Great Scott!

For many people the title of “Employee of the Year” is an honor they spend a lifetime working towards.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College alumni Jade Scott snagged the title in less than two years.

The Digital Executive Producer for CBS affiliate WTHI-TV in Terre Haute, Ind., not only received her company’s top yearly honor, but will cash in on her prize this March with an all-expenses paid trip to Cancun, Mexico.

“It is ridiculous,” Scott says with a laugh. “I don’t know the last time I took a vacation!”

While Clark County, Ill., native may not remember her last trip, she will surely remember this one, even if she’s still wrapping her mind around how it happened.

Scott graduated from The Woods in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and media. She spent only one day “unemployed”; graduating on a Saturday and beginning her career at WTHI-TV that next Monday.

“It was a nice transition,” Scott says modestly.

Just as she wasted no time getting a job after graduation, Scott wasted no time making her mark at the highly competitive WTHI-TV. With Associated Press and Emmy award winning journalists on staff the 25-year-old didn’t spend time being intimidated, but got to work.

“I think what she gained from her college education at The Woods is the fact that they have taught her to believe in what she is capable of and that she is truly capable of anything if she puts her mind to it,” says WTHI-TV Anchor and News Director Susan Dinkel.

That determination was noticed not only by Dinkel, but the rest of the staff. Just two months into her time at WTHI-TV Scott was awarded “Employee of the Month.”

The company’s “Employee of the Month” honor is peer driven, explains Dinkel. Each employee is encouraged to nominate a co-worker who performed the best that month. The honoree is singled out at the company staff meeting and is given a monetary prize.

“I remember when (General Manager) Todd (Weber) handed me the check I was thinking, awesome rent money,” Scott says with a laugh. “I don’t expect praise for doing my job so it’s hard to accept it. It was pretty crazy especially being there just two months.”

After her award Scott was put on the short list for the company’s “Employee of the Year” honor. Each monthly winner is eligible for the prestigious accolade, which is again voted on by the staff. Scott says winning the grand prize was not on her radar.

“I was standing up there looking at the others eligible for the award, and I was thinking these people deserved it as much or more than me. As young as I am and not being there even two years, I’m not going to win,” she says. “But apparently what I’m doing is right, and I’m going to keep doing it.”

The win may have been a shock to Scott, but to her co-workers she was the clear choice.

“Jade was obvious, hands down,” Dinkel says. “She is just a superstar.”

The superstar is now packing her bags for five days in Cancun compliments of WTHI-TV parent company Media General. During her stay Scott will mingle with other “Employee of the Year” winners from around the country. The prize not only allows Scott a vacation, but an extra ticket she has given to her mother.

“My mother supported me through everything at The Woods,” she explains. “She has always understood my desire to work in this field; she never doubted it and has been my number one cheerleader… This is my chance to actually thank her for everything she has done for me.”

Scott also credits her experiences at The Woods for shaping her into the person she is today. Without the Career Development Center Scott says she may not even have applied for the position at WTHI-TV. It was an advisor that sent Scott a link to the job posting.

“I think the best way to put it is although I’m done with school I’m not done with The Woods,” she explains. “I will always have this ring on… you can’t go anywhere and not see someone with the ring on. It puts you in the mindset that even though we maybe haven’t been there at the same time we are in the same support system. The Woods taught me to never stop growing.”