Discover how Michaela Kurth balances multiple jobs while enhancing campus beauty through her work with the Building and Grounds Department.
Need help balancing work and fun while contributing to the campus you love?
Look no further than Michaela Kurth. This sophomore exercise science major at Concordia University Ann Arbor (CUAA) is spending her summer with a green thumb and a packed schedule. For over a year now, Michaela has been working with the Building and Grounds Department. When she’s not hitting the books during the school year, you can find her out and about on campus, helping to keep it looking amazing.
“Working for the Buildings and Grounds Department enables me to have a flexible schedule,” Michaela explained. “I have multiple jobs, and this one gives something to do when I am not working at my others.”
Getting Starting with Building and Grounds
Her journey with Building and Grounds began with a family connection. “My aunt, who works at Concordia, mentioned to me that Michelle McCutcheon was looking for more student workers,” Michaela recounts. “I had a short interview with Michelle right after I graduated high school and began working for her shortly after.”
With just a short 10-minute drive from home, Michaela has the opportunity to continue working for the department. She enjoys the flexible work schedule and the positive work environment.
Finding Fulfillment in Her Work
Working outside in all types of weather can be brutal, especially if you are constantly working with your hands. The blazing summer sun, unexpected rain showers, and chilly mornings can make the job challenging. However, the hands-on experience and tangible results of the work can give you a sense of accomplishment and pride, which is exactly how Michaela feels.
“I enjoy being able to see the effects of my work– comparing what an area looks like before and after I clean it up or pull weeds,” she shared.
Beyond the satisfaction of her work, Michaela also appreciates the people she works with and the variety in her tasks. “I enjoy the people I work for and work with. Also, I like how having different tasks makes it so that every day is different,” she added.
Challenges and Solutions
Despite the rewarding nature of the job, it does come with its challenges. One of the biggest summer challenges is dealing with woodchucks. These critters love flowers, and with so many flowers around CUAA’s campus, Michaela’s job becomes even more challenging. But with challenges come creative solutions, and she devised an inventive approach to keep the woodchucks at bay.
“We ended up sprinkling black pepper on the flowers to try to keep woodchucks away from them,” she said.
Creative Projects
If you happen to visit campus this summer, be sure to stop by the front of the chapel where one of Michaela’s standout projects awaits: a vibrant “CUAA” spelled out in flowers. While the initial idea wasn’t hers, Michaela had the creative freedom to bring it to life.
“We decided to use red flowers with a white border, leveraging the greenhouse’s abundance of red blooms,” she explained. “To execute the design, we laid down landscaping cloth to thwart weeds, used CUAA as a stencil in spray paint, carefully cutting holes for each flower, and finished with a layer of mulch.”
Looking ahead, Michaela doesn’t have any major projects on the horizon, but she eagerly anticipates watching the flowers she planted thrive and bloom.
Recognition and Excellence
Michaela’s hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed. Jerry Novak and his team nominated Michaela for the 2023-24 Student Worker of the Year and she won. In addition to her work with the Building and Grounds Department, Michaela also excels in her role with the Business Office. Her ability to keep the campus grounds looking immaculate, her flexibility, and her strong communication skills make her an exemplary student worker.
“Michaela keeps our grounds looking good and weed-free! She has worked many tiring hours all over this campus manicuring our flower beds and purging rock beds. Never a complaint and always willing to jump right in,” Jerry praised. “When business office priorities or some stormy weather kicked in, she redirected herself to the business office to jump right in. Michaela communicates extremely well with her schedule and availability. Undoubtedly, she is on a strong pathway for success!”
Advice for Freshmen
For incoming freshmen, finding an on-campus job can be daunting in a new environment. Michaela advises: “Don’t hesitate to reach out directly to those you’re interested in working for. Whether by email or in person, be clear and professional.”
Her advice emphasizes the importance of taking initiative and making a strong, professional impression when seeking employment opportunities on campus. This proactive approach can help freshmen navigate their way into meaningful roles that fit their skills and schedules while fostering early connections within the college community.
Michaela’s dedication and hard work have earned her the title of Student Worker of the Year, a testament to her outstanding contributions to the CUAA community.
Want in?
Want an on campus job this school year, check out Handshake where all the jobs will be posted. You can also see if you can qualify for Work Study.
—This story is written by Keara Chaperon, Social Media Manager for Concordia University Ann Arbor and Concordia University Wisconsin. She may be reached at keara.chaperon@cuaa.edu.