Student Employee of the Year

Student Employment "of the Year" Awards

In alignment with the National Student Employment Association (NSEA), we manage an annual National Student Employee of the Year (SEOTY), Graduate Student Employee of the Year (GSEOTY) and Student Employment Supervisor of the Year (SESOTY) awards program.

Our goal is to recognize the outstanding contributions and achievements of students who work while pursuing higher education and those who are working directly with our student employees in supervisory roles. Find more details below, and be ready for nominations to go live before the end of this semester!

Student Employee of the Year

All IU Indianapolis student employees are eligible. There is an undergraduate award and a graduate award.

Nominees are not restricted to students employed through the Federal Work-Study Program.

Undergraduate Student Employee of the Year:

Students will be evaluated on their contributions to criteria in one of the following categories:

Community Service
Critical Thinking
Diversity and Inclusion
Innovation and Technology
Leadership

View rubrics for each category.

Graduate Student Employee of the Year:

Student will be evaluated on their contributions to criteria in each of the following categories:

Diversity and Inclusion
Impact
Professionalism, Effective Communication, and Interpersonal Skills
Leadership

View rubrics for each category.

For both undergraduate and graduate students, we are asking for a nomination letter to be written that address the appropriate criteria.

2003	O'Shea Utley—Computer Support Tech, University Information Technology Services Dawn Baker—Team Staff Member, Opportunities for Positive Growth, Inc.
2004	Yasmilaa Burgos—Circle City Bar & Grille Andrea Mettert—Indiana Humanities Council
2005	Joanna Fields—Department of Foreign Language
2006	Kimberly Keller—Marketing Assistant, IUPUI (now IU Indianapolis) Jags Bookstore
2007	Joshua Springer—Communications Graduate Assistant, Center on Philanthropy
2008	Simone Akins—Research Technician, IU Department of Medicine, Endocrinology
2009	Adam Hooker—Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
2010	Gabby Mendoza
2011	Kawa Cheong—International Programming Assistant, Office of International Affairs
2012	Kassandra Hickman
2013	Christina Grimany—Office of Student Services
2014	Sara Suarez—Campus Center Information Desk
2015	Anthony Taylor—Course Administrator, IUPUI (now IU Indianapolis) School of Science *also won Indiana's state Student Employee of the Year award
2016	Aayushi Kabra—International Support Ambassador, Office of International Affairs
2017	Roshni Patel—L Program
2018	Brianne Karazsia—Employer Relations Ambassador, Office of Student Employment
2019	Jonah Gjertson—Office of Student Employment
2020	Dylan Patterson—Energy Intern, Office of Sustainability Danilo Almeida—Resident Assistant, Division of Student Affairs, Housing and Residence Life
2021	Holly Lindsey—Web Developer Intern, DUE Office of Communications also won Indiana's state Student Employee of the Year award
2022	Lacey Smith—Media Production and Marketing Assistant, Office of Student Employment
2023	Henry Woodburn—Sustainable Transportation Intern, Office of Sustainability also won Midwest Student Employee of the Year in the category of Community Service
2024	Ashley Remy (undergraduate)—Senior Ambassador for Life–Health Sciences Internship Program Ericia Henry (graduate)—Graduate Assistant of Student Success for Diversity Enrichment and Achievement Program

Ashley Remy, Senior Ambassador for Life–Health Sciences Internship Program, received the 2024 IU Indianapolis Student Employee of the Year Award.

Ericia Henry, Graduate Assistant of Student Success for Diversity Enrichment and Achievement Program, received the 2024 IU Indianapolis Graduate Student Employee of the Year Award.

Supervisor of the Year

The nominee must be a full-time or part-time staff/faculty employee of the nominating college or university.

Student employees or colleagues may nominate supervisors who work with student employees whom they feel warrant particular recognition for their performance on the job. The Student Employment Supervisor of the Year (SESOTY) Award Program begins at the institutional level and moves on to regional recognition.

Please describe the accomplishments of the nominee that you feel qualify them to be considered for Student Employment Supervisor of the Year recognition. Your letter of nomination must be limited to two pages. Nominations will be judged on the following characteristics: mentoring, professionalism, and leadership provided to the student employee. Please include:

The nominee’s greatest attributes, as they relate to their supervision.
How the nominee has gone above and beyond the standard work expectations as a supervisor.
The quality of the nominee’s work and work style.
The nominee’s leadership skills, initiative, and motivation.
The impact the nominee has had on your student employees.
The qualities of the nominee that set him/her apart from other student employment supervisors.

Please note that additional materials will not be considered. The information you provide may be shared with the public through press releases and other promotional opportunities.

2007	Joe Huerkamp—Mechanical Engineering Department
2011	Sloane Thompson—Director of Career Development, School of Liberal Arts
2012	Brenda Grimes—Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics
2013	Lyne Racette—IU School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology
2014	Amy Wylie—Division of Student Life
2015	Erika Huber—Assistant Director of Academic Mentoring, Bepko Learning Center, University College
2016	Michael Finnell—Contact Center Supervisor, Office of Student Financial Services
2017	Dr. Imranul Alam—Assistant Research Professor, IU School of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology
2018	Terry O'Brien—School of Public and Environmental Affairs
2019	Sarah Eltzroth—Academic and Career Development, University College
2020	Gilbert Flores—International Recruitment and Outreach Manager, Office of International Affairs Brett Hietala—Residence Coordinator, Division of Student Affairs, Housing and Residence Life
2021	Lauren DeHaan—Assistant Director, Office of Student Employment *also won the MASEA regional Student Employee Supervisor of the Year award
2022	Cristina Padilla—Sustainability Engagement Coordinator, IUPUI (now IU Indianapolis) Office of Sustainability
2023	Dr. Babak Anasori—Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Energy Engineering
2024	Denise Rayman—Digital Archivist for University Library Archives

Not sure what to include in your submission?

All submissions need to be in the form of a letter. See an example below. If you need additional assistance, feel free to contact our office at future@iu.edu.

Supervisor nomination example

Student nomination example