Exercise science major a hard worker

MISSOULA – An exercise science major who works for Campus Recreation at the University of Montana is UM’s 2016 Student Employee of the Year.

Abretia Crandell, a UM senior from Kalispell who works at UM’s Fitness and Recreation Center as a supervisor, earned the recognition after she was nominated by Campus Recreation Director Steve Thompson.

UM student Abretia Crandell stands with Teresa Branch, UM vice president for student affairs, after being named UM’s 2016 Student Employee of the Year.

“Tasks get done right when Abretia is working,” Thompson said. “She’s a confident employee that has the ability to recognize what needs to be done and just do it.”

Those tasks include shoveling snow and salting the walkways, keeping an inventory on cleaning supplies, converting paperwork to an electronic format, organizing the lost and found and scheduling meetings.

“She doesn’t do these things because she’s specifically been asked to, she does them because she recognizes the importance of getting things done,” Thompson said. “On several occasions Abretia took time away from her personal workout to help a struggling co-worker or to enforce a rule or departmental policy with a user.”

Crandell clocks in at 5:30 a.m. weekdays to open the Fitness and Recreation Center, works weekend shifts and consistently signs up for shifts on holidays and University breaks. Her dedication, professionalism, reliability and work quality were outlined in her letter of nomination.

Crandell is the first student employee at Campus Recreation to be selected as UM’s Student Employee of the Year.

For more information about the Student Employee of the Year award, visit http://www.umt.edu/career/StudentEmployment/default.php or call UM Career Services at 406-243-2022.

###