Austin Vitsas

I started off bussing tables in the restaurant and event center. My managers and employer soon recognized my strong work ethic, and I was offered the opportunity to begin training as a server. On busy nights, when other positions were overwhelmed, I often switched roles to help relieve stress on my coworkers. Every evening before ending my shift, I always asked my managers if anything else needed to be done before I clocked out.

I started working in construction as a summer job when I turned 16. My employer received installation and remodeling jobs, and I would assist with them every day of the week. From removing and installing new drywall, to tearing down and redesigning decks, I was taught how to do everything the right way.

I worked in various roles as a maintenance worker, cook, and volunteer. My employer put me in chare of maintaining the facility grounds by landscaping the courtyard, flowerbeds and hillsides to keep the business presentable for admissions and residents. Inside, I helped prepare meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner when the kitchen was understaffed during COVID. I also assisted with volunteer projects in the building, many of which involved Rotary. Some of these projects included organizing a spaghetti dinner to raise money for a girl with cancer, providing Thanksgiving meals for the local fire department, and participating in fundraising events to supply classroom musical instruments and resurface a running track for a school in need.