overwhelmed, excited about winning the award and surprised,” Swanson said. “It’s really, really such an honor.”
Twenty-nine student employee nominees and their respective nominating supervisors, friends and/or family members attended the coveted ceremony.
Associate director for Financial Aid Luann McDonald said there were a vast number of students that were sifted through just to come up with this year’s winner.
“We have approximately 2,500 student employees on campus, which gets whittled down to the 29 nominees for 2006-07,” McDonald said. “From there, we have a second runner-up, a first runner-up, and of course, this year’s Outstanding Student Employee of the Year.”
McDonald said that during the course of the ceremony, all of the nominees are personallyrecognized by Cal Poly President Warren Baker.
First runner-up Jeffrey Morgan, a liberal studies major and Admissions employee, said being acknowledged by the campus elite was an honor.
“It’s really great to be recognized by the powerful people on campus, including President Baker,” Morgan said. “I’m probably one of the few students who’s actually met him and shook his hand and been congratulated by him. That was really nice.”
Swanson also said she enjoyed receiving accolades from the campus president.
“I’m graduating in June, so it was great personally receiving the award from President Baker,” Swanson said.
McDonald, who is also the Planning Committee chair for the OSEY awards, said that the name of the winner is kept secret until the ceremony.
“All the student employees are informed they have been nominated, after that things are kept quiet,” McDonald said.
Second runner-up Kelley Colditz, nutrition senior and Associated Students Inc. employee, said she was shocked when she was told about the ceremony.
“I was only told about the reception today,” Colditz said. “It was such a pleasant surprise to show up and hear that I am a runner-up.”
Swanson said she was informed of the nomination but also expressed her disbelief at taking the top honor.
“I heard I was nominated a couple of weeks ago,” Swanson said. “When I came here today, I had no idea I was going to win this great award.”
As well as maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade point average, Swanson juggles an entire host of other duties.
“I am the graduate intern at Career Services. I do career counseling appointments with students, workshops throughout the campus and I’m also adviser for the peer advising staff in the office,” Swanson said.
Her future goal is to work in student affairs or one-on-one as a student counselor.
“I’ve really found my passion in career counseling,” Swanson said.