Student Employee Recognition

Upward of 4,500 GW students work across campus with over 250+ on-campus departments and throughout DC at our off-campus FWS Partner Organizations. On-campus student employees are greeting prospective future students, guiding peers through writing assignments, stocking our library shelves, managing events, and websites, and working with professors on research projects, while our off-campus student employees are explaining exhibits at the Smithsonian, tutoring young children in our community, performing research with faculty, and assisting with marketing campaigns. These things and more are what GW students are able to achieve through student employment!

GW student employees are a crucial part of the fabric of our university. They help keep the institution running and act as ambassadors in the DC community. Through their dedication and hard work, they uphold the GW values. When you see GW student employees working across our campuses and in the city itself, please take a moment to thank them for doing such exceptional work at our university and in our community.

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National Student Employment Week 

Each year, GW joins with universities across the country in celebrating National Student Employment Week. This annual event is celebrated the second full week in April and is dedicated to recognizing the significant impact that student employees make to GW and the surrounding community.

2025 National Student Employment Week is April 13 - April 19!

2024-2025 Awards

Student Employee Awards

Student employees make valuable contributions to the GW workforce. These employees often manage full-time academic schedules, extracurricular obligations, and work. The commitment these students make to balancing work and school responsibilities deserves special acknowledgement. This award recognizes student employees who have made outstanding contributions to their employers and in their developing careers. If you have a student employee whom you feel is worthy of special recognition, we encourage you to nominate them acknowledgment.

GW has multiple undergraduate and graduate student employee awards (listed below), and the highest-rated GW is entered into a national competition with the National Student Employment Association. You can check out NSEA's 2024 winners online. 

The nominee should be a full-time student who has been employed by you for at least six months. 

Undergraduate Awards

Listed below are the categories in which undergraduate student employees can be nominated in as defined by the National Student Employment Association (NSEA). 

• Community Service
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Leadership
• Technology & Innovation
• Critical Thinking

Graduate Awards

Listed below are the categories in which graduate student employees can be nominated in as defined by the National Student Employment Association (NSEA).

• Diversity & Inclusion
• Impact
• Professionalism, Effective Communication & Interpersonal Skills
• Leadership

The deadline nomination period for the Student Employee of the Year Award will end on Tuesday, February 18th 2025 due to deadlines associated with the regional and national Student Employee of the Year awards.

Submit a Nomination for Student Employee of the Year 

Supervisor Award

Students may nominate supervisors whom they feel warrant special recognition. In your nomination, please describe the accomplishments of your supervisor which you feel qualify them to be considered for Supervisor of the Year recognition. Nominations will be judged on the supervisor's abilities, specifically: integrating students as staff members, guidance and mentoring, initiative, and alignment with GW values. 

The 2025 GW Supervisor of the Year will be recognized during National Student Employment Week. 

In order to be eligible for consideration, supervisors must be nominated by a student. The nominee must have supervised the work of at least one student employee and must be employed by GW or have a formal student employment relationship with the school (for example, the Off-Campus FWS Program).  

#NSEW Shout-Outs

Show your appreciation and gratitude to student employee or a supervisor of a student employee by submitting a Shout-Out Form. Student Employment will utilize submission text, images, and videos during NSEW on our social media accounts for our virtual celebration. Submissions must be received by April 10, 2025.

Submit a NSEW Shout-Out

Student Employees at Work Picture Contest

We invite student employees and departments to share pictures of students as integral members of the department's team. This can include just the student employee or the student employee(s) with work colleagues. The may be used on the Student Employee Applicant portal and during Student Employment promotions.

Submit Your Picture!

Everyday Student Employee Recognition

Everyday thanks and recognition can go a long way toward making your student employee feel appreciated and recognized for their hard work.

Here are some ideas of ways to help your student employees feel appreciated throughout the year:

• Prepare a care package for your student employees near midterms or finals with favorite snacks and items to help them de-stress.
• Remember and recognize your student employees' birthdays, and acknowledge religious holidays they may support.
• Maintain a culture of kindness and inclusion in your office. Encourage everyone to support each other and celebrate their excellent work.
• Write thank-you notes to student employees when they complete a project or go above and beyond their usual responsibilities.
• Create a poster or wall in your office introducing and celebrating your student employees.
• Include student employees in appreciation events for full-time staff in your office.
• Support your student employee's desire to expand their knowledge through training and new responsibilities.
• Extend an open offer to write letters of recommendation or provide a reference for your student employees throughout their time at GW and beyond.
• Say "thank you"!