Student Employee Appreciation Week

Congratulations to our 2024 Winners

• Graduate Student Employee of the Year Overall: Jithendran Senthilkumar, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Undergraduate Student Employee of the Year Overall: Muhammad Hassan Asif, University Recreation
• Community Service Student Employee of the Year: Katelyn Frankel, Bronson School of Nursing
• Critical Thinking Student Employee of the Year: Jaqueline Chavarria, Lee Honors College
• Diversity and Inclusion Student Employee of the Year: Antonia Kistler Ellis, University Recreation
• Leadership Student Employee of the Year: Collin Holzberger, College of Education and Human Development
• Technology and Innovation Student Employee of the Year: Seth Falkenstein, Payroll and Disbursements
• Supervisor of Student Employees of the Year: Dr. Brandon Youker, The Evaluation Lab

Read more about these outstanding individuals and their contributions to WMU.

• The week is dedicated to student employees. It is a time to recognize all the hard work and contributions that they make to Western Michigan University and the greater community.  The past year has been like no other. Take some time to celebrate your student staff. This event offers the opportunity to nominate outstanding students and student supervisors for the Student and Supervisor of the Year award.
• Student employees work in most campus departments. Their work ranges from cashiers to graduate assistants. WMU employs approximately 3,500 during the fall/spring semesters. Campus student employment allows students to build skills, explore career options, and make meaningful contributions to the university and community. . Supervisors are encouraged to nominate their outstanding student employees for Student Employee of the Year.
• Student Supervisors play a key role in hiring, training, reviewing and modeling key skills and behaviors. These modeled skills and behaviors are meant to foster the development of skilled, competent student employees. Students are encouraged to nominate their outstanding supervisor for Supervisor of the Year.
• One major activity of Student Employee Appreciation Week includes honoring all nominations and winners for the Student Employee and the Supervisor of the Year. The names of the winning student and supervisor will be forwarded to a competition through the Midwest Association of Student Employment Administrators (MASEA).

Recognition Ideas for Student Employees

• Treat day - full-time staff bring in treats for student employees.
• Take pictures - post student employee pictures and list what wonderful things they do for your department.
• Send a special "thank you" letter to your student employees to show your appreciation.
• Buy blank certificates and use them recognize students' strengths.
• Office party - celebrate with food and great conversation.
• Friendship plants - take cuttings from a plant in the office and give to each student as a live connection to the office.
• Pat on the back - draw an outline of your hand on a piece of paper and copy for each student. Write a note that tells the student why they deserve it.
• Use this week as an opportunity to start an award recognition program. Look around the office for a white elephant item. Name the item for the award and make the first presentation of it during Student Employee Appreciation Week.
• Make a banner to hang for the whole week in your office.
• Decorate an office bulletin board or the office door for the week in recognition of your students.
• Good Egg Award - buy plastic eggs, fill them with goodies and give out with "good egg" certificates. List what the student did to deserve the award.
• Care package with cookies and treats.
• Evaluate your student employee's performance and give them feedback.
• Buy a pizza for your students or have a potluck.
• Gather gift certificates from local vendors.
• An award ceremony for your student staff.
• Consider setting up a professional development presentation or workshop for your Student Employees; request one here through this form. It will help them identify their transferable skills, enable clearer communication with prospective employers, and promoting professionalism.