Campus Recreation

Employee of the Year

The 2025-2026 Campus Recreation, Mick J. Ostrander, Student Employee of the Year is Erica Bigtas!

As the recipient of the Michael J. Ostrander Employee of the Year Award for 2025–2026, Erica has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to enhancing the student experience while serving as a role model for both her peers and the Campus Recreation community. 

Erica began her journey with Campus Recreation in July 2024 as a Member Services attendant and eventually was promoted to facility supervisor. In two years, she has become one of the department’s most dependable and influential student employees. Through her leadership, professionalism, and positive attitude, Erica has consistently created a welcoming and supportive environment for students, members, and staff within the Student Fitness Center. Whether assisting patrons, managing facility operations, or mentoring fellow student employees, she approaches every responsibility with maturity, confidence, and a strong sense of accountability. 

Her exceptional work ethic and dedication have made a lasting impact on Campus Recreation. Erica is known for her ability to remain calm under pressure, effectively communicate with others, and provide outstanding customer service in every interaction. She consistently goes above and beyond expectations, often volunteering to assist others and ensuring operations run smoothly during even the busiest times. Her leadership qualities have made her a trusted member of the Campus Recreation team and someone her peers look up to daily. 

In addition to her success within Campus Recreation, Erica has excelled academically throughout her time at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She earned her bachelor’s degree in social work while maintaining an impressive GPA, reflecting her dedication to academic excellence and personal growth. This fall, Erica will continue her education by pursuing her Master of Social Work degree at SIUE while also serving as a graduate assistant for Campus Recreation in Member Services. Her continued commitment to both higher education and student development demonstrates her passion for helping others. 

Beyond academics and employment, Erica has established herself as a highly engaged campus leader. She currently serves as the vice president of the Student Social Work Association for undergraduate students, where she helps support and advocate for fellow social work students. Additionally, she serves as a volunteer student representative for the state-mandated Coordinated Community Care Response Team Task Force, which helps to  bring sexual violence awareness programs to campus and contributes to meaningful conversations surrounding safety, education, and advocacy. 

Erica’s dedication to service extends far beyond campus involvement. She regularly volunteers with the Student Affairs Cougar Cupboard, helping address food insecurity among students and supporting those in need within the SIUE community. Her compassion for service is also evident through her involvement with several organizations outside of the university. Erica volunteers with the YMCA Interaction Program and serves as a youth camp instructor at Calvary Baptist Church, where she mentors and guides young individuals through faith and leadership development. 

Additionally, Erica is a certified St. Louis Area Foodbank resource partner, assisting individuals with SNAP and Medicaid/Medicare applications to ensure community members have access to essential resources. She also volunteers with the Road Home Program, providing support to military members and veterans, and currently serves as a student intern for Illinois Joining Forces, the state-mandated liaison organization dedicated to military support services across Illinois. 

Erica’s dedication to leadership, service, and student success embodies the mission and values of SIUE Campus Recreation. Her ability to balance academic excellence, campus leadership, professional responsibilities, and extensive community involvement is truly remarkable. Through every role she undertakes, Erica demonstrates compassion, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others. 

The Michael J. Ostrander Employee of the Year Award recognizes student employees who make extraordinary contributions to Campus Recreation and the SIUE community. Erica Bigtas represents the very best of what this award stands for. Her leadership, service, and commitment to others have left a lasting impact on Campus Recreation and will continue to inspire those around her for years to come.

Previous Student Employee's of the Year

History of this Award:

Every year the SIUE Department of Campus Recreation awards one of its student-employees the SIUE Campus Recreation Michael J Ostrander Student Employee of the Year, in honor of long-time Campus Recreation director, Michael (Mick) J. Ostrander, who provided 30 years of service to SIUE Campus Recreation. The criteria to even be considered for this award includes:

• High GPA

• 1-year minimum service to Campus Recreation

• Involvement in student life on Campus

• And an involvement in at least 1 outside community service organization

Those Campus Recreation student-employees who meet the above criteria are then scored by their immediate supervisor(s) and voted on by the Campus Recreation professional staff and graduate assistants.