Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is proud of its student workers and has named Yas’Meen Bonner as the 2014 Student Employee of the Year.
“Yas’Meen has proven herself to be an invaluable resource to our staff,” said James Davis, of Textbook Services, who nominated Bonner.
Bonner, a junior in the SIUE School of Business, is a student floor supervisor in Textbook Services. She supervises approximately 15 students in training on such things as shelving, shifting of textbooks and customer service. She has worked with Textbook Services for nearly two years.
“I am completely shocked about my nomination for such an honor,” said Bonner. “I love what I do, and I love that I am in the position to do it. I enjoy everyone that I work with and work for. I could not ask for a better work environment on campus.”
“Yas’Meen has a strong work ethic, excels in a team environment and can be counted on to do her best every time she walks through the door,” Davis continued. “Being such a well-rounded person, Yas’Meen has made several important contributions to the department. She has gone well beyond the expectations of what is expected of someone in her position.
“She developed a new training program for semester shifting of textbooks, which resulted in less staff being utilized while also accomplishing the task in a shorter time. She has taken on increasingly more responsible roles earning a promotion to Student Floor Supervisor, the first this department has ever had.”
The Student Employee of the Year first runner-up was Timothy Wittenberg of Troy, who works for Lovejoy Library in Information Services. The second runner-up was Kaitlyn Allen of Alton, who works in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics within the College of Arts and Sciences.
The presentations came as The National Student Employee Association (NSEA) celebrates National Student Employee Week from April 6-12.
According to the NSEA website, “Each year colleges and universities across the country recognize the importance of the student work experience during National Student Employment Week. Student employment offers students career-enhancing opportunities, the ability to develop skills relevant in any career and better preparation for the job market upon graduation.”
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville provides students with a high quality, affordable education that prepares them for successful careers and lives of purpose. Built on the foundation of a broad-based liberal education, and enhanced by hands-on research and real-world experiences, the academic preparation SIUE students receive equips them to thrive in the global marketplace and make our communities better places to live. Situated on 2,660 acres of beautiful woodland atop the bluffs overlooking the natural beauty of the Mississippi River’s rich bottomland and only a short drive from downtown St. Louis, the SIUE campus is home to a diverse student body of nearly 14,000.
Photo Information: Yas’Meen Bonner, left, and SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe