OU Recognizes Student Workers During National Student Employment Week
Nine students from across the University of Oklahoma Norman campus are being recognized as outstanding student workers this month during National Student Employment Week.
Scheduled to take place April 11-16, the week is an opportunity to recognize student employees for the invaluable services they provide. The week will culminate with a banquet to honor the nominees and announce the top three nominations for OU’s Student Employees of the Year (SEOTY).
Of the three nominations, one will be forwarded to the Southern Association of Student Employment Administrators for one of three regional nominees, and then onto the National Student Employment Associations for national recognitions.
At OU, Student Employee Week is a time where offices and departments across campus celebrate, appreciate and recognize the hard work of OU student employees. Through the collective effort and contributions from student workers, the university thrives and succeeds as a whole.
“The last two years have been extremely difficult for our student employees to navigate, yet they manage to give 100% to their employers,” said Mari-Ann Stumblingbear, OU’s federal work study coordinator. “It makes a huge difference to be recognized for a job well done.”
To celebrate and commemorate the contributions of OU’s student employees, we asked this year’s nominees to share a favorite memory created while on the clock.
“The Modern Languages, Literatures and Linguistics department has professors from various parts of the world and different backgrounds with expertise in many languages. As an international student, this environment has been welcoming and comfortable. While I cannot point to a single experience that is my favorite, it is the small everyday conversations that make this experience so enriching for me. Every day, I talk to a professor, and we have conversations ranging from Indian food recommendations to the similarities between Italian and Spanish, to the economy in Venezuela. These conversations are what make me feel welcome at work.”
- Shubhashree Sathe, Language Learning Center in the Department of Modern Language, Literatures, and Linguistics
“Last semester, I took an event planning class. I sat in class at Gaylord Hall and my professor discussed the importance of an event’s venue and how to develop the event site. Fast forward a week later, and I was standing in the middle of a ballroom in one of Oklahoma City’s tallest skyscrapers conducting a site visit for an event. Because of my internship with the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy, I’ve been able to apply my classroom learning to real-world scenarios.”
- Nate Proctor, Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy
“It is tough to decide my favorite memory because there are a lot of good ones made every day. There is always a great time in the office whenever we all get together on special occasions and have a game day in the conference room. I enjoy coming to work every day doing the work that I do, but most importantly, I love who I am surrounded by every day. They constantly motivate and guide me in the right direction.”
- Perry Johnson Jr., Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Congratulations to the 2022 Student Employee of the Year nominees!
- Sarah Bowen, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
- Connor Cowan, Housing and Residence Life
- Derek Ford, OU Housing and Food
- Perry Johnson Jr., Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Nate McMillen, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
- William Miller, Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center
- Nate Proctor, Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy
- Shubby Sathe, Language Learning Center in the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Linguistics
- Gillian Stinson, Facilities Management
Offices and departments can celebrate their student employees by finding creative ways to say, “Thank You.” From delivering a handwritten note of thanks to gifting a small token of appreciation, use this week as an opportunity to encourage student employees.
Those participating are encouraged to share their ideas and pictures with OU-SEOTY by emailing workstudyprograms@ou.edu.
Article provided by the Division of Enrollment Management.
Article Published: Wednesday, April 6, 2022