The Career Impact Awards was established in 2018 in order to recognize and celebrate the many career partners and career advocates across our campus and community. This event was created because we recognize that having career infused into all aspects of the student experience correlates to overall student success during and after college. It takes great collaboration on and off campus to help shape post graduate success stories for all students who come from diverse backgrounds, identities, and dreams. Through this event, we wanted to raise awareness around the importance of the ‘career work’ that we all do with students and alumni and recognize the efforts and contributions of those who advocate career for all.
Nominations for 2019 were accepted for the following categories:
- Student of the Year
- Student Group of the Year
- Distinguished Administrator
- Distinguished Staff Member
- Distinguished Faculty
- Employer of the Year
- Recruiter of the Year
- Alum of the Year
- Student Employee of the Year
- Supervisor of the Year
- Career Impact Award- Outstanding Career Advocate
2019 Award Winners
Alum of the Year
Michele Bratschun, an Educational Ranger with the National Park Service, keeps the park involved in a variety of career related endeavors and is quick to volunteer for CSU career events like FedConnect, Resume Rush, and RamWelcome.
Employer of the Year
The Colorado Association of School Personnel Administrators (CASPA) is an association of school district Human Resource administrators and university faculty that work collaboratively to advance public education in Colorado. They partner with the Center for Educator Preparation at CSU to promote, advocate, and provide networking career opportunities for students and graduates.
Recruiter of the Year
Ashira Jones is the Northern Region Lead & University Advisory Board Coordinator for Halliburton. Through Ashira’s influence, the Walter Scott Jr. College of Engineering launched ENpower, a “bridge-to-college program” in 2016 with funding from the Halliburton Foundation. This in-residence program for historically underserved freshmen helps minority, female, and first-generation students make a successful transition to CSU and build a peer network.
Distinguished Administrator
John Hayes, Dean for Warner College of Natural Resources, was recognized for supporting all students in their career development by allocating funds for students to explore career beyond the classroom and showing up to events that have a career emphasis.
Distinguished Faculty
Paul Layden is an Instructor within the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources program. Professor Layden crafted an internship program within the major and has developed working relationships with over 400 companies, non-governmental organizations, and natural resource agencies to help students network.
Distinguished Staff Member
Beka Crocket is the Director of Student Success in the College of Agricultural Sciences. She provides a “continuum of career” to students from admission to graduation by providing them career counseling and creating programs that help them jump into a meaningful career.
Supervisor of the Year
Allison Penfield, Assistant Director in the Student Disability Center, guides the professional development of each student staff member in her office to help them obtain the skills and experience necessary for their continued success during their education at CSU and beyond.
Student of the Year
Gillian Fahey, a junior electrical engineering student was recognized for her extra-curricular involvement that empowers women in STEM fields and her work in the Career Center connecting students to employers.
Student Group of the Year
The DREAMers United student organization was recognized for engaging in career development regularly at their organizational meetings, having members serve on career related panels, and working with Student Legal Services to learn more about how to start their own businesses.
Student Employee of the Year
Julia Kendrick is a student employee within the University Center for the Arts-School of Music, Theater & Dance and was praised for her ability to lead and train a new team of incoming staff in her role.
Outstanding Career Advocate
Terry Comerford is the Engineering Success Center Director at the Walter Scott Junior College of Engineering. Terry was recognized for her work creating a standalone Engineering Career Fair, serving as an advisor to the Society of Women Engineers, and for helping to create the “ENpower Bridge Program” within her college.