Employee of the Month

Alumnus turned staff member Nick Schenk was selected as the USPS Employee of the Month for September, 2016.

Schenk is a senior admissions specialist for the Department of Political Science at the University of Central Florida. He graduated with his undergraduate degree in English in 2009 and started working in the Department of Political Science in 2010. His responsibilities include advising undergraduate students, overseeing departmental technology and managing marketing and social media.

Nick Schenk with Department of Political Science Chair Kerstin Hamann

Schenk was nominated by Pegasus Professor and Department Chair Kerstin Hamann, Ph.D., and Lecturer Paul Vasquez, Ph.D., for his work with the students he advises.

“Nick is an excellent advisor to our undergraduate students. He provides outstanding service to them from before some of them officially enroll to their graduation day,” Hamann said.

“He is detail oriented, understands complex issues related to advising across majors and minors.  He takes the time to listen to students’ needs and links them to other units on campus. Perhaps most noteworthy is not the fact that Nick performs a large number of diverse tasks and exceeds; but the fact he is self-directed and motivated and rarely needs supervision.  I cannot think of a better employee for the award,” she said.

Schenk said that he thinks that the Department of Political Science has some of the best faculty members and students at UCF. He also likes that there are so many facets to his job.

“I have a very dynamic job, which puts me in contact with many different offices around campus. My days are hardly ever the same,” Schenk said.

The Employee of the Month Award comes with a certificate, $200, $25 from UCF Business Services and UCF Bookstore, and a bag of prizes.  Schenk will also be introduced to the UCF Board of Trustees and is eligible for the USPS Employee of the Year Award, which will be announced at Human Resources’ Annual Awards Banquet next year.

The Department of Political Science hosted a ceremony for Schenk with cake and cookies when it was announced that he had won. He did not know that he had been selected or even nominated for the award until that day.

“It was a big surprise,” he said. “I am grateful and happy to be selected.”