The Career Center is recognizing National Student Employment Week Sunday, April 7 through Saturday, April 13 and encouraged Auburn University employers as well as off-campus employers to nominate students who exemplified exceptional character and outstanding accomplishments in the work field while attending college.
After the two winners were selected, the on-campus winner was then sent to the pool of regional winners for a selection by the Southern Association of Student Employment Administration. Not only was this student selected as one of the four Regional Student Employees of the Year, but also the overall National Student Employee of the Year, given by the National Student Employment Association.
According to Haven Hart, student employment coordinator, this is the first time ever for an Auburn student to be selected for this national award, so the Career Center hosted the reception to recognize the two winners and the 22 other on-campus nominees along with the five off-campus nominees. The reception was held Tuesday, April 9 at The Hotel at Auburn University and Conference Dixon Center.
The two students, Meghan Sadler, the off-campus winner, and Thanh (TJ) Nguyen, the on-campus, regional and nation winner, were both unaware of the awards until their names were called out during the ceremony.
"I didn't even realize that I was winning until everybody stood up and told me to go up there," Nguyen said. "I am extremely excited and still just waiting for it all to hit me."
The NSEA board president presented Nguyen with a $1,000 check along with a plaque.
After graduating this May, Nguyen plans to travel to Ecuador and said he will probably be using the prize money on a plane ticket.
Nguyen was nominated by Mary Lou Ewald, director of outreach in the College of Science and Mathematics.
"His work ethic, commitment to excellence and loyalty to the unit are to be commended," Ewald said. "On many occasions I have witnessed TJ giving a 100 percent for 15 hours straight at an event and still be the last one to leave."
Ewald described Nguyen as dependable and reliable beyond what you would expect from a busy student. Nguyen is an active member of the Cupola Engineering Society as well as service chair for the Auburn chapter of the Society of Women Engineers.
This year Nguyen was promoted by Ewald to technical director of the Robotics program, a position formally only held by Auburn faculty members. One of Nguyen's many tasks with this new position has included instructing 15 teachers at a two day intensive robotics workshop.
The NSEA highlighted Nguyen's several qualifications for this national award during the ceremony.
Meghan Sadler was also recognized by the Career Center for working at The Hotel at Auburn and Dixon Conference Center. Sadler was nominated by John Simms, operation manager at the hotel.
"I have worked with Ms. Sadler at The Hotel at Auburn University for over a year now and I can say with absolute conviction that if anyone deserves such a prestigious award as Auburn University's Student Employee of the Year (off-campus), it is Meghan," Simms said. "Her work ethic, reliability, quality of work, initiative, and professionalism make her a tremendous asset not only to the hotel, but also to Auburn University as a whole."
The Career Center is proud of the students that were recognized and Vice President of Academic Affairs Timothy Boosinger closed the ceremony congratulating the students and thanking the mentors who made the nominations who encouraged students in their employment to learn and develop skills for the future.
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