Student Employee of the Year

Student employees are a valued part of the Emory community. Not only do they bring exceptional skills and energy to our work environments, but they also equip many units and departments to fulfill their responsibilities critical to Emory’s mission. Part-time campus employment is also beneficial for students, as these positions provide both a practical resource for contributing to the cost of education and a valuable opportunity to gain work experience.

The national Student Employee of the Year (SEOTY) competition is sponsored by the National Student Employment Association. This competition starts at the school level, where supervisors nominate outstanding student employees. Emory’s Student Employee of the Year selection committee reviews all nominations and selects the Emory University Student Employee of the Year in early February of each year. Emory’s annual honoree is featured on the Office of Financial Aid website and receives an award certificate and a $1,000 scholarship sponsored by the Office of Financial Aid.

The Campus Student Employee of the Year is submitted to compete at a regional level each March, and regional honorees move on to the national competition. The National Student Employee of the Year celebration occurs during National Student Employment Week, which is celebrated during the second full week of April each year.

Meet the 2024-2025 Emory University Student Employees of the Year

Undergraduate Student Employee of the Year is Ella Akridge, 25 UCOL
Pathways Center

 

Ella, a senior at Emory University, serves as the Lead Operations Coordinator for the Career Closet within the Pathways Center. Her leadership has transformed this vital resource, ensuring that students have access to professional attire for career opportunities.

As her supervisor, Micah Tucker, shared: 

“Ella has displayed exemplary leadership that has transformed this vital resource, directly aligning with the Pathways Center’s mission of equipping students with meaningful experiences that enhance their career trajectories. Her ability to build, innovate, and inspire has left a lasting impact on the Emory community and the students she serves.”

I feel extremely humbled to receive this award. I have been an Emory student employee since my first year here, and I have always viewed it as a joy to get to work for the community I am a part of, which is what makes student employment so rewarding. I would like to thank my Emory supervisors, Micah Tucker and Dominque Moore, for the mentorship and guidance they have given to me during my time at Emory. I could not ask for a better environment in which to thrive as a student and student employee.

Coordinating the Career Closet over the last year has been deeply meaningful for me. Coming into college as a low-income student, I faced considerable challenges in navigating the worlds of higher education and career development. In revamping the Pathway Center's Career Closet initiative, I was able to contribute to leveling the playing field for Emory students from all backgrounds who are seeking to break into the professional world. Not only am I extremely proud of the impact my role has had on the Emory community, but I am also grateful for the professional development I have received here. Navigating the closet's operational and public-facing renovation required a lot of creative problem solving, organizational management, and professionalism. I am certain these transferable skills will be instrumental in my next steps after graduation. Most importantly, though, I fondly remember each student who was able to find the suit, blazer, or necktie that made them feel comfortable and confident as they began their professional journey.

Emory’s Graduate Student Employee of the Year & National  Graduate Student Employee of Year is Ariel Lawrence, 25 English PHD

Laney Graduate School

Ms. Lawrence is an English PhD student at Emory University’s Laney Graduate School. Throughout her time at Emory, she has held multiple positions on campus, including with the Emory Writing Center, as an instructor in the English Department, an online curriculum designer for Emory Summer Programs, and with Southern Spaces in Emory’s Center for Digital Scholarship. She is also the recipient of the 2024-2025 James Weldon Johnson Institute PhD Completion Fellowship and is slated to graduate in May.

While Ariel has made numerous contributions to Emory’s academic and intellectual community, this nomination highlights her work as a Writing Specialist in the National Scholarships & Fellowships Program (NS&FP) in Emory’s Pathways Center. As her supervisor, Dr. Friddle, shared:

"She embodies the qualities recognized through this award, and her mentorship will continue to impact the Emory community long after she graduates and moves into her academic career." 

It feels quite surreal to be winning an award for being a graduate student worker. I can say with full confidence that it was not an honor I was expecting. I have always been the type of student who likes to work; however, in recent years, I have tried to use my employment opportunities to help develop key soft skills that I feel might serve me in and beyond the academy. When I applied for the job at NSFP, I wanted to learn more about fellowship and grant writing. I have, instead, added so many critical skills to my toolbox that will help me be an advocate for my future students and maintain a healthy relationship with the university structure. I am ultimately grateful for all these experiences and all of the opportunities I have had to learn more about how to show up for Emory students in the ways they need. I am thankful and deeply appreciative for the award, and I extend I hearty thank you to my NSFP team—advisors and student workers—for noticing my talents even when they might, at times, evade my own perception. 

My job at NSFP has given me the opportunity to work with students to shape their post-graduate aspirations outside of the power dynamics of the traditional classroom space. While serving as instructor of record is significant, there is the unavoidable reality that you are a gatekeeper of sorts. As an NSFP advisor, I am able to meet my students' needs with a little more imagination and freedom. Secondly, my job has given me the ability to see the university ecosystem from a broader perspective. As a graduate student, you are prone to hyper-focus on creating a niche for yourself, most often through specialization; this can sometimes make your world view quite narrow. Working for NSFP has expanded my vision so that I can see the many ways that Emory, as an institution, can help serve the needs of my advisees. Finally, this job has given me a vibrant cohort of thought-partners to collaborate with and learn from. I have grown exponentially as they have invested in me.

“While Ella & Ariel are the overall winners, we would also like to acknowledge the winners of each category for the Undergraduate competencies":

• Community Service: Leilany Munoz
• Leadership: Ella Akridge
• Innovation & Technology: Natalia Freeze
• Diversity & Inclusion: Lucy New
• Critical Thinking: Kush Patel