In the Spotlight
Angie Miller - Nebraska
By Shareen Cundall

Angie Miller is a bright new face in financial aid. Her professional work experience is only 2 years but has been involved in the field much longer. Currently, she is employed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) working with both Financial Aid and the Billing Office. She is one of the new people in the field who will be a great contributor in the very near future.

Angie was raised in a small central Nebraska town called Bruning. Her graduating class consisted of 18 people and that was a large class. While in school she was active in all of the school-sponsored activities including volleyball, basketball, track, speech and music just to name a few. She claims she was a good daughter who "stayed out of trouble and stayed out very few late nights."

Her introduction into financial aid came with her mother. While she was in high school her mother started college. That was quite an undertaking and Angie watched as her mother struggled to get her degree and raise a family. Her mother attended Southeast Community College-Beatrice and Concordia University in Seward, NE. Not only did her mother graduate with a teaching degree but also graduated with honors. College for her mother would not have been possible without the help of financial aid. Her mother went through the process and Angie saw all the steps necessary to obtain the funding.

Angie comes from a large family. There are 4 brothers, two older and two younger. She is the only girl and was treated as a princess. She is quick to point out that she never caused one gray hair for her parents but doesn't mention anything about the boys. She is very proud that all of the children have gone to college. The four boys all went to Southeast Community College-Beatrice and Shirley Huttenmaier has worked with all four!

After high school, Angie went to Doane College in Crete, NE. She obtained a degree in Business Administration in 1999. While in college she participated in the Federal Work-Study program. For 3 1/2 years she worked for Janet Dodson in the Financial Aid Office. Once she started, she never left and worked many hours while in college and during her summer breaks. She was very excited to work in the office during the summer, as there were not a lot of opportunities for her back at home, plus Janet made an offer she couldn't refuse. She said, "I can only pay minimum wage, but I'll buy Dairy Queen." Angie was hooked!

As a work-study in the financial aid office, she learned many rules, regulations and policies. Janet has her work-study students be a part of the whole process and they are expected to learn and do everything. Under the financial aid office guidance, Angie not only learned financial aid but also life lessons. The office taught her that you could get more work done when you are having fun and work is better when everybody gets along. She also was taught that honesty is the only way to talk to parents, "Lay it all out there for them so the parents can make the decision."

"I have never in my life been so entertained by colloquialisms," replied Janet Dodson when asked about Angie. "I was sitting in my office talking to myself when out of nowhere a voice yells, 'I hear you clucking in there big chicken.'" Angie always has a saying for every situation.

After college, Angie married her college sweetheart, Rob. They currently live in Omaha where they both work. Angie went right from Janet Dodson at Doane College to Judi Walker at UNMC.

Angie dove right into work and NeASFAA. Since joining NeASFAA she has volunteered for the Awards Committee and was elected Secretary for the 2001-2002 year. She is already making great contributions to the organization.

One of Angie's greatest assets is her willingness to learn new jobs and take on additional responsibilities. She never says no to a task and is excited to learn how to do it. This is evident by the creation of her position at UNMC. Originally the position consisted of just the financial aid office. Due to a change in structure she was asked to be a part of the billing office as well. She readily accepted the challenge and has made the position successful through her hard work and willingness to learn. Judi Walker says wonderful things about Angie. Judi just loves Angie and is very glad she is currently working for UNMC.

This is just the start to Angie's financial aid life. Expect to see wonderful things from this young lady.