An Essential Piece: Jen Cupp

Working at the Office of Career and Professional Development at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies requires a broad skill set - the ability to meet deadlines, the patience for impeccable data entry, an eye for detail and organization, and strong communication skills. Internships Specialist Jen Cupp excels in all these essential areas, according to her supervisor, Associate Director Melissa Martin.

The 2011 Student Employee of the Year Nominee is a second-year graduate student of International and Intercultural Communication. She has worked at the Office of Career and Professional Development since 2009. Cheers to Jen for all her excellent contributions.

An Essential Piece: Tarika Cefkin

Tarika Cefkin embodies the best attributes of the Nathan Yip Foundation: she loves people and works hard to lift the spirits of those who surround her, according to the foundation's president, David Thomson. The 2011 Student Employee of the Year has contributed to the foundation in myriad ways since stepping into her position as executive assistant about a year ago. She coordinates corporate outreach efforts, distributes a web-based newsletter and helped the foundation achieve its most successful fundraising campaign to-date. The funds will enable the foundation to build schools in China and Ethiopia.

Grieving parents Jimmy and Linda Yip founded their philanthropic organization in 2002 to honor their son, Nathan, who died in a car accident at only 19-years-old. Nathan often traveled with his parents to rural China and was struck by the poverty and lack of opportunity. Today, the foundation exists to realize Nathan's dream of bringing opportunities to impoverished children in China, Haiti, Mexico, Africa and the U.S.

Cefkin, a recent graduate of the International and Intercultural Communication Program, plans to continue her work with the foundation. Congratulations to Tarika and the Nathan Yip Foundation for their inspired work.

An Essential Piece: Monica Carroll

For the last year and a half, Monica Carroll has eased the minds of Certified Public Accountants at Holben Hay Balzer CPAs LLC. Firm Administrator Donna Mills describes the music major as punctual, reliable and professional.

As a file clerk, Carroll handles a variety of detailed projects for the firm. From the 10th floor where her office is located, Carroll gets the perk of a spectacular mountain view. She also is gaining real world experience to complement her minor in business administration. Carroll plans to graduate this June. The Office of Student Employment salutes her contribution to Hay Balzer CPAs LLC.

An Essential Piece: Brittany Bybee

In the Office of Student Affairs at the DU Sturm College of Law, there is a noticeable difference when Brittany Bybee isn't on the clock. The 2011 Student Employee of the Year Nominee makes the office run more smoothly, handling student and faculty inquiries in a friendly and approachable manner, according to her supervisors and nominators, Katie Vilders, Dan Vigil, and Lauri Kraus. 

Bybee is a first-year graduate student in the Josef Korbel School of International Studies and the Department of Media, Film & Journalism Studies. The Minnesota native is studying International and Intercultural Communication. Thanks, Brittany, for all your hard work.

An Essential Piece: Robert Boyd

Spring greetings from the Office of Student Employment! We are gearing up for our campus-wide celebration of National Student Employment Week, April 11-15. Our theme this year is "Essential Pieces." In anticipation of the celebration, we'll reveal our Student Employee of the Year Nominees on this blog over the next two weeks. Each day, we'll introduce you to two nominees in the morning and the afternoon.

So, meet Nominee Robert Boyd, a media relations assistant for DU Athletics and Recreation.

Boyd, a senior who is studying International Business, has been employed with Athletics and Recreation for four years. He is a tremendous asset to the department, managing day-to-day media relations for the university's golf teams, according to his nominators, Erich Bacher, Director of Media Relations, and Nicole Dupes, Associate Director of Media Relations. His assistance with media relations for the gymnastics team and his professional demeanor proved so invaluable, his supervisors sent him to California to be the media point person during a competition. Boyd is the first student in the department to have earned such an honor, according to Bacher and Dupes. Thanks for all your hard work, Robert!