After several years of dedication and hard work, Katherine McKee, a beloved student worker at AUCON, graduated summa cum laude in Spring 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and minor in business and psychology. She is moving on to the next exciting chapter of her life. This article celebrates her journey, contributions, and future aspirations.
When Katherine joined AUCON as a student worker in 2021, she brought enthusiasm and a fresh perspective to her job. Throughout her time here, she made significant contributions to the AUCON team.
“I didn’t realize how many valuable skills and lessons I would learn,” said Katherine. “I learned the importance of time management and prioritization while balancing a part-time job, being a full-time student, and being involved in a wide variety of other campus organizations. Juggling a lot of activities can be very daunting but the AUCON job helped me learn different ways of scheduling in order to finish everything in an orderly fashion. I was also given the opportunity to work one-on-one with many professors and staff, allowing me to learn different techniques of networking and professional etiquette. Being a student worker has contributed exponentially to my personal and professional growth in many ways.”
Starting as a student worker, Katherine quickly took on more responsibilities. She quickly mastered her computer skills as she worked to streamline the Agorapulse social media platform and Microsoft software, which greatly benefited AUCON.
“All the skills I learned here will carry on throughout my professional career and personal life. My workload looked different from day to day which taught me to be very adaptable and resilient. I had an incredible time working at AUCON, a lot of fond memories and highlights that bring me joy. .”
"Working with Katherine has been a pleasure," says her supervisor, Lindsey Tramel. Citing Katherine’s innovative thinking and her exemplary leadership skills, Tramel said that she had helped mentor and train new student workers, assisted staff and faculty in several outreach programs, retirement banquets and pinning ceremonies, to name a few. "She is self-directed, a hard worker and always conducts herself in a professional manner by being punctual and dependable. Katherine is a forward thinker and can clearly provide recommendations for better processes and efficiency,” Tramel added.
For the summer of 2024, she will be working as an academic administrative support assistant for AUCON. Her development into this expanded role is a testament to her hard work and dedication.
Katherine is excited to embark on a new journey. In the fall, she plans to continue her education at UAB’s Collat School of Business to pursue a master’s degree in business administration (MBA). “A special thanks to everyone who helped me through the application and interview process.”
Thank you, Katherine, for your hard work, dedication, and the positive energy you brought to AUCON. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors and look forward to seeing all the wonderful things you will achieve.
