April 2025

Maria Bently

Computer Aided Design

"It is my pleasure to nominate Maria Bentley for Student of the Month. Maria consistently demonstrates excellence in both her academic performance and professional conduct. She has perfect attendance and is always punctual. Maria completes her work ahead of deadlines, and the quality of her work is consistently outstanding. She communicates professionally with both her instructors and the clients we support through class projects. She is always prepared for the next assignment or project, showing initiative and enthusiasm in all that she does. Maria has repeatedly stepped up to take on outside projects when others were hesitant. I can always rely on her to be ready, engaged, and willing to contribute. In fact, she has successfully completed several projects for external clients, handling all communication with professionalism and clarity. One client was so impressed with her work that they wanted to give her a tip—an uncommon gesture that speaks volumes about the quality she delivers. Maria never submits incomplete work. She is committed to problem-solving and ensures that every task is completed thoroughly. On one occasion, we were working on a project for WED, and the source materials were disorganized and difficult to interpret. While many of her classmates quickly gave up, Maria persevered and successfully delivered the results the client needed. She is also proactive in resolving interpersonal issues. Earlier in the school year, she approached me about a conflict with a fellow student. Rather than letting the issue escalate, she expressed a desire to talk things out and resolve the situation constructively—further demonstrating her maturity and professionalism. In every respect, Maria exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding student and a dependable professional. I strongly recommend her for Student of the Month.

Maria recently competed in Architectural Drafting through SkillsUSA. At regional contests in February, she chose to use the program called Revit. We had only been in this program two weeks. It would have been three, but that week was missed due to the gas leak on campus. Maria could have used another program that she was more familiar with, but she said that she was confident in her ability to use this program for contests. When scores were tabulated, not only did Maria place 1st at regionals, but the gap between her score and the 2nd place winner was 70 points. This is not common. Normally, scores are a few points apart. She of course went on to state contests and placing 3rd competing against first and second year students."

• Being Productive - Use your time productively while on campus. Focus on your learning responsibilities and avoid getting pulled into social media, web browsing and phone activity while on the clock.
• Developing a Professional Image - Project a professional presence and dress appropriately for your industry and career aspirations. A good rule of thumb is to dress in the position you aspire to have.
• Taking the Initiative - Ask for more projects to be given to you or think of assignments that will meet your career goals. You don’t want to be under-utilized.
• Maintaining Effective Work Habits - Prioritize, plan and manage your assignments and projects. Follow up and follow through with your instructor and team members.
• Managing Time Efficiently - Establish priorities, set goals and create action plans to meet deadlines.
• Demonstrating Integrity - Be accountable for your work and actions while behaving ethically at all times.
• Providing Excellence - Produce work and results that reflect a sense of pride and professionalism, often exceeding expectations.
• Being a Problem-Solver - When you run into problems and obstacles take the time to brainstorm a few solutions and alternatives before you meet with your instructor.
• Being Resilient - Develop coping skills to manage setbacks and challenges with a positive and constructive attitude.
• Communicating Effectively - Practice professional on-line, in person and interpersonal communication skills.
• Developing Self-Awareness - Learn to manage your emotions and gain awareness of your emotional triggers so you can manage your reactions positively and productively. Accept and reflect on feedback to assist as you learn and grow.
• Building Relationships - Network with colleagues, customers and clients to build professional cordial relationships, work on teams and collaborate effectively.