The Classified Personnel Council congratulates the five applicants who were awarded its Educational Assistance Award this fall.
The award is intended to assist State Classified employees seeking to move ahead in their careers through educational opportunities. Each winner is granted a $500 award to cover any needs associated with furthering their education, including tuition, books, childcare expenses, and more. 
Debra Rutt is a Tech V in Housing and Dining Facilities and has worked at CSU for just over two years. Rutt is pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Student Affairs Management of Auxiliary Enterprises. In her future, Rutt hopes to become an assistant director and hopes this program will provide the knowledge needed to further her career in student affairs.
Jaime Joseph is an Administrative Assistant II: Travel and Purchasing Coordinator in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences and has been employed at CSU for two and a half years. Joseph is in the second year of the Master’s in Tourism Management program at CSU. With the master’s degree, Joseph hopes to gain new skills to be considered competitive for a management position.
Matthew Szydlowski works in structural trades in the Engineering Research Center and has been at CSU for nine years. Szydlowski used the Educational Assistance Award to take Auto Cad 101 and 102 at Front Range Community College. He explained that the knowledge earned in these classes would help him by increasing efficiency in cutting the time spent on physical layouts of parts and projects, as well as in creating tighter budgets for faculty, engineers, and other shop personnel.
Nicole Johnson is the program facilitator for the Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise MBA program in the College of Business. She has been in her current role for three and a half years. Johnson has completed 26 of the 42 credits in the Online MBA program. The skills and knowledge earned through the MBA will help her connect with and advise the students in the GSSE MBA program.
Teresa Krueger is an accounting tech for the Dean’s Office in the College of Business and has been at CSU for 11 years. Krueger is pursuing her MBA online through the College of Business. She said she is already seeing results in her current position and firmly believes that once she has her master’s degree she will have a long career at Colorado State University.
Applications for the spring 2019 Educational Assistance Award will be accepted Nov. 1-30. Candidates must be a State Classified Employee affiliated with CSU, employed at least three-quarters time for at least two years as of the award application deadline. Previous recipients are eligible to reapply after three years.
