The Athletic and Recreation Facilities office selects an employee of the year every spring. This student employee is selected from the more than 100 staff members across the Rec Center, Pool, Kelly Family Sports Center, and Game Operations. This year's recipient is Sam Romero!

Sam has spent most of his time working in the Kelly Family Sports Center but has also contributed to our success by working in the rec center during the summer and helping with game operations. Sam has been a jack of all trades for the department.  Since Sam started, he has been a trustworthy member of the Kelly building supervisors' team, he has worked the maximum number of hours each week and killed it on the ball crew for football games, he filled in as a PA announcer for a softball game and assisted as a facility attendant in the rec center. Sam's impact within our operations is certainly appreciated.  Sam's positive attitude and willingness to assist with anything made him the perfect candidate for student employee of the year. Thank you, Sam, from the whole ARF Team!

The Athletic and Recreation Facilities Management team congratulates Preston Sturgis as our March 2024 Rec Star! Preston worked 53 hours during the month of March, and he took the initiative to pick most of those shifts up on his own. Preston comes in ready to work for every shift, including early opening shifts, and remains flexible with any situation he is given. He is dependable, self-motivated, and a joy to be around. We have received numerous complimentary comments and positive write ups regarding his work ethic and attitude while carrying out his responsibilities. Preston has been working as a Facility Attendant with us for a year and a half and remains consistent in his willingness to put his best foot forward every day. Please join us in congratulating and recognizing Preston for his contributions to the Rec Center operations. Thank you and congratulations, Preston!

Please join the Kelly Family Sports Center in congratulating Andrew Hylen for receiving the Fall Semester Turf Star award! Each semester, this award is given to a team member who goes above and beyond the call of duty in order to ensure the facility they work in is ready and available to anyone who may walk through the doors. Andrew has been a major help in doing just that. He is always eager to help cover shifts, prepare for events, learn new aspects of facility management, and assist anyone who needs it all with a smile on his face. Andrew is from Nunica, MI and is a member of the cross country and track teams. He just graduated with his bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education - English and Psychology and is now working on a master’s degree in Higher Education. After he graduates, he would like to pursue a doctorate degree in Sports Psychology, coach collegiate track and field and cross country, write a book about his time running at GVSU, and of course, keep running! Congratulations Andrew!