1. July 30, 2013
To Whom it May Concern:
I am pleased to write a letter of recommendation for Rene Hardigree.
Rene has worked in the Advising & Student Engagement Department as a student worker since October of 2012. I’ve
worked with her directly on individual projects as well as in a team setting.
Rene’s job as a student worker has many functions which requires her to multitask, think on her feet, constantly solve
conflicts, and provide excellent customer service to our students and community. Rene’s primary function is staffing an
office at Stark State called “Connection Central.” This is a centrally located set of rooms where students can obtain walk-in
assistance on any issue or question they might have. Rene stands apart from the other student workers as she frequently
walks a student to their final destination as opposed to pointing her finger. She constantly makes an extra effort to make
sure the student understands a situation in simple terms and feels comfortable. Rarely do I beat Rene to greeting a student
walking into Connection Central. Her outgoing personality and passion to learn make her a pleasure to be around.
I frequently collaborate with Rene on recruitment initiatives and advice on best practices as I know she’ll give me up-front
and honest advice on her opinion as well as the student perspective. Working in an open classroom setting, I had the
opportunity to get to know Rene well on both a personal and professional level. If you give Rene a job, she will get it done.
She is a vital asset to Stark State in terms of student engagement and enrollment, and is a primary reason why “Connection
Central” has continued as a student support function.
Rene has many talents, and her ability is far reaching. She was always striving to bring more to the table. Rene commonly
walks students to “Connection Central” for help when she’s not working. This shows her true enthusiasm to help others
succeed. Going along with this, Rene has superior problem solving skills. She is extremely level-headed and is constantly
one to listen, apologize, act, and follow-up. You will rarely see her flustered or overwhelmed. Rene also staffs the Auxiliary
Advising Center during peak registration times. The Advising Center is the most stressful component to our job. Rene is
constantly left unsupervised and does a tremendous job managing incoming student appointments. A typical employee
would be drained after a full day of this task but she manages to follow-up before she leaves for the evening, laugh about a
few stressful occasions, and return the next day with a positive attitude. Rene always goes above the call of duty for the
school and the students. She also has the ability to build trusting relationships with students and prospects, and was always
willing to lend a courteous hand.
I would highly recommend Rene for any business-oriented position not only because of her talents and abilities, but
because she has heart, dedication, and drive. The first time I worked with Rene, I immediately clung to her personality,
passion, and work ethic. I assure you that you will do the same.
If I can be of further insight, don’t hesitate to contact me at 614-917-8006 or clynn@starkstate.edu
Sincerely,
Christine Lynn
Christine Lynn, MBA
Advising & Student Engagement Counselor
Stark State College
6200 Frank Ave. NW · North Canton, Ohio 44720-7299 · 330-494-6170 · Fax 330-497-6313 · www.starkstate.edu