Student Employee of the Year

Similar to last year, the National Student Employment Association (NSEA) will coordinate the annual National Student Employee of the Year (SEOTY) program independently from the MASEA SEOTY process. If you want to nominate a student for the National Student Employee of the year, your nominating institution must be a current member of NSEA. You can learn more about the eligibility and how to nominate for NSEA SEOTY on their website.

The Midwest Association of Student Employment Administrators (MASEA) will once again conduct a separate process so MASEA members can recognize and celebrate their outstanding student employees. The intent of this award is to recognize the outstanding contributions and achievements of students who work while pursuing higher education.

Process:

Instead of recognizing state winners and a regional winner, there will be five categories and two students (winner and runner-up) will be selected from each category. To start, each institution will conduct their own nomination process. Then, any institution who is a member of MASEA may submit their SEOTY to one of the categories listed below. New in 2024, institutions may submit a different student for each category. A committee of MASEA volunteers will then read nominations and select a winner and runner-up for each category. 

Eligible Students:

All undergraduate student employees at institutions with at least one MASEA member are eligible. Graduate Assistants are ineligible for this award, but may be nominated for MASEA's Graduate Student Employee of Year award (new in 2024). Nominees are not restricted to students employed through the Federal Work-Study program. Nominees must be an employee at an institution that is a member of MASEA.

New this year, Teaching Assistants (TAs) that are undergraduate students may be nominated for this award. 

Selection Criteria

Students will be evaluated on their contributions in the category they are nominated to by using the criteria in the rubrics listed below. 

Timeline

• December 4, 2023 - MASEA distributes announcement and application materials to members.
• February 2, 2024 - SEOTY nominations are due to the campus Student Employment office.
• March 1, 2024 - SEOTY campus winners are due to MASEA.
• March 22, 2024 - 10 students, 2 per each category will be identified as SEOTY for MASEA. 
• April 7 - April 13, 2024 - National Student Employment Week observed. Celebrate nominees and winners!

MASEA Awards

• A SEOTY winner and runner-up will be selected for each of the five categories. The winners will receive a certificate and a check for $100. The runner-ups will receive a certificate and a check for $50. 

Submission Instructions

Nominators will need to complete and submit the SEOTY Campus Selection Form which should be in letter format (2 page maximum - this does not include the cover letter) and include the following requirements:

In order for your institution's student employee of the year to be considered for MASEA Student Employee of the Year, you must email your submission with the required information mentioned above, to info@masea.org no later than 11:59pm CST March 1, 2024. 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.

Student Employee of the Year Implementation Tips

The nominating process is easy! To help you with the process we have some suggested steps listed below:

• Send the SEOTY information, corresponding forms, and a memo explaining the award and nomination process to your supervisors of student employees on your campus for SEOTY nominations. Establish a campus deadline date for submissions that allows your selection committee time to determine and submit your campus winner to MASEA.
• Many institutions create an online "survey" or "form" to collect the same information asked on the MASEA nomination as part of their process or you can use our template above.
• Collect all nominations by the deadline date and request a "call for readers" on your campus. Consider adding student voices to your selection committee. Readers will simply read and review all nominations. Be sure to determine a deadline for completion of all ratings to allow time to submit your campus winner to MASEA. See the above rubrics and consider using with your campus readers.
• Collect the rating forms and calculate all scores. Select your SEOTY!
• Be sure to submit your campus winner to MASEA.
• Celebrate your winners!