Student Employee of the Year

2024 National Student Employee Appreciation Week

In celebration of the 2024 National Student Employee Appreciation Week, the University of Northern Iowa celebrates the contributions made by over 2,200 student staff. Each individual office will recognize and celebrate student success across campus. A campuswide celebration was hosted on April 10 to recognize Student Employee of the Year Nominees. In 2024, 49 students were officially nominated, 5 selected as finalist and 1 as the UNI Student Employee of the Year.

2024 UNI Student Employee of the Year
Sam Zimmerman of Study Abroad

Finalist: Marina Avdonina (IT-AIS), Emerson Benson (Rec Services), Emma Bopp (Facilities), Amber Latteyer (Business Ops)

Nominations & Award Recipients

2024 | Sam Zimmerman, Study Abroad Center

Dominick Olhava, Student Success & Retention
Maggie Glenn, UNI Museum
Marina Avdonina, IT-AIS
Samaria Barnes, Human Resource Services
Annalee Bartels, Recreation Services
Emerson Benson, Recreation Services
Emma Bopp, Facilities Management
Noah Burns, Recreation Services
Allie Clark, Piazza
Keeley Downey, Office of the Registrar
Kylie Dreckman, Human Resource Services
Gavin Dupuy, Student Success & Retention
Lauren Geerling, School of Music
Haley Hamm, John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
Megan Hansen, Student Involvement & Event Services
Carter Hanson, Recreation Services
Shekynah Haworth, IT-Client Services
Jenna Heinen, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Kristin Hoey, Recreation Services
Marisa Jepsen, Office of Admissions
Izzy Jorgensen, Human Resource Services
Averee Kasik, Office of the Registrar
Kayla Kellogg, Student Wellness Services
Natalie Kelzer, IT - Client Services
Morgan Kielly, UNI CUE - Educational Talent Search CR

Hope Knoerle, UNI Athletics Ticket Office
Lauren Kraemer, Communication Sciences & Disorders
Jacob Kurt, Rec Services
Amber Latteyer, Office of Business Operations
Megan Lemke, COE Advising
Monica Lewandoski, Social Work
Kieran Luedke, Center for Social & Behavioral Research
Caroline McReynolds, Public Safety
Norah Oltragge, Student Involvement & Event Services
Sydney Peterson, Human Resource Services
Hannah Pietila, Piazza - Housing and Dining
Emily Reeser, Gallagher Bluedorn
Brody Rowedder, Recreation Services
Lindsey Thuente, Piazza
Bayley Tucker, IT Client Services
Sydney Tucker, IT Client Services
Isaac Vaske, Recreation Services
Elliott Waller, Center for Social & Behavioral Research
Olivia Wenger, Financial Aid
Aubrey Williamson, School of Music
Abby Wirtz, Library Services Desk
Norah Yoder, Student Life
Sam Zimmerman, Study Abroad Center

2023 | Emma Mock, UNI Foundation

Claire Bennett, RRTTC
Emerson Benson, Recreation Services
Carter Briggs, Marketing & Entrepreneurship
Noah Burns, Recreation Services
Jordan Burrows, Iowa Waste Reduction Center
Yin-Long Chou (Umas Nangavulan), Office of Admissions
Kaitlyn Clark, RRTTC
Haley Cummings, Admissions
Kylie Dreckman, Human Resource Services
Allison Ernst, Curriculum & Instruction
Julia Fritz, Admissions
Jacqueline Heggen, University Housing & Dining
Jason Herold, UNI-Dome Operations
Kristin Hoey, Recreation Services
Alex Holland, IT-Client Services (COE Division)
Alex Johnson, RRTTC
Alex Knockel, RRTTC
Madison Kraemer, CBB - Ofc for Professional Distinction
Kerrigan Levi, Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
Emma Mock, UNI Foundation

Morgan Moeller, Gallagher Bluedorn
Allie Moeller, Rod Library
Brianna Nash, EOP/SCS Upward Bound
Emily Paul, School of Music
CJ Polkinghorn, University Relations
Makayla Rasmussen, School of Music
Amy Rathmacher, Office for Professional Distinction
Anna Stevens, Diversity, Inclusion & Social Justice
Anne Marie Tate, School of Music
Archer Trip, Diversity, Inclusion & Social Justice
Isaac Vaske, Recreation Services
Taylor Waller, Child Development Center
Sydney Welte, Recreation Services
Conrad Werth, Recreation Services
Keaton Wessel, Jacobson Ctr for Comp. Literacy
Allison White, Office of the Registrar
Sierra Wiebensohn, Comm. Sciences and Disorders

2022 | Justin Kent, Athletics

Drew Abrams, Recreation Services
Kaylee Cerwinske-Hansen, Office of Admissions
Emily Colwell, Business Operations
Ally Davis, UNI Foundation
Jacob Degroat, Recreation Services
Bailey Fah, University Relations
Jason Herold, Athletics
Gisselle Herrera, Office of Admissions
Jalen Hildebrand, Political Science
Courtney Johnson, Recreation Services
Ashton Kapelanski, IT-Client Services
Justin Kent, Athletics Athletic Business Office
Cassidy Leadley, UNI Foundation

Taya Love, Recreation Services
Henry Luker, IT Client Services/Library
Jevin Mandershied, Athletics
Eric Melrose, University Relations
Haley Olswold, Dining-Fresh Beginnings
Emily Schmidt, Gallagher Bluedorn/CHAS
Abraham (Abe) Schmitt, Fresh Beginnings
Maycie Stanbro, Recreation Services
Abbygail Steadham, IT - Client Services
Keaton Wessel, Richard O. Jacobson Ctr for Literacy
Austin Wood, Military & Veteran Student Services
Krista Zimmer, Student Wellness Services
Noah Zuercher, AETM

2021 | Yadira Guzman, Admissions

Greta Albaugh, UNItix
Jasmine Aquino, GBPAC
Mallory Behrens, Academic Advising
Natalie Bohnsack, Dept of Residence
Cody Boozell, Undergraduate Studies
Nicholas Chell, Student Affairs
Shannon Cross, Communication & Media
Leah Doyle, CEEE
Mae Felton, UNI Foundation
Isaiah Finan, Dept. of Residence
Thomas Griffin, Information Technology
Yadira Guzman, Admissions
Grace Hartnett, JPEC
Logan Hoile, Rec Services
Tyler Hospodarsky, Registrar
Thayne Lamb, GBPAC
Billy Lange, Earth & Environmental Sciences

Jevin Manderscheid, Athletics
Amber Mast, UNI CIEP
Frani McDermott, Career Services
Katherine McGrane, Rec Services
Maddy Milks, Student Life
Austin Monahan, Continuing Ed
Madison Motz, IT Client Services
Emily Neumann, Financial Aid
Emma Reid, Alumni Relations
Tabitha Robinson, IT
Isaac Royer, GBPAC
Hallie Speed, Student Accessibility Services
Eboni Springfield, Student Success
Maycie Stanbro, GBPAC
Maddie Szczerba, Business & Community
Aweke Tadesse, Social Work

2020 | Mustafa Akbar, Rod Library

Mustafa Akbar, Rod Library
Carly Arnold, Career Services
Shelby Axtell, Child Development Center
Alex Bass, