Marissa Callahan
Marissa was nominated by her supervisor, Dr. Nancy DiMarco, for her outstanding work as a student assistant in the Institute for Women's Health. Marissa organizes meetings and calendars, handles event scheduling, balances the budget, and engages in the hiring and training of other student assistants as well as providing other administrative support. Dr. DiMarco stated that, "Marissa is the epitome of the reliable student worker. She takes her work very seriously, and I can always count on it being of high quality. She often thinks ahead to activities needing her attention, and usually anticipates my needs. She is a wonderful young woman with tremendous potential and she will be a contributor wherever she finds herself in the future.”
Marissa says, "I have gained countless skills throughout my years of employment on campus. One of the greatest skills that I plan to take with me to graduate school and future employment in my desired career field is leadership. This is a skill that I have been developing since the beginning of my employment and I have truly noticed improvement this last year. I have learned effective ways of instructing a co-worker and providing help when needed, as well as managing and organizing." Marissa also states that she has learned how to prioritize and organize the office. "I believe my greatest contribution to my department is organization. With the busy schedules that so many of my fellow workers and supervisor have, organization is greatly needed and appreciated."
Watch Marissa's Interview [Video]
Stephanie Cantu
Stephanie works in the ID and Dining Services Department. She was nominated by her supervisor, Kim McFarland, for her excellent services as a student employee. As a student assistant, Stephanie performs office duties and provides customer service at the front desk. She has to be knowledgeable regarding all Housing information and also assists with all special events and completes special projects for the ID and Dining Department, as well as for the Housing Department. Stephanie also now handles the responsisbility of maintaining student travel documents. Kim shares that, "Stephanie looks at every task as being an important part of the whole image of the department. She is quick to offer to work late or extra hours in order to get a project finished. Stephanie planned her class schedule around the office's projected busy times. This is not an easy thing to do, and sometimes out of the student's control. She knew the department was short-staffed and would need extra hands during certain times. I appreciate her foresight. She has grown into a leader that I hope she takes to other areas of her life.”
Stephanie states that, "As a future professional, I am expected to adapt quickly, easily and effectively to different situations and personalities as necessary. Thoughout the years working with the ID and Dining Department, I have improved these skills with myself, co-workers and customers...I have also learned to train new co-workers on how we operate within the office, as well as office-sponsored events. With all of these combined skills, I have learned to be a leader. I feel confident when guiding other students with things they are struggling with and questions they are unable to answer and providing them with the resources they need to be succesful.”
Watch Stephanie's Interview [Video]
Nadeesha Chandrarathne
Nadeesha was nominated by her supervisor, Irene Connelly, for her exceptional work performance in her student assistant position in the Office of International Education. Nadeesha monitors and maintains immigration and financial documents, tracks student files from admissions through the immigration process, trains new student assistants and graduate assistants and assists the immigration advisor with immigration processing. Irene says that "Nadeesha’s work is always of the highest quality and she has a strong sense of reliability and responsibility. She reports to work early, stays late, and never fails to meet a deadline. Her comprehensive knowledge of the Office of International Education’s procedures and services has benefitted our office in a number of different capacities. She has developed leadership skills that have gained her the respect of her coworkers and classmates, as well as her supervisors.”
Nadeesha states “I have been employed as a student assistant by Texas Woman’s University’s Office of International Education for more than four years. During my service to OIE I have gained many skills that will be beneficial when I graduate and enter the job market. I have achieved greater confidence and developed communication skills. I have learned both how to work as a team member and a team leader. I have become proficient in time management, completing tasks on schedule and within given deadlines. In addition to marketable business skills, the work ethic I have developed here will serve me well in my future career as a Fashion Merchandising professional.”
Watch Nadeesha's Interview [Video]
Emily Leenerts
Emily works in the Student Records Department and was nominated by Nancy Casey for her exemplary performance as a student assistant. Emily is responsible for scanning and indexing documents, shredding confidential documents, filing, opening mail and providing customer service at the front desk. Nancy shares that “Emily’s work is first-rate. Emily will always take it upon herself to go above and beyond. She looks for work when the workload slows down. She is self-directed and a self-starter. It is a pleasure to know she is helping other TWU students, faculty and staff when they inquire at our front desk. I trust her to represent our department with dignity.”
Emily will begin working on her graduate degree in Occupational Therapy at TWU next fall, and she shares that “The first skill that I acquired through my employment at Student Records was a sense of competence and greater confidence in myself to be able to learn new things. As an OT, I will have to constantly learn new things when I am presented with new patient cases and also with ever-evolving technology. I will be able to do this with a new found sense of self-confidence. I hope that I have contributed in many ways to make Student Records better. I absolutely adore TWU, my fellow peers that I have gotten to know, and my co-workers. I hope that as a student employee for Student Records, I represent our department and TWU with true Pioneer spirit.”
Watch Emily's Interview [Video]
Catherine "Lainey" Wages
Lainey works in the Registrar’s Office and was nominated by Laura Rocchio, Assistant Registrar, for excelling in her student assistant position by going above and beyond her regular job requirements. Lainey is responsible for organizing, scanning, and for proof and document imaging for GMEDIA that is used campus-wide. She organizes and directs 300+ students during commencement, provides receptionist coverage and represents the Registrar’s Office at various TWU events. Laura shares that the “Registrar’s Office staff is a small one working with all students and faculty across three campuses. Understanding the important role this office plays in so many areas, Lainey has taken the initiative to train student assistants, stepped up to fill roles when short staffed, and work late hours and weekends for special events. She approaches each situation with the goal to help each person find a suitable solution. The Registrar’s Office is appreciative of Lainey’s willingness to help in so many ways and with such an exceptional and unfailing care for Texas Woman’s University.”
Lainey is seeking a bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and she says “My job in the Registrar’s Office has emphasized the importance of communication, especially when dealing with the community of TWU, whether it is students, parents, faculty or staff. On multiple occasions I have had to explain why a student was dropped from a course, or why they could not register for a class. I have been able to work through issues with a student in a calm and collected manner, while finding different ways to explain the situation so that the individual can understand the reasons behind the situation. By learning these skills, I am becoming a better communicator, which will greatly aid my future career when dealing with a population who struggles with communication.”
Watch Lainey's Interview [Video]
The Career Services Department is excited to announce that this year two students were selected to receive an honorable mention award for the Student Employees of the Year Program!
List of Honorable Mention Students
Congratulations to all of the nominees for the program as well!
List of Nominees
Thank you to all TWU faculty, staff and students that participated by nominating a student employee for the program.
What is the Student Employees of the Year Program?
Students employed in on-campus jobs perform work that is vital to the overall operation and success of Texas Woman’s University. Each spring, The Student Employees of the Year Program will recognize five outstanding student employees for their excellent work performance during the academic year. Students will be acknowledged for their exemplary performance in the following areas:
- Quality of Work
- Customer Service
- Unique Contribution
- Initiative
- Reliability
Who is eligible?
Eligible students must meet the following criteria:
- Have completed three months of employment in her or his current position during the current school year.
- Be an undergraduate or graduate student employed through Student Employment (Graduate Assistants are not eligible for the program).
Nominations
All TWU faculty, staff and students are eligible to make nominations, which will be evaluated by a selection committee. Nominations are for individual recognition. Group nominations will not be considered.
While it is possible for more than one student to receive an award from a department, it is important that the submissions be individualized for each student in order to determine their outstanding qualities.
Award Recipients
All nominees will receive a certificate and award recipients will be recognized at the Redbud Awards Festival (produced and sponsored through the Center for Student Development) held each spring semester.
page last updated 5/23/2013 12:47 PM
