Credit: Rachel Joseph Farzeen Aslam won the 2010 Student Employee of the Year Award.
“We do the rounds and make sure the community is well respected,” she said. “We encourage a positive environment for academic studies so people can enjoy where they live and have a good university experience.”
Aslam performed her job at the Silvers Apartments so well that she won the 2010 Rutgers Student Employee of the Year Award. The honor was announced Tuesday during an annual awards ceremony by the Rutgers Student Employment Office. The event pays tribute to the more than 10,000 Rutgers undergraduate and graduate students on the university’s three campuses who hold down jobs while going to school.
“Rutgers student employees work in over 200 university schools, departments, and offices,” Cynthia Meekins, associate director of the student employment office, said during opening remarks. “However, our student workers don’t just serve our university; they also serve the greater Camden, New Brunswick, and Newark communities through their employment at more than 50 off-campus, nonprofit agencies and community service organizations.”
Richard White, director of Career Services, gave the keynote address in which he dwelled on the intrinsic value of work.
“As my Career Services colleagues and I are fond of saying, ‘All work has value,’ ’’ White said. “All work – internships, externships, co-ops, part-time jobs, research, volunteer assignments, service learning, and alternative spring breaks – provide opportunities to develop your skills and professionalism.”
Credit: Rachel Joseph Michelle Smith, who manages the Rutgers Student Center, won the 2010 Supervisor of the Year Award.
Aslam, a cell biology and neuroscience major, was nominated by her supervisor, Nathanael Okpych, who said she was instrumental in an ongoing campaign to improve the quality of life at the apartment complex. One of the ways she helped was to simply knock on doors and give residents a chance to put their two cents in. She then came up with creative ideas for programs and events, like a Monday night get-together for football fans, a spa day during exam period, and a multicultural potluck dinner.
“Farzeen helped to change the milieu and face of the Silvers apartment community through her work,” Okpych said.
Aslam, who received $250 and a certificate, intends to return to Silvers next year and continue her work.
“I really never expected to win,” she said afterward. “But getting the recognition is so nice and keeps me very motivated.”
Marianne De Padua, an associate producer with RU-tv won second place, while Sara Mellor, of Rutgers Cooperative Extension Program, won third place.
For a full list of the winners and honorees, click here.
The awards ceremony also recognized the Rutgers staff employees who supervise the students. The 2010 Supervisor of the Year award went to Michelle Smith, a veteran employee who manages the Rutgers Student Center on the College Avenue Campus.
“Michelle believes in students,” Meekins said as she read from the nomination letters. “She has faith that any student can be great if they just try, and this is one of her most admirable qualities.”
Smith said her job requires her to be a manager, mentor, and a mom. “First and foremost we help them understand that this is a job and that they have to learn to balance their academics and their work schedule,” Smith said. “Our training and development program is really our way of saying: ‘this is the other side of being in college, these are the life skills you are going to have to learn to get through life."