UF Senior Drew Bihary Named Student Employee of the Year

Drew Bihary, a senior majoring in environmental safety and occupational health management, was awarded Student Employee of the Year at The University of Findlay during an awards luncheon April 7. Bihary also received the State of Ohio Student Employee of the Year honor.
Annually, the University celebrates National Student Employment Week in April and participates in the Student Employee of the Year Program, both programs sponsored by the National Student Employment Association (NSEA).
Bihary has been working as a Federal Work-Study Community Service student employee with the American Red Cross since 2011, as a Hancock County disaster readiness project coordinator. His position was established with Federal Work-Study funding from the University and through a grant to the Red Cross from the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation. Bihary has been working to implement a disaster readiness program in the local area.
The Federal Work-Study Program requires colleges and universities receiving Federal Work-Study funds to expend at least 7 percent of campus funding in placements that are in non-profit community service jobs that meet the set qualifications defined in the Work-Study regulations.
The University of Findlay has expended more than the required 7 percent over the past several years, last year channeling 10 percent of its funding in partnering with community service agencies and local elementary schools.
“Placing UF students in these positions is a win-win for both the community service partner and University students,” said Patricia Beck, director of student employment at UF. “The community receives the benefit of having additional staffing in areas that the non-profit agency cannot fund alone, and the students receive valuable, quality work experiences that will help them build their resumes and become more employable after graduation.”
The University places approximately 40-50 students in the Community Service Work-Study Program each year working in community service agencies as well as tutors with several local elementary schools.