OSU seeking top student employees

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Oklahoma State University is inviting nominations for Student Employee of the Year. The student selected is someone who best embodies the contributions and achievements of students who work while attending college.

Eligible students must be degree-seeking, part-time or full-time, graduate or undergraduate students enrolled at OSU and employed in positions on or off campus. Nominated students will be evaluated on reliability, quality of work, initiative, professionalism and uniqueness of contribution. The winner is announced each spring, as part of National Student Employment Week.

"Working part-time while attending school here at OSU not only reduces the financial burden of college, it also provides students the opportunity for career exploration, assists in developing personal and professional networks and keeps them engaged in activities- improving the chances of staying and finishing school," said Robert Douglas, OSU Career Services. "The contributions of outstanding student employees to any business or department is just as immeasurable."

All nominated employees will be part of the OSU Student Employee of the Year celebration in April. All nominees will be recognized, five finalists will be selected and receive prize packages, and one will be chosen as the OSU Student Employee of the Year, receiving prizes and a scholarship.

The OSU Student Employee of the Year will compete at the regional level and if successful will eventually compete nationally. The winner of the national contest will receive a $500 dollar cash award presented by a NSEA representative at the student's home campus.

Students must have been employed for a minimum of 3 months full-time (20 hrs./week) or 6 months part-time between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014 (anticipated). This is equivalent to 240 working hours during the year period. Graduate Teaching or Research Assistants are not eligible.

Past winners have worked on campus in offices such as the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, the OSU Library and Animal Science, as well as off campus ad organizations like Tyson Foods and the City of Stillwater.

Last year's Student Employee of the Year celebration attracted 73 nominations. About 4,400 students work off campus, while about 3,000 are employed on campus.

The contest is sponsored by the Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid and OSU Career Services in conjunction with the National Student Employment Association's (NSEA) National Student Employee of the Year contest.

Applications are available online at http://okla.st/193lzlj or at www.hireosugrads.com. Nominations must be submitted by 5 p.m. on January 17, 2014. The winner will be announced on April 16, 2014, at the Student Employee of the Year Ceremony.

For questions, contact Roberta Douglas at (405) 744-3331.

Story by Mason Waldvogel