Department of Human Resources
Office of Student Employment

UMD "Student Employee of the Year" 2008

Second Runner Up

Eric Jorgenson
ITSS Audio-Visual/Classroom Technician

Nominated by Karl Oman

It is my honor and privilege to nominate Eric Jorgeson for UMD’s Student Employee of the Year.

Eric is the embodiment of reliability. During my 10 years at UMD, I have not been associated with any student employee who has been as willing to go the extra mile to perform his duties to his utmost ability. Reliability is often quantified by merely abiding by a work schedule and showing up for work on a consistent basis. Eric is not only one of the most punctual, dependable, and reliable employees I have known 00 it is apparent to all of his coworkers that Eric’s commitment to his job does not stop at the end of his shift. He often stays beyond his scheduled shift to finish a project or compile documentation when most others would wait until their next shift to complete those tasks. He also arrives for work having mentally prepared for his shift and has a clear plan of action for the day.

The quality of Eric’s work is second to none. Many would recognize him as the “Wiz Kid” at the Audio-Visual (AV) checkout desk. He is able to address any problem that comes his way. He is as comfortable with computer and software issues as he is with traditional AV equipment, troubleshooting and repair. He has that unique ability to live comfortably in the two words of traditional and emerging technologies. Faculty and students encounter his craftsmanship on a daily basis while interfacing with AV systems in classrooms and lecture halls across campus. Over the past year, significant improvements have been made in a number of AV instillations on campus, most notably the recent Life Science building renovation. The noticeable improvements in AV systems in these rooms are unmistakable. Eric has played a key role in the design and implementation of new and emerging technologies on campus. Smart classrooms are being deployed to make AV systems more reliable and user-friendly. He has personally programmed several of the AV control systems that are currently in use.

One of Eric’s most extraordinary attributes is his ability to take initiative within his work environment. He never needs to be given a task to keep him busy. More often than not, he has begun to address an issue before he has formally been given the task. He has innate radar which allows him to anticipate problems and prepare for those problems before they arise. This helps to decrease the impact of AV problems in classrooms and for the people who use them. If you have used AV equipment at UMD and were helped by the abbreviated tutorials in classrooms, you can thank Eric. Without prompting, he took on the task of updating and revising those tutorials as new equipment was purchased in order to keep the tutorials accurate and up-to-date.

UMD’s AV technician retired in March of this year and replacement was not hired until April. During that month-long duration of no full time AV technician, Eric almost single handedly took on the task of keeping classroom AV systems running smoothly. When the new AV technician was hired, Eric became his primary trainer. Without Eric’s expert guidance and in-depth knowledge of UMD’s AV systems, the learning curve for the new AV technician would have been much longer and classrooms would not have run nearly as smoothly as they have. Eric also attended an out of state week-long training session during winter break, receiving no compensation for his time, for the purpose of learning more about the enhanced control systems we are installing on campus and being able to assist in the installation process.

The ability to remain professional, cordial, and helpful when working on the front lines of a help desk is a rare trait. Eric has not only proven that he has the technical skills to address computer and equipment problems, his people skills have allowed him to appropriately share that knowledge with customers. He has shared his expertise with co-workers as well as students and faculty. When assisting a customer with a problem, Eric addresses every aspect of a problem and follows through with assisting them in implementing that knowledge. He is willing to educate people so they gain the ability to correct and prevent simple problems on their own which allows them to make more efficient use of their time and university resources.
Many students have an impact on their environment while they are attending college. Eric’s contribution to UMD, however, will last long after he has moved on in his professional life. We will all be thankful that he was here to professionally design and install technologies we will be using for years to come. Eric’s ability to anticipate, troubleshoot and resolve problems are qualities that have made him a cornerstone of the AV desk. His polite demeanor, willingness to help others, and professionalism have made UMD a better place for faculty, students and staff.

Thank you for your consideration of my nomination for this most deserving student employee.

Sincerely,
Karl Oman