News Release

Ruthie Aslan, a senior from New Milford, N.J., has been named Johns Hopkins University's and Maryland's student employee of the year by the Northeast Association of Student Employment Administrators.

A student videographer and editor in the university's Office of News and Information, Aslan was honored at a ceremony on April 7 as part of National Student Employee Appreciation Week, which aims to enhance awareness of student employment and the important role it plays in higher education. On the Johns Hopkins Homewood campus, approximately 3,950 undergraduate and graduate student workers help keep university offices, programs and departments running smoothly.

"Ruthie is absolutely fabulous to work with," said Glenn Small, assistant director of news and information and Aslan's nominator for student of the year. "As an example of excellence, she is someone we point to as the standard to strive for."

Small has supervised Aslan's production of eye-catching video news releases featuring faculty and students. Her resume includes a feature about two engineering students putting their newly designed whitewater rafting helmet through its paces and an interview about the origins of witchcraft with Walter Stephens, a professor in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures. Both videos are available for online viewing at http://www.jhu.edu/news_info/news/audio-video

Aslan and Small, who was named this year's student employer of the year at Johns Hopkins, were among the 31 students and 24 employers nominated for this year's awards. Aslan, a senior majoring in film and media studies, received a $500 savings bond. As the state winner, she also received a plaque and a $50 savings bond. As the first-place winner on the state level, Aslan will advance to the regional competition, which leads to the national level. This year is the second year in a row that a Johns Hopkins student employee of the year has also won the Maryland contest.

Aslan is the daughter of Sy and Etti Aslan of New Milford. She graduated from the Academy of Science and Technology in Hackensack, N.J. Digital color photos of Aslan are available by contacting Amy Cowles at 410-516-7160 or amycowles@jhu.edu.