Each year, FIU proudly celebrates the remarkable impact of our student employees at the Student Employee of the Year (SEOTY) Awards. As essential members of our Panther family, our student employees embody Service Excellence, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to FIU’s mission.
This university-wide celebration shines a light on the dedication, talent, and innovation our students bring to campus every single day. Their work helps drive FIU forward, and SEOTY gives us the opportunity to honor those who continually go above and beyond in their roles.
We are excited to share that nominations for the 2026 SEOTY Awards are now open! Supervisors are encouraged to recognize outstanding student employees by submitting a nomination before the deadline: January 14, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Stay tuned to HR News & Updates for reminders and additional information as we move closer to this annual celebration of Panther excellence.
National Student Employment Week
Each year, FIU joins colleges and universities nation-wide to celebrate “National Student Employment Week”. The university takes great pride in preparing our nation’s workforce by providing quality education and the opportunity for students to apply classroom learning on the job. Nearly two-thirds of today’s college students hold part- or full-time jobs while in school and it is for this reason that FIU recognizes and awards these students. The National Student Employment Association (NSEA) has declared that the second week in April will serve to celebrate those students who work with enthusiasm, dedication, and initiative to support their campus with a spectacular workforce.
The purpose of this week is threefold:
- To enhance awareness of student employment and its important role in higher education experience.
- To recognize students who perform outstanding work while attending college.
- To thank YOU, the supervisors, who hire students for part-time positions and make the student employment program such a success.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I nominate a student employee?
- Review the Nomination Writing Tips
- Sign-in to FIU HR Nominations site
- Select the FIU Student Employee of the Year Awards program
- Start your nomination! If you already have nominations in progress, you may choose to finalize those submissions or begin a new nomination.
Nominee Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for SEOTY consideration, nominees must meet all of the following:
- Must maintain good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
- Must demonstrate positive student conduct, with no record (Conduct Release Form required).
- Must be employed as a Student Assistant or Federal Work-Study (Job Codes: 9190, 9192, 9193, 9194, 9195, 9196, 9197, 9198).
- Must have been employed by the department prior to October 20, 2025.
- Students graduating in Fall 2025 are not eligible. (Must be enrolled in Spring 2026)
- Graduate, Teaching, or Research Assistants with a University Graduate School (UGS) contract are not eligible.
Who is not eligible for nominations?
The following students and positions are not eligible for SEOTY nominations:
- Graduate, Teaching, or Research Assistants with a UGS contract
- Temporary or benefit-earning employees
- Students graduating in Fall 2025
- Students who do not meet GPA, conduct, job code, or employment-length requirements
When will winners be announced?
Winners will be announced and celebrated during National Student Employment Week, held annually during the second week of April.
Award Categories
The SEOTY Awards recognize exceptional student employees across the following categories:
Undergraduate SEOTY Categories:
- Community Service
- Leadership
- Technology & Innovation
- Critical Thinking
- Overall Student Employee of the Year
Graduate SEOTY Category:
- Graduate Student Employee of the Year
SEOTY 2025
Explore the photos from our 2025 Student Employee of the Year Awards!
Award Recipients
Student Employee of the Year
Hannah Marie Shrigley – Housing & Residential Experience
Graduate Student Employee of the Year
Lauren Samantha Gray – COB Dean’s Office
Community Service
Samantha Isoleth Galiano Guevara – Parking & Transportation
Critical Thinking
Leyssa Desir – Engineering Dean’s Office
Technology & Innovation
Cydni Ayon – Frost Art Museum
Leadership
Hannah Marie Shrigley – Housing & Residential Experience
Top 20 Nominees
Amane Shuman – FIU at I-75
Ariyaan Whittaker – Student Access and Success
Ashley Warner – Parking & Transportation
Daniel Chavez Salgado – Campaign Planning & Communication
Eduardo Doliveria – Advancement Administration & Operations
Gabrielle Grant – Wolfe University Center
Keylin Abascal Alfonso – Financial Systems Support Services
Katherine Nykolaiszyn – Governmental Relations
John Santana Zorrilla – FIU Online Web Based Courses
Jayda Cabrera – Honors College
Isabella Diaz-Genova – COB Office of Finance and Administration
Lana Barko – Parking & Transportation
Marco Dan Samuely Lund Hansen – COB Pino Global Entrepreneurship Center
Nicole Cleves Pinto – Office of Admissions
Stephanie Louis – Parking & Transportation
SEOTY Archive
SEOTY 2024
Explore the photos and recap video from our 2024 Student Employee of the Year Brunch!
Award Recipients
Student Employee of the Year
Hannan Shabaan – College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Graduate Student Employee of the Year
Neeraj Kumar Kondaparthi – FIU Online Support Services
Community Service
Hannan Shabaan – College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Diversity & Inclusion
Jeremy Taylor – Parking Sustainability & Transportation
Critical Thinking
Danielle Azachi – Housing and Residential Experience
Innovation & Technology
Salomon Carcamo – Housing & Residential Experience
Leadership
Emma Brewer – Parking & Transportation
Top 20 Nominees
Abigail Hernandez – Emergency Management
Bidalis Sanchez – Donor Relations
Cameron Demery – Student Affairs-Vice Pres. Office
Dashleyne Valliere – Talent Acquisition and Management
Gabriela Leal – Liberary Operations
Julian Hernandez – Office of Financial Aid
Krystal Noguera – Financial Aid Office
Margaret Othwolo – Parking, Sustainability & Transportation
Maritsa Jean Pierre – Student Affairs-Vice Pres. Office
Mason Mut – Parking, Sustainability & Transportation
Matthew Ferrer – Parking & Transportation
Rosualdo Ferrer – Parking & Transportation
Shivanna Birbal – Student Access and Success
Trent Krejci – School of Music
SEOTY 2023
National Student Employment Week Celebration
SEOTY 2019
Award Recipients
Student Employee of The Year
Erykah Jackson – Exploratory Advising Center
Chartwells Student Employee of the Year
Dejourae Williams – Chartwells
Best Decorated Office
FIU Foundation
First Runner Up
Luisana Zambrano – Office of Research and Economic Development
Second Runner Up
Chavelys Hernandez – Financial Aid/America Reads
Third Runner Up
Lacey Simpson – STEM Transformation Institute
Fourth Runner Up
Isaac Ghobrial – Honors College
Honorable Mentions
Amanda Dahl – Library Operations
Cari Graybill – College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Cristina Gonzalez – Office of Research and Economic Development
Estefany Cabrera – Recreation Services
Gabrielle Harripersad – FIU Embrace
Ilan Timmerman – StartUp FIU
Jorge Loo – College of Engineering and Computing
Katherine de Jesus – Division of External Relations
Laura Sbabo – Children’s Creative Learning Center
Natalie Alonso – Honors College
Nathaly Guervara – Library Operations
Nicole Valle – StartUp FIU
Quenteria Warren – Office of the Registrar
Sabrina Bocaranda Soto – Center for Academic Success
Safia Natalya Boodoosingh – Office of the Registrar
SEOTY 2017
Award Recipients
Student Employee of The Year
Michael DesRosiers – College of Medicine
Social Media Contest Winner
Kamoy Marston – Human Resources
Best Decorated Office
Children’s Creative Learning Center
First Runner Up
Alexis Lopez – Women’s Center
Second Runner Up
Itzel Basualdo – Human Resources
Third Runner Up
Jessica McRee-Krim – Center for Academic Success
Honorable Mentions
Olivia Tercero – America Reads Program
Rodrigo Fonseca – Green Library
Gabriela Ruiz – Advancement
Jackson Fadely – Honors College