Finalist
Janet Levic
Saint Leo University
Junior in Business Management
3.89 GPA

Sometimes, Janet Levic gets so excited about her activities at Saint Leo University that she just can’t contain herself. “You definitely know when Janet’s in the office—you can hear her a mile away,” says Sarah Hard, assistant director for leadership development. “In student affairs, sometimes we joke with her and tell her, ‘Janet, use your inside voice and bring it down two notches.’ It’s just her enthusiasm carrying through, and I think that’s why a lot of students want to get involved—because Janet’s showing everybody how much fun she’s having.”

While Levic’s charisma and upbeat personality have paved the way for her involvement, there’s more to this energetic student than just a resounding voice and a 3.89 GPA. Once told by a mentor that 80 percent of what you learn from college comes from out-of-classroom experiences, Levic, 20, is determined to leave a positive and lasting impression on her classmates and advisors. So far, she’s been successful. “She’s one of the best, over 25 years of my experience,” says Dr. Edward Dadez, vice president for student affairs. “She was light-years ahead of the seniors I had when she was a freshman, about what the college experience could be.”

Since the day she arrived on campus, Levic has shown an ability to lead and inspire others. “I think people look up to her as a leader,” Hard says. “She’s very fair, understanding, and one who will speak her mind when she needs to, but she can also examine both sides of an issue at the same time.” Levic’s leadership doesn’t stop at delegation, however. “She’s also willing to pitch in and do her own share—she goes above and beyond a lot of the time,” says Benet Bondi, senior assistant director of admission.

As a freshman, Levic got involved in Student Government Union and began working with the Campus Activities Board, a group that plans activities for students like trips to Disney World and on-campus formal dances. When she was elected as SGU vice president of activities as a sophomore and became the student director of CAB, Levic changed the way things were run. “In the past, the director of student activities planned the activities and work study students helped her, but when Janet got that position, the whole model changed to the way it should be,” Dadez says. “Janet realized that the role of a student affairs staff is to advise, rather than to entertain, and the students started to take more of the initiative themselves.”

“I advised CAB, and when Janet was running a program, I honestly didn’t even have to be there,” says Ana DiDonato, director for student involvement. “I knew 100 percent that she was OK, and I had no doubt in my mind that the program would be successful and that there wouldn’t be any issues. She’s just that kind of student that’s just very mature, very responsible, and goes above and beyond.”

Levic’s ability to inspire others led to her election as SGU vice president of operations. “Janet understands that to get students vested, they have to be involved, so she makes sure that she pulls the people with her and then is able to step away and let them shine,” Dadez says.

Soon after being elected, Levic put her leadership and planning skills to the test, organizing a fall leadership conference for all Saint Leo students. Again, Levic broke with tradition, making the conference more hands-on than it had been in the past. “Each year, a fall and spring leadership conference occurs and speakers fly in from all around the country to speak to our students,” Levic says. “Previously, I witnessed that these speakers were knowledgeable in their leadership ideals and did excite our students, but that something was lacking at our conference—the ability for students themselves to get involved.”

Instead of bringing in speakers, Levic got a group of advanced student leaders to facilitate the entire leadership conference. “Janet had different students and professors and faculty members on campus be the speakers and do the break-out sessions, and it was very alive, very interactive,” DiDonato says. “Students weren’t just sitting there getting talked at, but they were being part of the whole developmental process.” Students enjoyed the intense interactions and peer-led discussions, giving positive feedback at the conference’s conclusion. “Students continue to remember and use the ideals and values that were discussed at the conference in their fraternities, sororities, organizations, classes, and social lives,” Levic says.

As SGU executive vice president, Levic sits on the SGU finance committee, as well as several school improvement committees. She also assists DiDonato in bringing on new student clubs and trying to improve the quality of the already-recognized ones. Through these experiences, she saw a need for clubs to become more unified, working for a common vision. “I decided to launch a philanthropic event called the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life,” Levic says. “When the event occurs in April, members of our community will be able to see the positive impact our students are making.” Clubs which might ordinarily have been more concerned with their own interests are collaborating to fundraise for the cause.

While skilled at bringing out the best in diverse groups, Levic also uses her natural business savvy to sell her ideas and causes to others, a talent which, according to DiDonato, makes Janet capable of “selling ice to an Eskimo.” Dadez has also seen Levic use her ability to influence firsthand. “One of the assignments in my management class was to form a company and then sell a product, and the money from that product goes toward a service project,” he says. “Janet’s group sold drinking glasses and made about $1,300 in profit. And they donated all of that for the Relay for Life. But I’m teaching the class again this semester, and she’s already talked with the four companies in the class. She was able to convince two of them to give their proceeds to Relay for Life, so that they’re also raising money to be able to give to this cause.”

Another of Levic’s notable strengths is being able to make others feel comfortable. In the SG office, she always has the radio playing, trying to create a laid-back atmosphere where other students aren’t scared to sit down and talk. This “comfort” often extends to members of the administration as well, as Levic feels close enough to most staff members to speak with them frankly and openly. “When I’m in the SG office and get an idea, I run down the hallway to check and see if there’s anyone in Dr. Dadez’s office,” Levic says. “If no one is, then I plop down on his couch and ask him to give me five minutes, and even though he knows it’s not going to be five minutes and that I’ll probably talk his head off, he lets me keep talking anyway.”

In addition to her CAB and SGU duties, Levic is a founding sister and new member educator of Alpha Sigma Tau sorority, a student ambassador, and a resident assistant. She’s also volunteered her time at the Sunrise Domestic Violence Shelter and at Saint Leo’s Community Service Day.

For her successful efforts, Levic was named 2003 Resident Assistant of the Year and received the 2003 Student Affairs Personal Stewardship Award and Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority Scholarship Award. She’s also been a part of the honors program and a regular on the Dean’s List. However, Levic is most proud of her ability to balance her hectic schedule. “I’m glad that I know about good time management, and that I’m independent,” she says. While not reliant on her parents to pay her bills, she’s still very close to her family and visits them when her date book allows.

In the future, Levic hopes to get her MBA and pursue a career as an event planner or activities coordinator. “She’s actually talked about going into student affairs or going into something that has to do with higher education or advising, and I think she’d be a huge asset to our field,” DiDonato says. “I’m going to be sad when she leaves. She’s one of those irreplaceable students that you kind of wish never left.”

Levic covers all of her college expenses through scholarships and her student affairs jobs. —AMC

Contact Levic at janet.levic@saintleo.edu.