Amanda Montoney named 2022 UIC Student Employee of the Year

For her organizational skills and passion for helping others, Amanda Montoney ’22 BS DHD was named 2022 UIC Student Employee of the Year by the campus Student Employment Office.

Montoney organizes online and in-person tutoring sessions as tutor administrator of the AHS Academic Support and Achievement Program (ASAP), keeping track of 12 to 18 student tutors who help several hundred undergraduates each semester. She also helps train tutors, documents ASAP services, and still finds time to do some tutoring herself.

“Amanda can navigate and figure out anything,” said her supervisor, Viviana Kabbabe-Thompson, assistant dean for student affairs.

“Her due diligence doesn’t go unnoticed. Professors, students and staff have commented in appreciation of her many talents and her ‘can do’ attitude to any idea presented.”

Montoney, who started tutoring as a senior in high school, joined ASAP in the second half of her freshman year at AHS. Kabbabe-Thompson promoted her to tutor administrator the next semester.

“I’m a very organized person,” Montoney said. “So it’s fun for me to keep everything organized.”

She rose to the challenge in March 2020, when—like other UIC services—ASAP had to suddenly switch from in-person to online because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ASAP quickly moved tutoring services to Blackboard Collaborate, adjusting over time with feedback from tutors and students.

“It was definitely an interesting experience,” she said.

ASAP has reopened its office in the Physical Education Building at 901 W.  Roosevelt Road on South Campus, offering tutoring in person as well as online.

“I think virtual tutoring is something we’re going to continue,” Montoney said. “That’s the one good thing that came out of this.”

Montoney is majoring in disability studies with a minor in psychology. She’s passionate about disability studies—she tutors two DHD courses and enjoys discussing disability issues and opportunities with her clients.

She will begin doctoral studies in occupational therapy at UIC next fall. She eventually plans a practice in pediatrics, possibly using equine-assisted therapy.

“My dream is to open my own clinic,” she said.

In the meantime, she wants to continue working at the tutoring center. “It’s been one of the best things about my undergrad experience,” she said.