What is Student Employee and Supervisor of the Year?
Each spring, ASU Work+ coordinates a nomination and selection process for ASU Student Employees and Supervisor of the Year awards to recognize the outstanding contributions and achievements of student employees and supervisors across the university.
Student Employee and Supervisor of the Year 2026
ASU Work+ will hold a Student Employee of the Year process for both undergraduate and graduate student employees and Supervisor of the Year in 2026. The undergraduate process will celebrate a Student Employee of the Year for each category (see below) and the Overall Student Employee of the Year. The graduate process will celebrate one Graduate Student Employee of the Year. Winners of the undergraduate and graduate ASU Student Employee of the Year awards will be submitted for national consideration through the National Student Employment Association.
Student Employee of the Year Categories
The Overall Undergraduate Student Employee of the Year Award recognizes a student who consistently goes above and beyond their job responsibilities, making a lasting impact on their department, the university, or the broader community. Nominees should show clear growth in career readiness skills, take initiative in learning and applying new abilities, and demonstrate exceptional contributions that elevate their workplace. This award honors well-rounded students who lead by example and make meaningful contributions through their work.
The Overall Graduate Student Employee of the Year Award recognizes a student who consistently goes above and beyond their job responsibilities, making a lasting impact on their department, the university, or the broader community. Nominees should show clear growth in career readiness skills, take initiative in learning and applying new abilities, and demonstrate exceptional contributions that elevate their workplace. This award honors well-rounded students who lead by example and make meaningful contributions through their work.
The Student Employee of the Year Community Service Award recognizes student employees who demonstrate a strong and sustained commitment to serving the ASU community and others through volunteerism, outreach, or community-based projects. Nominees should go beyond their job responsibilities to make a meaningful impact on their campus or local community, showing initiative, collaboration, and a clear dedication to helping others. Ideal candidates are those whose service efforts have had a broad and lasting effect.
Student Employee of the Year Leadership Award recognizes student employees who lead with integrity, initiative, and a commitment to supporting others. Nominees should inspire their peers, take the lead in workplace projects, and actively mentor or train fellow student employees. This award is for students who go beyond their job description to create a positive and collaborative work environment.
Student Employee of the Year Technology and Innovation Award recognizes student employees who use creative thinking and tech-savvy approaches to improve their work. Nominees should demonstrate how they've enhanced efficiency, supported decision-making through technology, or introduced new and effective ideas. Ideal candidates are those who go beyond routine tasks to find smarter, better ways to get things done.
Supervisor of the Year
This award recognizes a supervisor who goes above and beyond in supporting the growth, success, and well-being of their student employees. Nominees should foster strong, respectful relationships with their student employees, actively contribute to their career readiness, and help them build confidence in connecting their on-the-job experiences to future goals. Ideal candidates create a workplace where learning is intentional, feedback is developmental, and students feel supported in growing both personally and professionally.
Nomination Criteria
- Student nominees must have worked in their position for at least one academic semester (3 months) and must currently be a full-time student (12 credits for undergraduate or 9 credits for graduate).
- Supervisor nominees must be ASU professional staff or faculty.
- Please be specific and detailed in your responses, using examples and scenarios in which the student or supervisor has demonstrated behaviors and actions associated with each question.
- To properly evaluate nominations and submit winners for national consideration, we recommend that responses be no more than 500 words for each question.
- Please avoid using the student or supervisor’s name or identifiable details in your response so nominations can remain anonymous. We also recommend using gender-neutral terminology.
2026 Timeline
| Accepting nominations through online form | November 2025 |
| Nominations close | January 2026 |
| Nominations sent to review committee | Early February 2026 |
| Winners selected, supervisors of student employees notified, winners submitted for national consideration | Late February 2026 |
| All nominees notified of their nominations and invited to the National Student Employee Appreciation Week end of year celebration, where winners will be announced | Mid-March 2026 |
| National Student Employee Appreciation week, End of Year Celebration, winners announced and all student employees and supervisors celebrated | April 13th-17th, 2026 |