In a world that is sometimes full of negativity, Marge Stewart is doing her part to make students’ days a little more positive.

Most students know Marge Stewart as the cashier at the Union who always knows their name. Stewart’s positive attitude and the personal connections she makes with students has made her something of a celebrity on campus.

Stewart, who has worked for University Dining Services for eight years and has been a cashier at the Falcon’s Nest for the past two years, is a native of Pittsburgh and moved to Bowling Green when she was very young.

She wears a falcon on her shirt and Pittsburgh Steelers earrings to work and is willing to swap football stories with any Steelers fan on campus.

Stewart, who remembers being a people person since she learned how to talk, puts effort into making personal connections with students and customers every day.

“I think relating with students personally makes them feel a little more at home,” Stewart said. “Especially the [freshmen] ‘Baby Falcons’; they sometimes need to feel like somebody really cares about them.”

Stewart’s friendly personality has certainly affected many students. Throughout her eight-year stay at the University, Stewart has made connections with some student customers she still stays in contact with through e-mail and birthday cards, Stewart said.

“It doesn’t surprise me that I have stayed in touch with people,” Stewart said. “Sometimes you just meet somebody and you just know right away that they are going to be your best friend.”

Stewart, who remembers growing up in Bowling Green and visiting the lunch counter at Woolworth’s Drug Store every Saturday with her father, has been a big supporter of the University and the town throughout the decades.

“The town has changed so much since then, but I still find so much that I absolutely love about it,” Stewart said. “Maybe more now.”

Stewart lives just on the outskirts of town with her 16-year-old daughter, Katherine, and her husband, Dave. As a mother, she tries to pass along to her daughter the same values her father passed to her.

“My father always told me there is too much negativity in the world,” Stewart said. “He always reminded me that you have to be positive and I have lived by that.”

Stewart’s positive attitude has certainly not gone unnoticed with students at the University.

“I love Marge!” sophomore Allison Overman said. “She is so positive. I always try to get in her line.”

Even her co-workers are sometimes surprised by how constantly upbeat Stewart is. Susan Sadoff, general manager of the Falcon’s Nest, explains that Marge is always refreshingly cheerful, even if she is not in the best of moods.

“If she is having a bad day, the customers would never know it because she does not let that translate into her work,” Sadoff said. “She is our constant cheerleader and [is] always willing to help out in any way possible.”

When Marge learns a student’s name or asks how their day is going, she genuinely wants to get to know a student better and make their day better, Sandoff said.

“She is just so genuine. It is surprising and refreshing to meet someone like that,” Sandoff said.

Marge, who blushes when praised, does not see anything unusual about how she interacts with students and customers. As a people person, she said, it just comes naturally.

“I just love the kids so much; I do from the bottom of my heart,” Stewart said. “I come to work everyday for them.”