The President's Student Employee of the Year Award is given annually to an outstanding student employee who has made a positive impact on the university and has demonstrated exceptional reliability, quality of work, initiative, and professionalism.
The winner receives a certificate and an award of $500, funded by the Office of the President. Each finalist receives an award of $100, funded by Texas Performing Arts, and a gift from Intercollegiate Athletics. In addition, the UT Austin winner is entered in the regional competition sponsored by the Southern Association of Student Employment Administrators. The winner of that competition receives a $500 award and is entered in the National Student Employment Association competition, which offers a $1,000 award. In 2015, a UT Austin student was named the National Student Employee of the Year!
All nominees are recognized at an event sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs during National Student Employee Appreciation Week in April. The recipient of the President’s Student Employee of the Year Award also is recognized at the President’s Staff Awards event.
To help ensure the continuation of UT Austin's recognition and development programs for student employees, including the Student Employee Excellence Development (SEED) Program, please consider donating to the Student Employee Recognition Program fund. Donations in any amount are welcome!
2018-2019 President’s Student Employee of the Year Award
Congratulations to senior Katie Strain, recipient of The University of Texas at Austin's 2019 President's Student Employee of the Year Award! She is an Environmental & Biological Sciences Major in The College of Natural Sciences. Katie manages the UT Farm Stand for University Housing and Dining's Sustainability team. Katie and her fellow Student Employee of the Year finalists will be honored at an on-campus luncheon on April 15, 2019.
Watch us surprise Katie to announce she was awarded the 2019 President's Student Employee of the Year Award on Facebook Live!
In addition, the following 10 students were selected as Finalists in the 2018-2019 competition:
- Salim Abboud, Recreational Sports
- Shannon Sullivan, Longhorn Wellness Center, UhS
- Gladys Serafin, Liberal Arts ITS
- Angela Simmons, BeVocal
- Khristian Mendez-Aguirre, Zero Waste Program, Sustainability; College of Fine Arts
- Alexis McDonald, University Housing and Dining
- Rachel Gonzalez, Child Development Center; New Student Services
- Madison Gove, Social Innovation Initiative in the McCombs School of Business
- Natalia Coveney, Athletics
- Anthony Rivera, Office of Sustainability
2017-2018 President’s Student Employee of the Year Award
We are pleased to recognize James Collins (pictured on left) as the recipient of the 2017-2018 President’s Student Employee of the Year Award. James is being recognized for his work as a Campus Environmental Center Ambassador in the Office of Sustainability. James also works as a Texas Water Research Network (TWRN) Student Assistant in the Environmental Science Institute.
- Please take a moment to view the video about James produced by FAS Communications.
- Download the complete list of 2017-2018 nominees (PDF)
2016-2017 President’s Student Employee of the Year Award
Raul Pineda (pictured on left) was the recipient of the 2016-2017 President's Student Employee of the Year Award. Raul worked as a Senior Student Associate in the Office of Strategy and Policy, where he served as the OnRamps Innovation Fellow for Instructional Design.
- Please take a moment to view the video about Raul produced by the Division of Student Affairs.
- Download the complete list of 2016-2017 nominees (PDF)
2015-2016 President’s Student Employee of the Year Award
Hana’A Said (pictured on left), a Peer Mentor with the Texas Interdisciplinary Plan (TIP) Scholars Program in the College of Natural Sciences, was selected as the recipient of the 2015-2016 President’s Student Employee of the Year Award. Hana’A also worked as a Resident Assistant for the Division of Housing and Food Service.
- Please take a moment to view the video about Hana’A produced by the Division of Student Affairs.
- Download the complete list of 2015-2016 nominees (PDF)
2014-2015 President’s Student Employee of the Year Award
Coleman A. Tharpe (pictured on left) was selected as the University of Texas at Austin’s 2014-2015 Student Employee of the Year. Coleman was honored for his work as a Senior Student Associate for the Webber Energy Group in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering. In a first for UT Austin, Coleman also was selected as the recipient of both the 2015 National Student Employee of the Year Award, presented by the National Student Employment Association, and the 2015 SASEA Student Employee of the Year Award, presented by the Southern Association of Student Employment Administrators.
- Please take a moment to view the video about Coleman produced by the Division of Student Affairs.
- Download the complete list of 2014-2015 nominees (PDF)
2013-2014 President’s Student Employee of the Year Award
Lauren A. Fedele (pictured on left), Student Associate in Facilities Services and Tailgate Recycling Coordinator for the Campus Environmental Center, was selected as The University of Texas at Austin’s 2013-2014 Student Employee of the Year.
- Please take a moment to view the video about Lauren produced by the Division of Student Affairs.
- Download the complete list of 2013-2014 nominees and finalists (PDF)
2012-2013 Student Employee of the Year Award
Kevin J. Luecke (pictured on left), Undergraduate Research Assistant in the College of Natural Sciences, Department of Astronomy - McDonald Observatory, was selected as The University of Texas at Austin’s 2012-2013 Student Employee of the Year.
- Please take a moment to view the video about Kevin produced by the Division of Student Affairs.
- Download the complete list of 2012-2013 nominees (PDF)
2011-2012 Student Employee of the Year Award
Bianca Wugofski (pictured on left), Student Associate at Texas Performing Arts, was selected as The University of Texas at Austin’s 2011-2012 Student Employee of the Year.
- View the Division of Student Affairs’ video interview with Bianca, filmed at the 2012 Student Employee Recognition event
- Download the complete list of 2011-2012 nominees and finalists (PDF)
2010-2011 Student Employee of the Year Award
On April 4, 2011, Brandon Okafor (pictured on left), Student Associate in the Jackson School of Geosciences, was presented The University of Texas at Austin’s first Student Employee of the Year Award.
- Download the complete list of 2010-2011 nominees and finalists (PDF)