Brent Brewer, associate vice president for the Southwestern Michigan College Niles Campus, announced Brandon Metheny as the Student Employee of the Year winner at SMC’s fifth annual Employee of the Year recognition breakfast April 27 at Mathews Conference Center West on the Dowagiac campus. Metheny, a desk employee in the housing department, who is majoring in accounting maintained a 3.84 grade-point average while carrying 21 credit hours spring semester.

“Brandon works the graveyard hours at the residence hall, usually 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. or 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. He only missed one class session and that was because he was sick, but insisted on coming to his night class later that same day. He helps first-year students and volunteers to help out in their classes,” Brewer said. “In spite of his heavy course load, he is always willing to take leadership roles in group projects. He conducts himself in a professional manner and goes above and beyond his fellow students. He really is the poster child for a hard-working student putting himself through school.”

Metheny, of Gobles, accepted a monetary award presented by SMC President Dr. David Mathews. Other finalists included criminal justice major Calvin Gillings of Chicago who works in the Housing Department, and education major Kaley Brogan of Dowagiac from the Career Planning Center.

Southwestern Michigan College is a public, residential and commuter community college founded in 1964. The college delivers above-average graduation/transfer rates compared to other community colleges nationally and student college-level course success that is consistently in the top 25 percent of two-year colleges nationally. SMC strives to be the college of first choice, to provide the programs and services that meet the needs of students and to serve our community. The college is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and is a member of the American Association of Community Colleges.

Learn more at swmich.edu or email mediarelations@swmich.edu.