December 14, 2010

Allen earns Leadership Team award from RSS

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Phyllis “Abbi” Allen is the newest Leadership Team Member of the Month for Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Recreational Sports and Services.

Allen, of Jerseyville, earned the award for October. The daughter of Mike and Debby Allen, she is the student director of communications, working since August 2008 in intramural sports for RSS. She is a senior majoring in speech communication with a public relations specialization and a minor in finance.

Allen is involved in a variety of organizations on and off campus. She is a student representative leader and a presenter for the Illinois Intramural-Recreational Sports Association. She was also a volunteer coordinator for the University’s Ultimate Saluki Challenge.

Allen plans to graduate in May 2011 and then attend graduate school to earn her master’s degree in higher education with a focus on student affairs and campus administration. She said her goal is working in a position where “I get to help people every day.”

Co-workers at SIUC praise Allen’s time management skills and hard work.

“Abbi is an exceptional employee who is willing and able to tackle any and all assignments. She is a leader and a good example. We will miss her greatly when she graduates,” said Shane M. Bennett, assistant director of intramural sports, sport clubs and summer camps for RSS.

Recreational Sports and Services gives the Leadership Team award monthly to recognize an outstanding member of the team, which includes full-time staff, graduate assistants and student employees. Full-time staff members select the winner from among the team nominations. The award recognizes extraordinary leadership and teamwork skills.