The most effective people in IT are those that can truly identify problems, be creative in coming up with workable solutions and be able to implement them.  RE is one of these types of employees.  His maturity combined with his technical capabilities makes him valuable in any support role.  He has been trusted with the high-profile support of sensitive systems and executive level clients and has never failed to solve the problem in an efficient, professional manner.  Without his contributions, many of the tasks that needed to be completed would have not been accomplished in the time frame that they were, if at all.  He had expectations placed upon him as if he were a full-timer.  Given his performance and talent, it is sometimes too easy to forget that he is a student.  His knowledge is not purely academic, but brings practical solutions to the table that can be applied and used.  RE follows in a proud tradition at IT from starting as a random student and blossoming into someone that greatly adds to our ability to accomplish the mission.