Gregory Shaeffer, a senior agriculture major at Berea College has been named Kentucky's Student Employee of the Year by the Mid-West Association of Student Employment Administrators.

Shaeffer first was honored as the College's student employee of the year. The award is made based on reliability, quality of work, initiative, professionalism and uniqueness of contribution.

Dr. Carolyn Orr, agriculture department chair, nominated Shaeffer, who is employed as student farm manager of College's farms. Responsible for supervising approximately 50 other students who work on the farm, he is involved in almost every aspect of the farm's operation. He lives on the farm with his wife April, a 1999 Berea graduate, providing nighttime security and emergency assistance, if needed.

Along with receiving an outstanding evaluation from Orr in performing his regular duties, Shaeffer was cited for two special projects he undertook on his own.

Last year, Shaeffer and another student renovated a fire-gutted farrowing house into an equipment shop at 1/20th the cost an outside contractor would have charged. This year, he designed and provided leadership for the construction of a 34' x 50' sheep and equipment barn. Outside contractor bids topped $18,000. Shaeffer was able to build the barn for $7,000, securing his own bids for materials and using student labor.

In the fall, Shaeffer will begin a masters program in animal nutrition and immunology at North Carolina State University. He is considering veterinary school after that, but isn't sure of his long-term plans. A native of Amanda, Ohio, Shaeffer grew up on his grandfather's farm and says he has always planned a career in agriculture.