Student honored with employee of year award

Photo Courtesy of Clayton Gibson Michelle Kline, middle in white, poses with other nominees after being awarded the Student Employee of the Year award. Kline works at the David Heart and Lung Research Institute.

Hard work, dedication and responsibility. In order to be nominated for the Student Employee of the Year Award, work-study students at Ohio State must posse all these qualities.

Michelle Kline, a senior in microbiology, received the annual award Wednesday afternoon and was honored in front of her peers, co-workers and the Office of Financial Aid administration. Kline works at the Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute. She said the work will benefit her senior thesis, which she will complete at the end of the quarter.

Upon hearing her name, Kline said she was surprised to receive the award.

"This is such an honor and I am so flattered to have been chosen out of all of these successful students."

Kline, who has worked at the research institute for two years, focuses her research in the lipid signaling lab. While she said she puts all of her time and energy into her research, she added that work was still fun.

"I try to make work a fun place to be for everybody and I always try to do my best while I'm there," Kline said. "I think that might be why I was nominated, because when I'm at work I make it a fun place to be."

Kline, as well as the four other finalists, was nominated by her supervisor and colleagues who wrote letters recognizing the work she had done.

Kline received a $500 scholarship, while the four runners-up received a $30 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble. The reception also recognized six students who earned honorable mention.

Merilyn Lee, assistant director of the Office of Student Financial Aid, joked that the gift card would not go very far but students should be proud.

"Most people don't know it, but work-study at Ohio State is comprised of 12,000 students who are on the payroll every quarter," Lee said. "The 60 students nominated for this award represent about one half of one percent of all student employees on campus, so these kids all have reason to be proud that they are a part of this group, even if they can only buy half of a text book with the gift card."

Rich Hollingsworth, vice president of the Office of Student Affairs, spoke to the audience and gave advice concerning how to be successful in the business world and the work environment. He used author Howard Gardner's book, "Five Minds for the Future," to highlight some of his most important advice to students. Upon the finale of his speech he promised a copy of the book to all who were in attendance.

"The work at this university could not get done and the work of many community agencies could not get done without the good work of students," said Hollingsworth. "I really think they are the best of Ohio State."

Sara Clifford can be reached at clifford.65@osu.edu.