Western celebrates contributions of student employees with awards, appreciation week
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Students are a driving force at universities; while conducting world-changing research and developing into the next generation of leaders, they also help keep institutions running through on-campus employment. Western Michigan University is celebrating the impact of its own student employees during Student Employee Appreciation Week, which runs April 13-17.
“Student employees fill critical roles across Western Michigan University—from managing technical systems and major programs to serving as the front-line face for prospective students and donors,” says Amanda Jeppesen, student employment specialist in Western’s Career and Student Employment Services office.
In the 2024-25 academic year, WMU employed more than 2,600 students in 3,700 positions—about 16% of the University’s total student population. These on-campus jobs, in many cases, allow students to apply skills they’re learning in the classroom in a professional setting.
“These roles also have a direct impact on the student employees themselves, helping students gain the essential skills and career readiness that employers value in today’s job market,” Jeppesen says.
Student employees are invited to pick up a token of appreciation from Western’s Career and Student Employment Services at the following times and locations:
- Monday, April 13, from 1 to 4 p.m. at The Source in the WMU Student Center.
- Tuesday, April 14, from 1 to 4 p.m. at The Source in the WMU Student Center.
- Wednesday, April 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the College of Aviation in Battle Creek.
Awards
Each year, the University recognizes exemplars in student employment with the Gary L. Belleville Student Employee of the Year and Student Advisor of the Year awards.
Undergraduate Student Employee of the Year
Mario Antonio Valenzuela, a digital marketing major, was nominated for his work as a Bronco Food Pantry assistant with Montgomery Essential Needs. His nominator says the knowledge Valenzuela has gained in his coursework has been instrumental in improving the pantry’s marketing efforts and service delivery. By creating a survey to gather feedback on pantry use and awareness, Valenzuela made data-driven recommendations to enhance programs.
At a time when many food pantries across the country were experiencing shortages, Valenzuela reached out to local orchards and gardens to establish new partnerships and ensure fresh food would remain available at the Bronco Food Pantry. His efforts created connections with the Kalamazoo Nature Center and local gardeners that helped secure more than 500 pounds of food for students in just one semester.
“These are now stable, ongoing partnerships that will help us in the future,” his nominator says.
Valenzuela also took the initiative to help hire and train new staff for the pantry. His nominator says the new student employees “were ready to hit the ground running much faster than other new employees in the past thanks to Antonio’s leadership.”
Emphasizing his development as a team member and mentor to newer staff, the nominator says Valenzuela “continues to grow in his leadership, professionalism and self-development, ... and he is flourishing. Other campus professionals have reached out to me multiple times to comment on his professionalism and how much they enjoyed connecting with him.”
Graduate Student Employee of the Year
Mason DeRaad, an applied economics master’s student, was nominated for his work as a graduate assistant in the Office of Research and Innovation. His many accomplishments include analyzing historical data to track WMU’s research performance as well as developing a new format for quarterly and annual research and innovation reports.
“While he is a student and a graduate assistant, he has delivered work as if he had worked in our office for years,” one of his nominators says.
Another nominator emphasizes DeRaad’s level of contribution to the Office of Research and Innovation as “highly uncommon for a graduate student,” adding that “Mason consistently impresses leadership with his strong command of data and his ability to translate complex information into clear, accessible graphs and charts.”
In addition to his unmatched analytical and communication skills, nominators say DeRaad is skilled at maintaining professionalism while putting others at ease.
“His humility, dedication to delivering quality outcomes and attention to detail make him stand out in a crowd,” says one of his nominators. “What makes him amazing is not only delivering great work but doing so while being a great community citizen and team member.”
Supervisor of the Year
Jennifer Townsend was nominated for her role as executive assistant in the Lee Honors College. She is responsible for hiring, training and assigning duties to student employees within the college.
Student employees value her efforts to make them feel included and safe while preparing them for future jobs.
“Jennifer is a charismatic, understanding and empathetic supervisor who stands out because of her dedication to her work,” a nominator writes. “I have never had another supervisor who puts as much time and effort into going above and beyond their job description. Her dedication is infectious.”
Students say they are eager to come back to work semester after semester because they love the welcoming and encouraging environment Townsend creates.
“Any time she notices something that could be improved in the office, she works to improve it, regardless of whether or not it is in her job description,” says one of her nominators. “She understands the stresses of being a student employee and always tries to make her employees feel understood.”
For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.