Graduate Student Employee of the Year
This recognition program allows graduate students to be honored, appreciated, and recognized for their contributions to their institutions while pursuing higher education.
The National Student Employment Association (NSEA) is running a similar process to award a National Graduate Student Employee of the Year. NSEA members are encouraged to submit their campus winners to this process. More information can be found on the NSEA website.
Eligible Students:
All student employees in an accredited graduate program are eligible (including graduate assistants & teaching assistants). Nominees must be at institutions with at least one MASEA member. This award is not restricted to students employed through the Federal Work-Study program.
New in 2025, Teaching Assistants (TAs) that are in an accredited graduate program may be nominated for this award.
Process:
One student will be selected as the GSEOTY winner based on their unique contributions to the 4 categories below. A runner up will also be identified. To start, each institution will conduct their own nomination process. Then, any institution who is a member of MASEA may submit their GSEOTY. A committee of MASEA volunteers will then read nominations and select a winner and runner-up for each category.
Selection Criteria
Students will be evaluated on their contributions to the following categories:
- Diversity & Inclusion: Student Employee acknowledges the support and contributions of others in achieving results; demonstrates empathy and compassion for others; is flexible, open, and receptive to new information, ideas and approaches; shows respect and value for the unique contributions of each associate.
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Impact: Student Employee suggests and helps implement an idea that has a positive, tangible impact on the department or brings positive recognition to the department.
- Professionalism, Effective Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Student Employee collaborates well with peers, manager, department leadership and unit stakeholders; Employs appropriate methods of persuasion when soliciting agreement; addresses problems constructively.
- Leadership: Student Employee is passionate about mentorship, training fellow student employees, and acts as an agent of change to support the implementation of new ideas
MASEA volunteer readers will use this GSEOTY Rubric (borrowed from NSEA) to evaluate nominations.
Timeline
- November 27, 2024 - MASEA distributes announcement and application materials to members.
- February 21, 2025 - SESOTY campus winners are due to MASEA.
- March 14, 2025 - Winners will be identified and institutions will be notified by this date.
- April 14 - April 18, 2025 - National Student Employment Week observed. Celebrate nominees and winners!
MASEA Awards
- A GSEOTY winner and runner-up will be selected based on their unique contributions to the 4 categories above. The winner will receive a certificate and a check for $100 and the runner up will receive a certificate and a check for $75.
Submission Instructions
Nominators will need to complete and submit the GSEOTY Campus Selection Form which should be in letter format (2 page maximum - this does not include the cover letter) and include the following requirements:
- Briefly describe why you are submitting the student for recognition
- Briefly outline your student employee's accomplishments as it pertains to all 4 categories above.
- Closing statement
Please ensure the GSEOTY Campus Selection Form and the nomination letter are combined in the same PDF file.
In order for your institution's graduate student employee of the year to be considered, you must email your GSEOTY Selection form with letter of nomination to info@masea.org no later than 11:59pm CST February 21, 2025. No late materials or previous forms will be accepted.
Please note: the information you provide may be shared with the public through press releases and other promotional opportunities.
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