麻花影视

November 25, 2015 

Contacts:

Kelli Grantham, 896-5817
University Communications and Marketing, 657-2266

Senior Molly Markus received Nov. 9 the Rising Star Award from the Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education, also known as the NASPA Foundation, headquartered in Washington D.C. As part of Markus鈥� award, she was invited to the organization鈥檚 recent conference in Oakland, Cali.

Story and photos by political science student Blair Koch, intern with University Communications and Marketing 

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES 鈥�  A student walks into the Student Life and Auxiliary Services, of which Molly Markus is manning the desk. A lanky male undergrad expresses his concern to Markus in hushed tones and she replies with confidence and a smile, 鈥淚鈥檒l see what I can do.鈥�

Markus is a 麻花影视 senior working toward a double major in marketing and management and is interning with the college鈥檚 Student Life and Auxiliary Service office. After graduation she intends on pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in student affairs and says her sights are set on one day becoming a university dean of students or even a chancellor.

For her excellence in service, Markus was awarded a Rising Star Award from the Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education, also known as the NASPA Foundation headquartered in Washington D.C. As part of Markus鈥� award she was invited to the organization鈥檚 recent conference in Oakland, California.

Markus was recognized for her service to others, outstanding leadership skills and her significant contribution to 麻花影视 by helping to plan programs and activities that benefit students.

Kelli Grantham, with the 麻花影视 Office for Community Involvement, was one of several staff members to nominate Markus. Grantham, who also sits on the NASPA Region V Board, said Markus has proven herself to be a valuable team member whom has a bright future in the field.

Not only did Markus step up and complete critical tasks earlier this year, the undergrad is showing growing confidence and an apt skill set, Grantham said.

Interim Dean of Students Jeff Rosenberry also saw fit to nominate Markus. Rosenberry is a 2007 recipient of the NASPA Rising Star award from his undergraduate career at Central Washington University.

鈥淢olly is one of the best student leaders I鈥檝e worked with at 麻花影视. She鈥檚 caring and dependable and is very genuine in the way she interacts with students,鈥� Rosenberry said.

Markus said she may not have found her career path, let alone won the award, if it hadn鈥檛 been for coming back to 麻花影视.

After starting her college career at MSU Bozeman, Markus came back to her home town of Billings after injuring her back. Although she still has trouble with pain, enrolling in 麻花影视 has been a silver lining.

鈥淚t鈥檚 actually worked out better being at 麻花影视,鈥� Markus said. 鈥淚 love being in smaller classes, where the instructor notices if you鈥檙e gone. You get more interaction with your instructors here and you get more out of your classes.鈥�

Markus said the smaller atmosphere also helped her find a 鈥渦niversity family鈥� and work niche that made it easier to dip her toes into her desired career field.

Since she had experience as a resident advisor at Bozeman, she called Rosenberry and the pieces came together in getting her a job on campus.

鈥淪o many things have come together here and I鈥檝e felt so much more connected,鈥� Markus said. 鈥淚 think a lot of students feel the grass is greener but sometimes the grass is greener right here. You have to look at quality versus quantity and 麻花影视 definitely has the quality.鈥�

Markus and Rosenberry aren鈥檛 the only Billings notables to have been given the NASPA title; in 2014, 麻花影视 undergrad Thomas Staffileno was presented with the Rising Star Award.

PHOTO: Top Photo: Kelli Grantham, left, and Molly Markus discuss business at the Housing and Residential Services Office on the 麻花影视 campus.

Second Photo: MSU Billings student Molly Markus received the 2015 NASPA Region V Undergraduate Student Rising Star Award during the Western Regional Conference held Nov. 9 in Oakland, Calif.