OSU's 2005-2006 Student Employee of the Year

Finalist: Zach Baldridge
Employer: OSU Visitor Center/Undergraduate Admissions
Position: University Representative
Nominator: Jeremy L. Zweiacker

Zach Baldridge, Finalist

Excerpts from Nomination letters:

“Zach exemplifies what it means to be both student and employee.  Over the last five years our office has had the privilege of watching Zach grow from young freshman to a mature and hard working professional.  His thoroughness with his studies and his desire to learn are very important attributes that he has exhibited to all of us who work with him.”

“This May Zach will complete his academic endeavors at OSU by graduating with a degree in Health Promotions.  Our office will have to search hard in order to find another student worker to help OSU and recruit prospective students with half the dedication and commitment of Zach.  Numerous student employees have worked in both the OSU Visitor Center and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Zach continues to outshine all in his dedication and commitment to do his best in all aspects of his work.”

“Zach is a vital part of a team that has worked together to achieve over five years of continuous enrollment growth at OSU.  He has made an enormous impact on how we serve our prospective students.  Zach plays an instrumental role in creating a remarkable first impression by greeting many of these first time visitors and processing their paperwork to make sure that they are at the next appointment on time.  We constantly observe Zach exhibiting an extremely high level of professionalism while going ‘above and beyond the call of his duties’ to make our guests feel welcome.  Many times he has taken his own initiative to make extra appointments for visitors and tracking down University personnel in the far reaches of OSU from the airport to the beef center.”

“Zach has become a master at taking care of the little things for our guests.  At times, a representative may become tied up with a family answering questions and a few minutes late to a presentation.  Zach will flawlessly begin the presentation and make the transition to presenter without the guest ever knowing that the presenter was held up.  Zach is the first student employee that we have had the confidence to give ‘free reign’ and to give us input into what we do and to look for how we can improve our service.  The valuable input that he provides cannot be overshadowed by his commitment and persistence in seeing that the changes completed making the office and the experience of our guests the best that it can be.”