President’s Student Employee of the Year Award

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!

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.

2017-2018 Student Employee of the Year Award Winner and Finalists: (front row) Brianna Barth, Bianca Eubanks, Kacey Davidson and Susan Ward; (back row) Alexander Bruce, Dominykas Bytautas, James Collins (winner), Sarah Ritch, Adrienne Boni Banks and Danny Bacic (Bex Orton not pictured)

In addition, the following 10 students were selected as Finalists in the 2017-2018 competition:

  • Daniel Bacic, Recreational Sports
  • Brianna Barth, Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory, Cockrell School of Engineering
  • Adrienne Boni Banks, Texas Performing Arts, College of Fine Arts
  • Alexander Bruce, School of Undergraduate Studies
  • Dominykas Bytautas, Recreational Sports
  • Kacey Davidson, University Health Services; Recreational Sports
  • Bianca Eubanks, TIP Scholars Program; Biology Instructional Office, College of Natural Sciences
  • Bex Orton, Counseling and Mental Health Center
  • Sarah Ritch, University Health Services
  • Susan Ward, Green Offices Program, Office of Sustainability

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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Human Resource Service Center

1616 Guadalupe St., Suite 1.408
Austin, TX 78701

Phone: 512-471-4772 (HRSC)
Phone (Toll Free): 800-687-4178
Fax: 512-232-3524

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