Each semester, MSU Library presents Outstanding Student Employee Awards to two MSU Library student employees for their dedication and outstanding contributions. Students work in all areas of the library and are vital to keeping the library running smoothly.  

Members of the Friends of MSU Library board of directors worked in collaboration with the Library Employee Association to review nominations and select the award recipients.

“MSU Library’s student employees are very often the ‘face’ of the library and first point of contact for other students,” said Friends board member Sheila Bonnand. “Their work is important in welcoming students, helping them navigate the library, finding their way to professional librarians, and securing the resources they need to be successful in their chosen course of study. The Friends of MSU Library board members want to acknowledge their contributions, which is why we support and fund the Outstanding Student Employee Awards.”

The board is pleased to announce the fall 2025 Outstanding Student Employee Award winners.

IzzyIzabella Buskevicius, Sophomore, Fish and Wildlife Ecology and Management major

Izzy’s nomination described a wide range of work that shows significant initiative, creativity, and technical skill. Her projects included accessibility updates, artwork for tutorials, data and survey work, and other detailed tasks that support library instruction. Her nominator, Instruction and  Accessibility Librarian Jacqueline Frank, offered strong evidence of her impact across different areas of the library.  This is Izzy’s second time being recognized as an outstanding library student employee.

“Izzy has been an absolute star on our library team, consistently going above and beyond in every task she takes on. She's tackled an impressive range of projects with skill and enthusiasm – from creating original artwork for our video tutorials, to updating our LibGuides with accessible subject-specific handouts and helping to update numerous surveys. Her technical abilities are outstanding (she quickly picked up accessibility standards and manages complex Excel spreadsheets), but what really makes Izzy exceptional is her combination of creativity, dependability, and positive energy. Whether she's creating and formatting our workshop promotion flyers, entering evaluation data, or looking up if we have required textbooks in CatSearch, she brings the same level of care and attention to detail. Izzy is a quick learner who follows directions easily and asks for clarification when needed – you can count on her to figure things out and deliver quality work every time. Beyond her impressive productivity, she's simply a joy to have in the office, making our entire team better. Izzy truly exemplifies what an outstanding student employee looks like, and I can't recommend her highly enough for this award.”

Instruction and  Accessibility Librarian Jacqueline Frank

Ku’u Ruidas, Senior

Ku’u’s nomination highlighted her steady presence at the service desk over several years, along with the growth and confidence she has shown in her role. Her nominator, Service Desk Supervisor Jasmine James, also spoke to her leadership on campus and the work she has done outside the library. The examples provided gave a clear picture of someone who contributes in meaningful and consistent ways.

“Ku'u has been at the library since the fall of 2023, working at the service desk. I have seen her confidence improve over the years as she has become more knowledgeable in her position. Ku'u is kind and friendly with patrons and is great at promoting library services and events. Ku'u is confident when helping with research questions and knows when to refer patrons to a librarian. When projects like shifting titles or decorating for the seasons, she is always happy to help. I manage the shelf reading spreadsheet, and I know I can always count on Ku'u to be thorough in both tidying the shelves and ensuring that the titles are in order. While working with us, Ku'u also started the Pacific Islander Student Association and has acted as the president for the last 2.5 years. She is graduating this December, and I believe the student award would be a great way to show her how much we appreciate all of the work she has done with us over the years.”

Service Desk Supervisor Jasmine James