Saxbys has chosen the next Mount St. Mary’s University student who will act as Student Café Executive Officer (SCEO) this coming fall: Abigail Hucks, C’24.
Hucks, a history major and native of New Oxford, Pennsylvania, has been working at the student-run Saxbys since September 2022, just weeks after the Mount location first opened in Knott Academic Center. She’s enjoyed the months she’s spent as a Saxbys team member, citing the company’s dedication to sustainability, ethical treatment of their coffee growers, and unique experiential learning platform as positives.
Hucks' employment at Saxbys is what led her to decide to apply for the SCEO position. Each SCEO spends a semester managing supplies, outreach, and team building at their Saxbys location, earning a wage and college credit along the way.
Hucks mentioned being inspired by Chloe Knill, C’23, and Beatrice Avegnon Avosse, C’25, the SCEO from last fall and the current SCEO, respectively. Under the leadership of these SCEOs, the Mount’s Saxbys location has served over 22,000 guests, who especially love the vanilla bean cold brew and the breakfast burritos.
Although her tenure as SCEO is still months away, Hucks is already looking forward to the opportunities she’ll have. She is most excited to lead the Saxbys team this fall and hopes to devote a lot of her energy to planning events for her team and for the wider Mount community, building the relationship between the café and the campus.
“I just want my teammates and everyone on campus to know that I’m always there for them, even if they don’t know me personally. Saxbys should be a safe space for our community to come together,” Hucks exclaimed.
After graduating, Hucks plans to pursue a master's degree in a specialized historical field, possibly Holocaust or Appalachian studies. Despite not being a business major, she’s confident that her time as Saxbys SCEO will be a boon to her future goals.
“I think [being SCEO] is definitely going to provide me with some critical leadership skills: team leading, problem-solving, conflict resolution…these are important for anyone to learn, regardless of their field,” Hucks said.
Hucks expressed gratitude for the opportunity she’s been given and for her family. “Special shoutout to my mom and dad,” she shared. “I’m their only child and they’ve always encouraged me.”
Hucks will begin her next adventure in August, as the 2023-24 academic year kicks off. To learn more about Saxbys, and its experiential learning platform, visit https://www.saxbyscoffee.com/the-saxbys-elp/.