Student Employee of the Year (SEOTY)
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About National Student Employment Week
National Student Employment Week (NSEW) is an annual event that takes place across the United States to celebrate and recognize the contributions of student employees in higher education institutions. The week is designed to honor the hard work, dedication, and impact that student workers have on their campuses. During this week, colleges and universities often host various activities, awards, and recognition programs, like the Student Employee of the Year (SEOTY) awards, to appreciate student employees.
It's also a time to raise awareness about the importance of student employment and the valuable skills students gain through on-campus work, such as time management, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. NSEW helps highlight the role student workers play in maintaining and improving campus operations, making it a significant time for both students and employers to reflect on their contributions.
About SEOTY Awards
The Student Employee of the Year (SEOTY) Awards is a prestigious recognition given to outstanding student employees who demonstrate exceptional performance, dedication, and contributions in their on-campus roles. The awards are usually presented during National Student Employment Week (NSEW) and aim to honor students who go above and beyond in their work while maintaining strong academic performance.
There are typically two categories for the SEOTY awards:
- Individual Student Employee of the Year: This recognizes one student for their exceptional work ethic, skills, and contributions to their department or organization.
- Student Employee Team of the Year: This recognizes a group of student employees who have worked together to achieve outstanding results as a team.
Nominations for the SEOTY awards are often submitted by supervisors who recognize the efforts of their student employees. To be eligible, the student must meet certain criteria (such as maintaining a good academic standing and having a set number of hours worked). The awards are a way for campuses to show their appreciation for the hard work, dedication, and positive impact that student workers have on their university communities.
The SEOTY awards help not only in recognizing individual and team achievements but also in highlighting the value of student employment as an integral part of the college experience.
2025-2026 SEOTY Nominations
Individual Nominations
Eligibility Criteria
- Enrolled as a UH Hilo student in at least 6 credits (undergraduate) or 3 credits (graduate)
- Employed in your department for 150+ days (current and previous semesters)
- Working at least 10 hours per week
- In good academic standing (GPA 2.0+; 3.0+ for grad students)
Nomination Criteria
- Provide examples of exceptional work performance
- Demonstrate creativity or problem-solving in departmental tasks
- Name on the Congratulations winnerʻs banner that will hang in Campus Center Plaza during National Student Employment Appreciation Week.
- Show significant service to the UH Hilo campus community
Award & Recognition
- Individual plaque & Lei for student
- Spot on Perpetual award plaque (which is showcased in the Student Employment Office)
- Recognition during the 2026 Ka Lama Kū Student Leadership Awards Ceremony
Team Nominations
Eligibility Criteria
- Minimum of two students on the team
- Enrolled in at least 6 credits
- In good academic standing (GPA 2.0+; 3.0+ for grad students)
Nomination Criteria
- Examples of excellent work performance and dependability
- Creative solutions to difficult tasks
- Service to the UH Hilo campus community as a team
Award & Recognition
- Engraved plaque (to be displayed in the team’s office) & Lei for nominated team members
- Spot on the perpetual team plaque
- Name on the Congratulations winnerʻs banner that will hang in Campus Center Plaza during National Student Employment Appreciation Week.
- Recognition during the 2026 Ka Lama Kū Student Leadership Awards Ceremony
Key Dates to Remember
- Nominations Open: TBD Spring 2026
- Nominations Deadline: TBD Spring 2026
- Deadline for Messages of Appreciation: TBD Spring 2026
- National Student Employment Week: TBD Spring 2026
- **SEOTY Awards: Will be announced on (TBD Spring 2026) the 2026 Ka Lama Kū Student Leadership Awards Ceremony.
Recognizing Outstanding Student Employees Through the Years
Awardees: 2024- 2025 School Year
As Student Organizations Student Intern in the Campus Center, Kamalani has proven to be a reliable support for our RISOs and a great assistant during new student orientation. Kamalani has done well with communicating with RISO officers and advisors and handling inquiries from students interested in forming a club...One of the more challenging tasks for a new RISO is the creation of their organization's constitution and bylaws. Kamalani's friendly personality and willingness to help, allows for students to be comfortable in asking questions related to the task. Forming a RISO is a multi-step process and Kamalani ensures she follows up with all inquiries throughout the registration and approval process. It is a time consuming process preparing RISOs for formal approval and Kamalani is a stakeholder at every step in the process. -Vanessa Carlson
For many members of our UH Hilo student body, an Admissions student assistant is the first face that they meet when they set foot on the UH Hilo campus. From Aug 2023 to Feb 2024, our six students have conducted campus tours for 168 prospective students, and 20 visiting school groups. Rain or shine, chill or heat, these students make the hour-long trek with our visitors, often multiple times a week, highlighting our various programs, facilities, and services in the hopes of recruiting future Vulcans... Admissions counts on their wisdom, encouragement, and inspiration as our most front-facing ambassadors to the community...Beyond their tour and office duties, the student assistant team also plays an important role in admissions events, such as our annual high school counselor and community college counselor workshops and Accepted Student Receptions -Kati McGinnis
Student Employee of the Year and Student Employee team of the Year pose with the SEOTY 2025 Winner's Banner that will hang from Campus Center Plaza during National Student Employment Week to recognize their hardwork and dedication to our UH Hilo Campus!
