Keohen, Meyer and student LINK drivers earn recognition at reception

Jane Keohen, Tyler Meyer and the Transportation-LINK student bus driving team have been named Student Employees/Team of the Year at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University.

The winners, who receive an engraved plaque, were announced April 12 at a reception at the Founders Room, SJU.

The awards were presented during National Student Employee Week April 10-16. There are over 2,400 student employees working at CSB and SJU, as of April 1. They work in about 250 departments and offices for about 300 supervisors, and have worked almost 420,000 hours during the current academic year.

CSB Student Employee of the Year

Keohen, a senior biochemistry major from Shakopee, Minnesota, has spent four years working for the CSB athletic department. For the past 1½ years she has served as the athletics home contest assistant coordinator. In that role, Keohen assists with tickets, promotions and game management for every home athletic contest, and is responsible for the organization and upkeep of student employee sign-up sheets.

"I have come to expect a level of excellence from her and know the quality of her work will be high," wrote Rachael Click, CSB softball coach and Keohen's supervisor, in the nominating form. "In addition to her high quality of work, initiative and professionalism, Jane is very unique because she is just fun to work with."

Eight students were nominated for CSB Student Employee of the Year.

SJU Student Employee of the Year

Meyer, a sophomore physics major from St. Joseph, Minnesota, has served 17 months as an assistive technology specialist and Student Accessibility Services assistant. He provides direct customer support, program training for students, and helps manage and create technological devices and programs that support students registered with the office.

"Tyler's spirit truly mirrors our Benedictine values," wrote Tom Sagerhorn, Krysten Schwartz and Jillian McKenzie in the nominating form. "He is a gentle and caring human being. He values his co-workers, peers, supervisors and other members of the community. While ever humble, even when accomplishing the most amazing technological feats, he can frequently be found bragging about others, not himself."

Four students were nominated for SJU Student Employee of the Year.

CSB/SJU Student Employee Team of the Year

The five-person student driving team is responsible for safe operation of the buses and the passengers on board that travel between the two campuses. The student drivers must pass a written and driving test to acquire a Class B Minnesota Commercial Driver's License, pass and maintain Department of Transportation physical requirements, pass a pre-employment drug screening as well as random departmental drug and alcohol testing and follow departmental rules and regulations.

Team members include RoseMarina Armstrong, sophomore, chemistry major, Tacoma, Washington; Patrick Arnold, junior, economics major, Kimball, Minnesota; Vivien Arredondo, junior, sociology major, Pomona, California; Paul Kohner, junior, numerical computation major, Pine Island, Minnesota; and Kyle Olson, junior, computer science major, Sauk Rapids, Minnesota.

"We strive every day to be the best," wrote supervisor Michael Juntunen in the nominating form for the team. "After 16 academic years, I proudly say that these (students) are one of the best student teams that I have had the honor to mentor and work with."

Nine teams were nominated for CSB/SJU Student Employee Team of the Year.