On Tues April 15 Plymouth State University held the second annual Student Employee of the Year ceremony in the Centre Lodge. The room was filled to capacity with students, family members and faculty to honor the nine nominees for the award: Smyth Bouchard – HUB, Adrienne Davis – Recreation Department, Jessica Dube – Writing Center, Amanda Morris – Psychology Department, Amanda Parshley – Education Department, Sean Robinson – Residential Life, Norman Shippee – Lamson Learning Commons, Andrew Smith – Undergraduate Studies, and Andrea Thoman – Admissions. Although all of these people showed hard work and dedication, only one person could win the award. That one person was Sean Robinson of Residential Life.
The Ceremony began a reading from Barbara Noyes. The reading emphasized the importance of students in the college community. After this short reading the nominees were introduced. Each nominee was called by their name and their department, and received a certificate and a rose from the front of the room. The nominees were hand-picked by their employers, and the pamphlet that was handed out at the door had comments from employer’s achievements and personalities under each name. The winner, Sean Robinson, will now move on to the state competition for Student Employee of the Year.
After the introductions, President Sara Jayne Steen stood up to introduce Robinson. President Steen said “I recognize how much the student workers mean.” She also mentioned how although there was only one winner of the award, all of the students were winners for their achievements. Steen went on to say how when she first arrived on campus, Sean was there to show her around the area, “He took me to coffee and showed me around…he talked about all the wonderful programs in Plymouth State University.” She also said that Sean “provided the best services for the students” and “challenged those around him to work hard.”
After President Steen finished her speech everyone gave Sean a standing ovation as Robinson took to the podium and made a point to thank two of the people who helped him get to where he was, Janette Wiggett and Ashley Padmore-Baker. Janette Wiggit is the Resident Life manager at Langon Woods and Ashley Padmore-Baker is the Residential Director at Smith Hall. After Robinson thanked everyone, Ashley Padmore-Baker made a heartfelt speech on how Robinson has helped her, “I really appreciate everything you have done for me,” she said. Her speech was followed by an emotional hug and applause from the audience.
“Everyone works really hard, and I am honored and flattered,” Robinson said. Robinson is now eligible for the New Hampshire Student Employee Award. Everyone in the audience was invited to stay for cake and drinks in the back of the room. Sean Robinson was in high spirits and talking to everyone with genuine interest and sincerity.