CSB and SJU student employees honored at reception

Emerita Palencia, Matt Kiminski and the College of Saint Benedict Institutional Advancement Student Ambassador team have been named Student Employees/Team of the Year at CSB and Saint John’s University.

The winners, who each receive an engraved plaque, were announced April 15 at a recognition celebration in the Centenary Room, Quadrangle Building, SJU, during Student Employee Appreciation Week April 14-20.

Some 2,400 student employees at CSB and SJU logged almost 430,000 hours of service through the end of March. That’s the equivalent of about 400 full time employees to complete the number of hours worked.

Those student employees are housed in about 200 departments and offices at CSB and SJU for approximately 300 supervisors.

CSB Student Employee of the Year

Palencia, a senior elementary education major from Dallas, provides technical services and support for the MakerSpace. The MakerSpace provides a flexible learning environment allowing CSB/SJU students to work on individual or class projects for 3D printing and design in Clemens Library at CSB.

Her secondary responsibilities included support and maintenance of the 3D printers, the training of instructional technology assistants, other students, faculty and staff, and researching emerging technologies in the 3D printing and design field.

“Emerita’s greatest attributes are reliability, attention to detail and her ability to work with others,” wrote Joshua Akkerman, Instructional Technology Specialist, in the nominating letter. “Her work in the MakerSpace is unprecedented and without Emerita, the MakerSpace would not be what it is today.

“Emerita has always gone above and beyond the call of duty in the MakerSpace,” Akkerman added.

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

SJU Student Employee of the Year

Kiminski, a senior music major from Farmington, Minnesota, serves as an office assistant and accompanist in the music office. He teaches piano skills and music theory to students in grades 4-6; assists in planning and the execution of more than 40 music performances annually; assists conductors in rehearsals; and performs clerical duties.

“Matt’s greatest contributions to the (St. John’s) Boys’ Choir are his passion for arts education, strong ethic, exceptional talent, unwavering reliability, commitment to excellence and to developing his skills as a music educator,” wrote André Heywood, artistic director, and Angi Klaverkamp, executive director of the Boys’ Choir.

“It is no hyperbole to say that Matt leaves the Boys’ Choir stronger than when he joined it. His usefulness to all members of the professional staff has been extraordinary. His loyalty, dedication, positive spirit, incredible artistry and passion for the mission of the department will be missed (when he graduates in May),” they wrote.

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

CSB/SJU Student Employee Team of the Year

The 28-person CSB Institutional Advancement Student Ambassador team is responsible for building and strengthening the relationship between CSB and its alumnae, parents and friends by sharing how their financial support enables CSB to continue its legacy of providing a quality women’s education.

Team members (listed alphabetically) are Allyshah Alvardao, Elizabeth Berube, Richelle Bjork, Lynnae Boe, Emily Corbid, Jackeline Cruz-Tapia, Cristin Curwick, Diana Fernandez-Lojano, Caitlin Foht, Clare Gannon, Sheridan Glashan, Grace Gohman, Shante Hanna, Rachel Leen, McKenna Mages, Grace Mayer, Samantha Miller, Chevelle Palomino, Samantha Patricio, Aubrey Reidt, Hannah Renneke, Celestina Rodriguez, Lauren Rolfs, Maria Schneider, Ella Traynor, Emma Uecker, Andrea Urbina and Sophie Van Patter.     

“I believe this team’s greatest strengths lie in their differences,” wrote Ellen Newkirk ’13, annual giving associate for CSB Institutional Advancement on the team’s nominating form. “The students on the SAA team come from a wide variety of academic and social backgrounds, from nursing majors to communication majors and everything in between.

“Students on this team learn vital skills for any career. By being part of the SAA team, students learn effective communication skills, both spoken and written,” Newkirk added.

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