Employee of the Year
The 2022-2023 Campus Recreation, Mick J. Ostrander, Student Employee of the Year is Olivia Beckwith!
Olivia has been working for Campus Recreation over two years and she has advanced into not one but two different supervisory roles. Olivia works as both a facility supervisor and a lifeguard supervisor for the Campus Recreation Department. She is always detail-oriented while supervising and takes great care of the staff that she works with and the facility that she oversees. No matter how busy she is, Olivia always demonstrates incredible care and professionalism in her interactions with student employees and customers alike.
Assistant Director Natalie Rosales-Hawkins said, “Olivia has been extremely dedicated to her role and responsibilities as a Lifeguard Supervisor. I feel confident in her abilities to make sure we were recruiting, hiring and on-boarding new lifeguards and keeping them accountable for completing their required 500-yard weekly swims. Olivia has always provided great insight from the Aquatics and Operations team and has been a valuable resource to the entire Department of Campus Recreation.”
Besides keeping a high GPA throughout her college career, Olivia earned Noyce Scholarship and Internship Program (program to support STEM educators planning to work in high-needs school districts) and volunteers with Leclaire Christian Church’s Kid’s Ministry Program and at Neighbor’s Bakeshop.
Olivia will graduate with a degree in education and months before graduation she had already earned her fulltime teaching position. We are excited for Olivia’s future as a teacher and we know she is well prepared to embrace her students to help each one of them reach their highest potential.
When asked, why she likes working for Campus Recreation? Olivia said, “I love the close-knit atmosphere at Campus Rec. I always look forward to having conversations with other student employees and pro-staff because everyone is so genuine and inviting. I also love the inclusive mission of Campus Recreation.”
Previous Student Employee's of the Year
2021-2022 2013-2014
Kelly Cruise Daniel Cluphf
2020-2021 2012-2013
Tamryn Williams Sean Ehrhardt
2019-2020 2011-2012
Olivia Middendorf Jenny Bealmear
2018-2019 2010-2011
Corey Wachter Rachel Ward
2017-2018 2009-2010
Kourtney Klette Jenna Schneider
2016-2017 2008-2009
Cody Snyder Lauren Spencer
2015-2016 2007-2008
Abby Edwards Jen Davenport
2014-2015 2006-2007
Kirstie Chase Kandace Roberts
History of this Award:
Every year the SIUE Department of Campus Recreation awards one of its student-employees the SIUE Campus Recreation Michael J Ostrander 2023 Student Employee of the Year, in honor of long-time Campus Recreation director, Michael (Mick) J. Ostrander, who provided 30 years of service to SIUE Campus Recreation. The criteria to even be considered for this award includes:
• High GPA
• 1-year minimum service to Campus Recreation
• Involvement in student life on Campus
• And an involvement in at least 1 outside community service organization
Those Campus Recreation student-employees who meet the above criteria are then scored by their immediate supervisor(s) and voted on by the Campus Recreation professional staff and graduate assistants.