REC BUCKS INCENTIVE PROGRAM: JOE MATUNE Story by Ashley Ruff, BGSU Student Recreational Sports Public Relations - Spring 2008
Joe Matune, a freshman at BGSU studying math education is a Skate Shop attendant at the BGSU Ice Arena. After reviewing available
jobs on campus, Matune decided the Ice Arena was the only place he wanted to work. Due to Matune's love for hockey he decided
the job at the Ice Arena would be the perfect fit. Matune’s job has direct involvement in sporting events at the Ice Arena
that he says was very enticing to his decision to take the job.
Matune was recently recognized for his outstanding work duties at the Ice Arena and was rewarded by receiving two REC Sports
Bucks. REC Sports Bucks is an incentive program for student employees who go above and beyond their expected job duties and
responsibilities in order to help improve the Department of Recreational Sports.
Matune earned his first REC Sports Buck by using his skills in Photoshop to make adjustments to the application form for the
Senior Slow Puck League. After some hours of working on the application Matune had it revised by members of the Ice Arena
staff. Matune then added the staff’s final revisions in which he completed the final application form for the Senior Slow
Puck League. Matune gladly accepted this duty by his supervisor and completed it in an impressive time manner.
Besides being a dedicated employee at the Ice Arena, Joe shows his dedication to community members who visit the Ice Arena
for recreational purposes. During a skate guarding shift while the Ice Arena was open for public skate, Matune offered his
assistance to a young girl who he spotted crying on the ice. The young girl had hurt her leg after colliding with another
skater. Matune immediately decided medical assistance was necessary and asked those around him to call 911. Matune learned
the young girl’s mother was not present and carefully assisted her off of the ice. Matune was able to keep the young girl
calm by talking with her and focusing on anything but the incident at hand. Once medical assistance arrived Matune provided
the necessary information for the medics to take over. Due to this heroic act, Matune earned his second REC Sports Buck.
Matune says he did not do anything besides full-fill the requirements of his job. “I think that both of my actions were professional
and exactly what should have been done. I did the application amending in order to make the most of my time. I took care of
the little girl because I thought that I could do a good job of taking care of her and because I knew I had training for this
type of situation that not everybody has.” Matune believes in both situations he was only doing what he feels was expected
of him as an employee at Ice Arena.
Matune enjoys his job at the Ice Arena and says he is always happy to be with his fellow employees. “All of the employees
treat each other nicely which makes for an enjoyable work environment.” Matune also enjoys working at the Ice Arena because
of the diversity among the student employees. “The good amount of diversity among the student employees makes going to work
a learning experience,” says Matune.
Matune is continuing his hard work at the Ice Arena in order to rack up his REC Sports Bucks for a free skate rental at the
Ice Arena. Due to Matune’s interest in hockey this is the best option he says.
