Nominations open for Student Employee of the Year

From front desk reception to peer advising, food service to residence support and beyond, student employees are the backbone of operations at Kansas State University and are a vital part of the continued success of K-State.

One way to acknowledge student employees is to nominate them for the Student Employee of the Year, or SEOTY, award as part of the National Student Employment Appreciation Week. The next award ceremony will be held from 4-5 p.m. on April 7, 2027, in the Bluemont Room of the K-State Student Union.

All nominees will receive a certificate and Wildcat pin. Five finalists will receive an award plaque in addition to the certificate and pin. One winner also receives a $100 Student Union Gift Card, and the campus partner organization that nominates that winner will receive a plaque acknowledging the Student Employee of the Year.

Students who are nominated also obtain non-material rewards. "The nomination looks great on a resume," noted Akayla Calhoun, student employment manager at the Derby Dining Center.

Morgan Greene, communications and marketing specialist for the Division of Academic Success and Student Affairs, echoed the sentiment: "This job provided hands-on learning opportunities for our student, which she was able to highlight on her resume. Being nominated for student employee of the year further bolstered that work experience and supported her career readiness."

A nomination for SEOTY is another way to acknowledge the student employees’ hard work. "Simply being nominated will make their day," said Grayson Graham, assistant director of facility operations. Greene agreed: "As a supervisor, it's always important that I am uplifting the students I supervise."

Nominations are now open and can be made by completing the form found on the Student Employee of the Year website. Nominations are open until 5 p.m. on Feb. 12.

— Submitted by Rob J. Sanders