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Exceptional Student Employees Recognized

Andrew Grant

Andrew Grant, Student Employee of the Year, is a criminology senior who works as a lead Comet Cab driver

Five student workers at UT Dallas have been recognized by their supervisors for their professionalism, work ethic and performance as part of National Student Employment Week.

The week, held each year in April, recognizes exceptional student workers on campus.

UT Dallas presented its Student Employee of the Year Award to Andrew Grant, a criminology senior who works as a lead Comet Cab driver for Parking and Transportation.

“I feel he is a very unique student worker. He is happy to work here, has moved up through the ranks and has aspirations of working here full time when he graduates, which I also feel is very unique,” his nomination letter stated.

“It is difficult to find a student worker that has the same ambition, goals and drive as a full-time staff member. Our department would greatly be reduced in efficiency and general morale if we did not have him here to work so closely with our other students, faculty, staff and visitors.”

Award finalists and their campus employers included: Travis Cornelius, Residential Life; Katelyn McWilliams, Recreational Sports; Ashley Pike, Department of Science and Math Education; and Dung Vu, Office of Student Volunteerism.

The annual Student Employee of the Year Award program is coordinated by the Career Center and led by the student employment coordinator. Representatives from the center honored the nominees and presented them with certificates, plaques and a scholarship at ceremonies held in their respective departments.

“I am always impressed with the strength and determination our student workers show to their studies and the amount of pride they show in their contribution to UT Dallas. This year we had 28 nominations, which speaks volumes about their value as employees on campus,” said Theresa “Tracy” Diaz, student employment coordinator.

Lisa Garza, director of the Career Center, said National Student Employment Week gives the University community an opportunity to show appreciation for student workers.

“I am always pleased to recognize our wonderful student workers and thank them for all they do for our on-campus departments. I look forward to growth in the student employment program and a continued partnership with my UT Dallas colleagues in offering these opportunities to our hardworking students.” 

A committee of faculty and staff reviewed nominations and rated them on reliability, quality of work, initiative, professionalism and uniqueness of contribution.

In addition to the finalists, this year’s nominees included: Maribel Velazquez, Alison Reed, Lexy Hubman, Karen Nguyen, David Hardage, Jacob Chang, Prasanjit Khuntia, Suzanne McIntosh, Braxton Evans, Sabrina Jordan, Michael Cherney, Yue “Tocc” Tang, Jonathan Ricklis, Kevin Thuesen, Amber Brown, Savannah Lee, Sarah Keller, Rohan Pandare, Michael Tran, Niki Boumpali, Jacob Guerra, Oscar Dao and Victoria Aranda.

FinalistsTravis CorneliusKatelyn McWilliamsAshley PikeDung Vu

Media Contact: The Office of Media Relations, UT Dallas, (972) 883-2155, [email protected].

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