Amy Ludwig of Warren has been named the Wayne State University Cooperative Education Student of the Year.

To be eligible for the award a student must have demonstrated high academic accomplishment; participated in a co-op assignment at least twice; received excellent work performance evaluations; and demonstrated leadership skills.

Diane Grimord, associate director of the cooperative education program, said the award committee looks at quality of the work assignment when considering the student award. Co-op is labor intensive but worthwhile, she said.

Ludwig, an information systems management major, started her co-op work assignment with Great Lakes Gas Transmission in Detroit in May 1998. She is completing her fourth semester working in the information services department.

Ludwig, a Presidential Scholar at WSU, carries a 3.91 grade-point average and has been on the dean's list every semester. She received a private scholarship from Lucent Technologies and also teaches catechism at her church.

Ludwig has consistently been rated "outstanding" during her evaluations. Comments from her supervisors include:

"Quality of work is excellent;"
"Very thorough in researching issues, communicating results to customers and executing tasks;"
"Has made suggestions and/or questioned processes that I would expect more from a senior employee...let alone a co-op;"
"She has gained a tremendous amount of technical knowledge in a short time. She has the aptitude, drive and intelligence to quickly understand software applications/PC problems;" and
"Amy treats this co-op as both a job and a learning experience. Consequently, she enthusiastically attacks any problem or assignment she is given."