Awardees: 2023- 2024 School Year
Campus Center Student Employee Nawai Makua is awarded the Student Employee of the year award at UH Hilo's Awards and Recognition Celebration
Nawai Makua poses with Campus Center staff and members of her proud family!
Nawai has been an indispensable asset to our unit's operations and programming. Serving as my assistant, she has been instrumental in reorganizing my office, managing my calendar, and handling a diverse range of tasks and projects, including reviewing all CSO applications, updating the Campus Center website, collaborating with our marketing team, and bridging gaps in my absence. Beyond her administrative role, Nawai brings invaluable insights and perspectives from a student standpoint, enriching the work we do in Campus Center. She seamlessly fills in gaps wherever needed, whether it's stepping in as an orientation leader, assisting with signage and flyer distribution, restocking publication stands, or contributing to event preparation and facility maintenance. Moreover, Nawai's involvement in translating our mission and philosophy statement into Hawaiian, aligning with our commitment to being a Native Hawaiian serving institution, underscores her commitment to enhancing our unit's effectiveness and student experience.
Awardees: 2022-2023 School Year
SEOTY Student Employee of the Year: Lillian Lewis
Lillian Lewis is awarded the SEOTY Student Employee of the Year award and poses with Supervisor Christopher Wung, Interim VCSA Chris Holland and Chancellor Bonnie Irwin. (Cooper Lund/UH Hilo Stories)
Lillian Lewis poses with her SEOTY award plaque
“As a highly-motivated and well-rounded student of UH Hilo campus, Lillian’s leadership and duties within the department were and continue to be vital in departmental operations for FYE. The “seeds” [i.e., colleagues, mentees, etc.] that Lillian plants and propagates today, are true actions of an effective leader and dedicated employee, exemplified in her daily work and actions. As such, it is with great and undoubted pleasure that we recognize Lillian to be very deserving of consideration for the Student Employee of the Year award.”- Christopher Wung
SEOTY Student Employee Team of the Year: Financial Aid Office
Financial Aid Office student staff accept SEOTY Student Employee Team of the Year award. Student employees Minura Dawid, Zachary Wilson, and Seth Bello pose with Interim VCSA Chris Holland, Financial Aid Director Sherri Padilla, Financial Aid Counselor Nani Munekata and Chancellor Bonnie Irwin. Missing from the student team is Brianne-Emale Saltiban.(Cooper Lund/UH Hilo Stories)
Our Financial Aid Office student staff are smart, detail oriented and compassionate. Financial aid staff have access to a lot of sensitive, confidential information such as income and assets, loan indebtedness and unusual family circumstances which our Financial Aid Office student staff handle with the utmost care. -Kolby Santiago, Financial Aid Office Assistant Director
UH Hilo Stories: 2023 Awards and Recognition Celebration: Top UH Hilo faculty, staff, and student employees honored
Awardees: 2021-2022 School Year
A banner announces Student Employee of the Year First-Place Awardee Sheadon Freitas, Second-Place Awardee Shayla Kiyota, and the Team Awardees - Women's & LGBTQ+ Center team
SEOTY Student Employee of the Year: Sheadon Freitas
(Top) Sheadon Freitas poses with Chancellor Bonnie Irwin after receiving his award for Student Employee of the Year. (Right) Sheadon is adorned with lei and balloons presented to him by the staff from Office of the Registrar's.
Although I understand we have lots of amazing student workers within our university, I believe Sheadon deserves a shot at being chosen because he literally puts his heart and soul into our university. He really is just so special to our office and we are so sad that he will be graduating in Spring 2023 ☹ -Chablis Mattos
SEOTY Student Employee Team of the Year: Women’s & LGBTQ+ Center
The team has been able to create various learning spaces around issues impacting women and the LGBTQ+ community (examples include gender wage gap, violence, intersectionality with race as a key component) while establishing a resource base for learning opportunities (website, social media–Facebook, Instagram) and fostering a social dynamic to celebrate one’s individuality while coming together in a larger community collective. -Chris Holland
Student Employee Of The Year History
UH Hilo's Student Employees of the Year Awardees for the years 1987-1999!!
UH Hilo's Student Employees of the Year Awardees for the years 1999-2012!!
Other Resources
