Courtesy photo Bay College recently honored its Outstanding Student Employee of the Year. Shown, from left, are Dr. Laura Coleman, president; Erin Stevenson, TRIO peer mentor; and Erica Mead, Assistant Director of TRIO Student Support Services

ESCANABA — Erin Stevenson has been selected as the Bay College Student Employee of the Year.

Stevenson is from Gladstone, and graduated from Gladstone Area High School. She is currently studying Elementary Education with a focus of language arts and mathematics. After Bay, she will transfer to Lake Superior State University to finish her bachelor’s degree. She is currently working for Bay College as a peer mentor in the TRIO Department with Erica Mead, assistant director of TRIO Student Support Services.

Stevenson was nominated by several Bay College staff for her impressive dependability, initiative, professionalism, and her investment in the TRIO program and food pantry.

Her nominators state: “If TRIO is holding an event, Erin will be there, and she will likely bring multiple students with her. She has been the student face of TRIO for the past three years, and takes her role as a peer mentor very seriously. Erin models positive behavior for our students whether on the clock or off. The impressive dependability she has exhibited in running our food pantry is difficult to measure in words. She has kept our shelves stocked, our facilities clean, our online ordering accurate, and has even continued her work with our program through the summer. She has helped train in our new peer mentors with patience and grace and whether she is the team lead on an event or not, she helps facilitate. She is also not afraid of doing the dirty work that goes into event planning and I can count on her to help without asking.”

“Erin takes pride in TRIO events and has always been willing to help set-up, be present, and clean-up. She has been present, and welcomed students for TRIO Art Nights, she helped set up for the Silent Night Auction, is present at every Grub-in-the-Hub, she invites students to events, and has signed up for most of our upcoming events as a helper. Erin is the first to arrive and the last to leave at every event TRIO has held, she holds space for where she may be needed, and we appreciate her so much. Erin cares about the program, and is 100% invested in its success at Bay College!”

Mead states, “Erin’s compassion and generosity toward her fellow students is remarkable and is shown in her great work as a peer mentor. She is an incredible advocate and role model for TRIO students and an amazing asset to the Bay community. We are honored and lucky to have her as a part of our staff and TRIO family.”

When asked why she chose to attend Bay College, Stevenson explained, “I chose to attend Bay College because it was close to home, affordable, and helped me ease into a big new adventure.

Any Bay College student employees, work study students, resident assistants, tutors, peer mentors, study group facilitators, and supplemental instruction leaders may be nominated for the Bay College Outstanding Student Employee of the Year Award. These individuals must be working for the college or have worked during the 2021-2022 academic year and must be enrolled in a minimum of six Bay College credits. Nominees are judged on the following categories; dependability/team player, initiative, professionalism, and outstanding performance/contribution.