The SOU campus thrives thanks to the dedication of more that 400 student workers and the mentorship of 100-plus staff and faculty supervisors. To honor that partnership, the university recently hosted its first campus-wide Student Worker Appreciation Event, bringing together students and supervisors for an evening of celebration, reflection and friendly competition.

A previous version of the event over the past two years focused specifically on PEAK workers, but the sunsetting of that program inspired a new, more inclusive tradition. This year, the horizon expanded to celebrate every student worker who helps keep the campus running.

The highlight of the evening was recognizing the outstanding individuals who represent the very best of our campus workforce.

Student worker of the year
Competition was stiff this year, resulting in a three-way tie for second place. Deep appreciation goes out to the runners-up:

• Death Morales (Nominated by Sweets Underwood)
• Ku-Huan Chien (Nominated by Patrick Smith)
• Jayda Hage (Nominated by Trystan Stephens-Tregarth)

Taking home the top honor of student worker of the year was Eli Samas (nominated by Sweets Underwood). Eli was celebrated for going above and beyond the standard student role, showcasing natural leadership and creating an inclusive, welcoming atmosphere where fellow students feel deeply valued and encouraged to participate.

Supervisor of the year
Exceptional student employment relies heavily on stellar mentorship. Gordon Carrier (nominated by Elliot Glenn) took home a well-deserved second place.

The ultimate supervisor of the year award was presented to Marc Overbeck (nominated by Maisie Bandel-Ramirez). Marc was praised for providing the perfect balance of guidance and independence, giving his student workers a strong foundation to build the confidence needed to spearhead major projects. Marc concluded the evening by sharing a few words of gratitude and reflection on the vital role student workers play.

The launch of the Skill Up: Enhance your Career Skills initiative on Moodle was Central to this year’s student employment experience. All student workers were given access to the professional development hub, allowing them to complete a self-assessment across eight core career-readiness competencies: career and self-development, communication, critical thinking, equity and inclusion, leadership, professionalism, teamwork and technology.

Beyond self-assessments, the Skill Up Moodle opened doors to concrete career-building opportunities. Students were encouraged to join the National Society for Leadership and Success, join the Raider Network to connect with alumni, complete job simulations via Forage, engage with the Indeed Job Search Academy and take specialized DiSC or Strengthsfinder assessments.

The impact was clear – attendees shared how the program helped them transition from passive learning to structured self-improvement. Students learned to break down broad professional ambitions into specific, measurable actions, navigate new platforms like Career Launch and realize that critical soft skills require deliberate focus and consistent action over time.

The recent appreciation event wasn’t just about looking back; it was also about building community in real-time. Attendees kicked off the festivities with a “Speed Connection” game, followed by a lively reflection from student speaker Logan Maxwell.

A campus-centric trivia game kept energy high, testing attendees’ knowledge on everything from the physical location of the Career Connections office (SU 310) to identifying the platforms used for off-campus job hunting. The excitement peaked with a live drawing, sending lucky winners home with free access to DiSC and Strengthsfinder assessments.

Student employment is a win-win for the SOU community – campus departments rely heavily on the vital, daily contributions of student workers, and the students gain hands-on, holistic experience that builds essential career-readiness and social consciousness.