2023-2024 SEOTY Process
Nominations Open: Monday, January 8, 2024
Nominations Close: Friday, February 16, 2024
Click Here to View Nomination Form
The Student Employee of the Year process recognizes our dedicated Student Employee staff members who serve on campus working to further the goals of the institution and to support university operations.
Congratulations to our 2023-2024 nominees and winners!
Thank you for submitting your nominations for the 2023-2024 Student Employee of the Year and for celebrating with us at the reception on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. We loved getting to hear about the amazing work that student employees do on campus and having the opportunity to celebrate them for their accomplishments. We look forward to next year’s nomination process and reception!
Winner, Runner-Up, and Honorable Mentions
WINNER: Valeria Valles Castaneda, Office of Admissions
Category: Diversity & Inclusion
In her role, Valeria leads a team of 10 Spanish Specialist ambassadors in addition to leading 15 general ambassadors. Valeria is responsible for recruiting bi-lingual admissions ambassadors, training them, and holding committee meetings to set goals and delegate tasks.
Valeria’s current work revolves around enhancing the experience for our Spanish speaking visitors. Some of the great work she’s implemented this year is intentionally designing staffing shifts at Choose CSU so we have bilingual ambassadors accessible throughout the day. She has been able to create six new event positions that focus on supporting Spanish speaking attendees throughout their time on campus and proposed several new additions to the Choose CSU days that have either been adapted or are seeking resolution. She is truly a change-maker and has dedicated her time on my team to making a lasting impact on the CSU community and all of our future Spanish speaking guests. Valeria has made CSU overall more inclusive campus for future Rams and is a key player in Admissions for helping the University reach its goal of becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution.
RUNNER-UP: Jamison Lerma, Ecosystem Science and Sustainability
Category: Technology and Innovation
Jamison’s contributions transcended simply meeting his assigned tasks. Jamison actively identified additional data sources and developed novel analysis methods, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of the research question. This initiative ultimately resulted in a significant research breakthrough.
This research offers a novel way to retrieve cloud coverage information from ground radiation observations, a critical aspect of understanding Earth’s changing climate.
His dedication, initiative, and intellectual curiosity have had a lasting impact on our research project, culminating in a significant publication. He is a role model for his peers and embodies the spirit of the CSU Career Competencies.
Honorable Mention: Kara Allen, Campus Connections
Category: Community Service
Campus Connections is a mentoring program that pairs youth who have experienced adversity with students enrolled in the CC service-learning course. Throughout her time with Campus Connections, Kara has demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to supporting youth and students from diverse backgrounds and contributing to the program in so many ways. Kara has emerged as a leader and has inspired, encouraged, and supported youth and student participants.
Honorable Mention: Brighid Bandel, KCSU
Category: Leadership
As a leader, she pays attention to the needs of KCSU, its staff members, volunteers, and helps plan ahead to lead the charge of all projects we do, while giving room for the directors to pursue areas of interest and allow them to have their input included in the final product.
Honorable Mention: Emmett Pelissier, Accounting Tutoring Lab
Category: Critical Thinking
Emmett has transformed the efficiency and nature of the accounting tutoring lab. It is a fun, pleasant atmosphere and students and professors are assured that the lab provides top-quality tutoring largely thanks to Emmett and his reliable and tireless work.
2023-2024 Nominees
Abby Busse Lory Dining Services
Abby Waller Office of Admissions
Amanda Johnson Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory
Amelia Anderson Ecosystem Science and Sustainability
Aurora Vansickel Key Communities, Student Success
Avery Cole History
Avrey Cohen-Hadria Dept of Clinical Sciences
Brighid Bandel KCSU / Rocky Mountain Student Media
Brooke Beresford Analytical Resources Core
Chase Meadors Orientation, Transition, and Family Programs
Darcy Rutiaga Office of Admissions
Emmett Pelissier Accounting Department
Faith Stelzer Office of Admissions
Gabriel Castro Student Support Services
Gabrielle Lifferth Housing and Dining Services
Grace Kennedy Office of Admissions
Greyden Martinez RamCard Office
Greyden Martinez RamCard Office
Hayley Pingel Office of Admissions
Hope Anderson Mechanical Engineering, Orthopedic Bioengineering Research Lab
Jamison Lerma Ecosystem Science and Sustainability
Janelle Hailey College of Health and Human Sciences
Jess Diehl College of Agricultural Sciences – Student Success Office
Jordan Miller Diagnostic Medicine Center
Kaeci Madrid Facilities Management-Logistics
Kara Allen Human Development and Family Studies – Campus Connections Youth Mentoring Program
Karla Ibarra-Ruiz Engagement and Extension Human Resources
Kayla Celaya Campus Activities
Laney Lonchar Office of Admissions
Logan Cestone Facilities Management
Madison Minaga Lory Dining Services
Maggie Coutts Campus Recreation – Sport Clubs
Milagro Nunez-Solis Institute for Research in the Social Sciences
Nel Ross College of Health and Human Sciences IT Department
Paige Torrez Office of Admissions
Pareese‘ Jalal MIP
Reham Abdunabi Asian Pacific American Cultural Center and Career Center
Rylee McMillan Engineering Technology Services
Sandra Castaneda The Access Center
Sarah Smith Office of Admissions
Savanna Parrent Orthopaedic Research Center
Shelby Gabrielson Office of Admissions
Susannah Huston Off Campus Student Work-study (USDA-ARS)
Valeria Valles Castaneda Office of Admissions
Zach Young Office of Admissions
Zoe Fritts College of Health and Human Sciences – Development Team
Zoe Hansen Human Dimensions of Natural Resources
