The Youngstown State University Association of Classified Employees has awarded scholarships to three outstanding student assistants. This scholarship was established by the union in 2003 as an endowed scholarship invested in the YSU Foundation.

To be eligible for the $500 scholarship, students must be enrolled full-time, have a 3.0 or higher GPA and be employed on campus. In addition, students must submit an essay on the value of their position and get a recommendation letter from at least one current member of YSU ACE. Applications were judged by the scholarship committee, Della Elia, Jennifer Kurcon, Cassie Nespor, Stephanie Pavlovich and RosaMaria Vega.

Isabella Appiah is a Nursing major who works with ACE member Tiffany Moore in the dean’s office of the Williamson College of Business Administration. Moore described Appiah as a “hard-working individual with strong values and character.” As an international student, Appaih said that her on-campus employment gave her a sense of belonging and purpose at YSU, and shaped her into a more confident, independent and capable individual.

Martin Baird has a dual major in Integrated Social Studies Education and Integrated Language Arts Education and works in the Office of First Year Student Services as a student orientation leader and peer leader. Baird has been on the Dean’s List and President’s List several times and has a 3.87 GPA. In her recommendation letter, ACE member Kathy Palladino said Baird has a “positive attitude, a strong sense of leadership and his work ethic reflects the high standard we strive to maintain in First Year Student Services.” Martin said balancing his work schedule and academic courses taught him resilience, adaptability and the power of perspective — something that no classroom lesson could replicate.

Stephen Malkovits is a Finance major who works in University Facilities. He has a 3.88 GPA and is involved in the Student Investment Fund and the Economics Club. In Facilities, Malkovits assists with a comprehensive spreadsheet of utility invoices and ensures the accuracy of each entry. In her recommendation letter, ACE member Kay Helscel described Malkovits as compassionate, respectful, courteous and well-organized. Beyond developing professional skills as a student assistant, Malkovits said that he also values the relationships he’s built with colleagues, supervisors and campus partners, which have demonstrated the value of teamwork and collaboration.