"As a University of Iowa computer science and percussion performance double major, Ben Stone finds joy in creating things—whether it’s a musical performance or a piece of software.

The fourth-year student and Des Moines, Iowa, native has put his programming and leadership skills to good use working at the Iowa Reading Research Center (IRRC), which helps improve literacy skills for thousands of Iowa children each year. As a student employee at the UI since 2020, Stone built an online fluency and writing system to evaluate classroom interventions, implemented a new ticketing and project management system, and led a team of five other student employees.

Stone’s success in the role led to him being named UI’s Student Employee of the Year for 2022."