Student Employee of the Year

Student Employee of the Year

ºÚÁÏÉçÇøÍø’s student employees directly contribute to the university’s success. To recognize our students’ work and accomplishments, supervisors can submit nominations for the Student Employee of the Year award. This process includes undergraduate and graduate students.Ìý

All nominees will be invited to a special luncheon with the chancellor to celebrate their hard work and achievements. The Student Employee of the Year award winner will also be submitted to the for national award consideration.ÌýÌýÌý

Nominations open on Jan. 6, 2025.Ìý

For procedural questions, contact Student Employment.Ìý

Undergraduate Student Employee of the YearÌýÌýÌý

ºÚÁÏÉçÇøÍø staff and faculty supervisors of student employees and off-campus work-study employers can nominate students for this award.ÌýÌý

If the student you wish to nominate no longer works in your department, please coordinate with their current supervisor to gain their support or collaborate on a joint nomination.Ìý

Undergraduate Student EligibilityÌýÌý

  • Must be enrolled in at least six credit hours in a ºÚÁÏÉçÇøÍø undergraduate program.
  • Must be employed on campus or through an off-campus work-study position. Teaching assistants are eligible!
  • No restriction on the length of employment.Ìý

Nomination CategoriesÌýÌý

Nominations are accepted in the following NSEA categories:

  • Community Service
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Leadership
  • Technology & Innovation
  • Critical ThinkingÌý

Nominators may nominate multiple students, but each student can only be nominated in a single category by the same nominator.ÌýÌý

A committee will evaluate nominations using a scoring rubric, and the top scorers in each category will be submitted to NSEA.

Submit Your Nomination

Write a letter sharing why your student should be recognized with this award and submit it through the . Your letter should be at maximum two pages and uploaded as a Word doc or PDF.Ìý

Additional materials will not be reviewed. Information you provide may be shared publicly through press releases and other promotional channels.Ìý

Submit nominations by Feb. 6 at 5 p.m. MST.Ìý

Awards Recognition

All nominees and nominators will be invited to a celebratory luncheon with the chancellor in April, where each nominee will receive a certificate.Ìý

ÌýÌýThe first-place campus winner receives Buff gear donated by the CU Book Store and will be nominated for the NSEA award.

ÌýÌýThe campus runner-up will receive Buff gear donated by Career Services. If the runner-up is from a different category than the first-place winner, they will also be nominated for the NSEA award.

ÌýÌýFive nominees (including the first-place winner, possibly the runner-up, and top scorers from each category) will be nominated for the NSEA award, where each is eligible for a cash prize if selected as the winner or runner-up.ÌýÌý

Graduate Student Employee of the YearÌýÌýÌý

ºÚÁÏÉçÇøÍø staff and faculty supervisors of student employees and off-campus work-study employers can nominate students for this award.ÌýÌý

If the student you wish to nominate no longer works in your department, please coordinate with their current supervisor to gain their support or collaborate on a joint nomination.Ìý

Graduate Student EligibilityÌýÌý

  • Must be enrolled in a ºÚÁÏÉçÇøÍø degree-seeking graduate program.Ìý
  • Must be employed on campus. Teaching assistants are eligible!Ìý
  • No restriction on the length of employment.ÌýÌý

Nomination CriteriaÌýÌý

Nomination letters are limited to two pages. When submitting a nomination for Graduate Student Employee of the Year, please make sure to speak to the following areas:ÌýÌý

Diversity & InclusionÌýÌý
The student employee:

  • Acknowledges the support and contributions of others in achieving results.
  • Demonstrates empathy and compassion for others.
  • Is flexible, open and receptive to new information, ideas and approaches.
  • Shows respect and value for the unique contributions of each associate. ÌýÌý

ImpactÌýÌý
The student employee suggests and helps implement an idea that has a positive, tangible impact on the department or brings positive recognition to the department. Ìý

Professionalism, Effective Communication & Interpersonal SkillsÌýÌý
The student employee:

  • Collaborates well with peers, manager, department leadership and unit stakeholders.
  • Employs appropriate methods of persuasion when soliciting agreement.Ìý
  • Addresses problems constructively. ÌýÌý

LeadershipÌýÌý
The student employee is passionate about mentorship and training fellow student employees and acts as an agent of change to support the implementation of new ideas.ÌýÌý

A committee will evaluate nominations using a scoring rubric, and the top scorer will be submitted to NSEA.Ìý

Submit Your Nomination

Write a letter sharing why your graduate student should be recognized with this award and submit it through the . Your letter should be at maximum two pages and uploaded as a Word doc or PDF.Ìý

Additional materials will not be reviewed. Information you provide may be shared publicly through press releases and other promotional channels.Ìý

Submit nominations by Feb. 6 at 5 p.m. MST.Ìý

Awards & RecognitionÌýÌý

All nominees and nominators will be invited to a celebratory luncheon with the chancellor in April, where each nominee will receive a certificate.

ÌýÌýThe first-place campus winner will receive $500, donated by the Graduate School. They will also be nominated for the NSEA award and eligible for a cash prize if selected as the winner or runner-up.ÌýÌý

ÌýÌýThe campus runner-up will receive $250, donated by the Graduate School.Ìý

Timeline


  • Nominations open: Jan. 6
  • Nominations due: Feb. 6 by 5 p.m. MST
  • Nominations are reviewed: Feb. 7-18
  • Winners are submitted to NSEA: Feb. 21
  • Winners announced: Feb. 28
  • Luncheon: April 17Ìý