Nominate Your Student or a Supervisor

Student Employment "of the Year" Awards

In alignment with the National Student Employment Association (NSEA), we manage an annual awards program for Student Employee of the Year, Graduate Student Employee of the Year, and Student Employment Supervisor of the Year.

Our goal is to recognize the outstanding contributions and achievements of students who work while pursuing higher education and those who are working directly with our student employees in supervisory roles. More details on how you can nominate a student or supervisor are below.

Student Employee of the Year

All IU Indianapolis student employees are eligible. There is an undergraduate award and a graduate award.

Nominees are not restricted to students employed through the Federal Work-Study Program.

Undergraduate Student Employee of the Year:

Students will be evaluated on their contributions to criteria in one of the following categories:

  • Community service
  • Critical thinking
  • Diversity and inclusion
  • Innovation and technology
  • Leadership

View rubrics for each category.

Graduate Student Employee of the Year:

Student will be evaluated on their contributions to criteria in each of the following categories: 

  • Diversity and inclusion
  • Impact
  • Professionalism, effective communication, and interpersonal skills
  • Leadership

View rubrics for each category.

For both undergraduate and graduate students, we are asking for a nomination letter that addresses the appropriate criteria.

2003

O'Shea Utley—Computer Support Tech, University Information Technology Services

Dawn Baker—Team Staff Member, Opportunities for Positive Growth, Inc.

2004

Yasmilaa Burgos—Circle City Bar & Grille

Andrea Mettert—Indiana Humanities Council

2005

Joanna Fields—Department of Foreign Language

2006

Kimberly Keller—Marketing Assistant, IUPUI (now IU Indianapolis) Jags Bookstore

2007

Joshua Springer—Communications Graduate Assistant, Center on Philanthropy

2008

Simone Akins—Research Technician, IU Department of Medicine, Endocrinology

2009

Adam Hooker—Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

2010

Gabby Mendoza 

2011

Kawa Cheong—International Programming Assistant, Office of International Affairs

2012

Kassandra Hickman 

2013

Christina Grimany—Office of Student Services

2014

Sara Suarez—Campus Center Information Desk

2015

Anthony Taylor—Course Administrator, IUPUI (now IU Indianapolis) School of Science

*also won Indiana's state Student Employee of the Year award

2016

Aayushi Kabra—International Support Ambassador, Office of International Affairs

2017

Roshni Patel—L Program

2018

Brianne Karazsia—Employer Relations Ambassador, Office of Student Employment

2019

Jonah Gjertson—Office of Student Employment

2020

Dylan Patterson—Energy Intern, Office of Sustainability

Danilo Almeida—Resident Assistant, Division of Student Affairs, Housing and Residence Life

2021

Holly Lindsey*—Web Developer Intern, DUE Office of Communications

*also won Indiana's state Student Employee of the Year award

2022

Lacey Smith—Media Production and Marketing Assistant, Office of Student Employment

2023

Henry Woodburn*—Sustainable Transportation Intern, Office of Sustainability

*also won Midwest Student Employee of the Year in the category of Community Service

2024

Ashley Remy (undergraduate)—Senior Ambassador for Life–Health Sciences Internship Program

Ericia Henry (graduate)—Graduate Assistant of Student Success for Diversity Enrichment and Achievement Program

Ashley Remy, Senior Ambassador for Life–Health Sciences Internship Program, received the 2024 IU Indianapolis Student Employee of the Year Award.
Ericia Henry, Graduate Assistant of Student Success for Diversity Enrichment and Achievement Program, received the 2024 IU Indianapolis Graduate Student Employee of the Year Award.

Supervisor of the Year

The nominee must be a full-time or part-time staff or faculty employee of the nominating college or university.

Student employees or colleagues may nominate supervisors who work with student employees whom they feel warrant particular recognition for their performance on the job. The Student Employment Supervisor of the Year Award Program begins at the institutional level and moves on to regional recognition.

Please describe the accomplishments of the nominee that you feel qualify them to be considered for Student Employment Supervisor of the Year recognition. Your letter of nomination must be limited to two pages. Nominations will be judged on the following characteristics: mentoring, professionalism, and leadership provided to the student employee. Please include:

  • The nominee’s greatest attributes, as they relate to their supervision.
  • How the nominee has gone above and beyond the standard work expectations as a supervisor.
  • The quality of the nominee’s work and work style.
  • The nominee’s leadership skills, initiative, and motivation.
  • The impact the nominee has had on your student employees.
  • The qualities of the nominee that set them apart from other student employment supervisors.

Please note that additional materials will not be considered. The information you provide may be shared with the public through press releases and other promotional opportunities.

2007

Joe Huerkamp—Mechanical Engineering Department

2011

Sloane Thompson—Director of Career Development, School of Liberal Arts

2012

Brenda Grimes—Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics

2013

Lyne Racette—IU School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology

2014

Amy Wylie—Division of Student Life

2015

Erika Huber—Assistant Director of Academic Mentoring, Bepko Learning Center, University College 

2016

Michael Finnell—Contact Center Supervisor, Office of Student Financial Services

2017

Dr. Imranul Alam—Assistant Research Professor, IU School of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology

2018

Terry O'Brien—School of Public and Environmental Affairs

2019

Sarah Eltzroth—Academic and Career Development, University College

2020

Gilbert Flores—International Recruitment and Outreach Manager, Office of International Affairs 

Brett Hietala—Residence Coordinator, Division of Student Affairs, Housing and Residence Life

2021

Lauren DeHaan—Assistant Director, Office of Student Employment

*also won the MASEA regional Student Employee Supervisor of the Year award

2022

Cristina Padilla—Sustainability Engagement Coordinator, IUPUI (now IU Indianapolis) Office of Sustainability

2023

Dr. Babak Anasori—Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Energy Engineering

2024

Denise Rayman—Digital Archivist for University Library Archives

Denise Rayman, Digital Archivist for University Library Archives, received the 2024 Student Employee Supervisor of the Year award.

Not sure what to include in your submission?

All submissions need to be in the form of a letter. See an example below. If you need additional assistance, feel free to contact our office at future@iu.edu.

Supervisor nomination example

Student nomination example

Ready to submit your nomination?

Nominations for the 2025 NSEA Week Awards are open! Nominations are due by February 9, 2025. Find the links for nomination below: 

Undergraduate Student Employee of the Year Nomination

Graduate Student Employee of the Year Nomination

Supervisor of the Year Nomination

Questions?

Contact our office at future@iu.edu if you have additional questions or need assistance with your nomination.