Moraine Valley Community College student Jordan Murray (left) has been named the college’s Student Employee of the Year and the Illinois Student of the Year. Presenting the awards were Dr. Pamela Payne, director of the Job Resource Center; and Eric Wordlow, president of the Midwest Association of Student Employment Administrators.
Moraine Valley Community College student Jordan Murray has been named the college’s 2017 Student Employee of the Year and earned the distinction of being named the Illinois Student Employee of the Year.
“We are the only community college to be recognized at the state level,” said Dr. Pamela Payne, director of the Job Resource Center, the department that oversees the student employee program. “Eric Wordlow, president of the Midwest Association of Student Employment Administrators, came to our luncheon to surprise Jordan and present him with the award. It was such an honor, and Jordan is so deserving of these awards.”
Murray, who grew up in downstate Monticello and relocated to Burbank to attend Moraine Valley, said he was very excited to win these awards. “This is a huge honor to be recognized like this. When I went to the luncheon and heard my name called, I don’t think I was really processing what was happening. It was pretty incredible,” he said.
Through Moraine Valley’s Job Resource Center Student Employment program, Murray worked in the college’s Computer Integrated Technology department under the direction of Chuck Bales, associate professor/coordinator, Mechanical Design & Drafting/Computer Aided Design; and Neil Barker, instructor/coordinator, Integrated Systems Technology.
As part of his student employment, Murray maintained four industrial labs for 10 staff members and 21 courses. “He reorganized the technician lab to improve usability; redesigned classroom layout to improve capacity, repaired damaged equipment, and added dual monitors to instructor stations,” Barker said. “He is a perfectionist in the best possible way. When he sees a problem, he jumps in and solves it. He intuitively understands what is required and determines the best solution.”
Bales said Jordan is one of the most committed lab aides to work in the CAD program. “Because he is so reliable, he often helps out in other programs, such as electronics and networking,” Bales said. “Jordan’s work is exemplary, and he pays exceptional attention to detail. He is acutely aware of the image that students get from the material, documents and classroom spaces, and he actively maintains all at a high level so students have a positive sense of the department.”
Murray came to Moraine Valley upon a recommendation from his high school drafting teacher, Kevin Rumple. “He was my mentor all through my years at Monticello High School. He took some classes at Moraine Valley and told me that’s where I needed to continue my education. I took a tour of the college and knew immediately this was the place for me.”
Murray will graduate in December with an associate degree in Mechanical Design and complementing certificates in AutoCAD Specialist, Inventor Specialist, 3-D CAD Specialist, and Mechanical Drafting; and an associate degree in Mechatronics with complementing certificates in Mechanical and Fluid Power Maintenance, Industrial Controls Technician, PLC Technician, Mechanical Drive Technician, and Electronic Controls Technician certificates. He also earned AutoCAD Professional, Inventor Professional, and the Certified in Engineering Graphics industry certifications.
