Fitness Instructor Named Student Employee of the Year
Diana Davis, facility supervisor at the Campus Recreation Center, was named Student Employee of the Year. She is flanked by her supervisors, Campus Rec Director Peter Murray, left, and Associate Director Justin Lawler, right.
04/26/2013
By Jill Gambon
Diana Davis is studying to become an English teacher and she credits her work at the Campus Recreation Center with helping to prepare her for a career in the classroom.
A fitness instructor and personal trainer since 2010, Davis has gained confidence leading classes and helping others reach their goals. Her hard work and dedication have also become instrumental to the CRC’s operations, says her supervisor, Justin Lawler, associate director of campus recreation.
“Our best student employees are responsible, reliable, have a positive attitude and are always willing to help out,” says Lawler. “Diana exhibits all these qualities and much more. Without great students like Diana, our department would not operate so smoothly or be as successful.”
Davis, who earned a bachelor’s degree in English in May 2012 and is now enrolled in the Graduate School of Education, was honored this month as Student Employee of the Year. The award program, launched last year by the Student Employment Office, recognizes undergraduate and graduate students for outstanding commitment to their jobs and contributions to campus. This year, 13 students were nominated for the honor by their supervisors. A panel of judges reviewed the nominations and selected Davis.
“I was so grateful to get the award,” says Davis, who also works as a Recreation Center facility supervisor, a position in which she oversees up to 100 student co-workers. “I love working there. It’s a fun environment and it’s great to see people reaching their health and fitness goals.”
Initially drawn to the CRC as a participant in the group fitness classes, Davis decided on a lark to ask about teaching a class. She was hired and over time attained certifications for teaching different classes. She is now the only instructor who can teach every fitness class offered, including yoga, zumba, kickbox, bootcamp and spin. She is also one of the most successful personal trainers at the gym with a devoted clientele, Lawler says.
Davis will begin student-teaching in the fall and feels that the experience public speaking and leading groups at the gym will come in handy when she’s teaching secondary school students.
“This will definitely help me when I’m student-teaching,” she says. “I have the confidence to stand up in front of a roomful of people.”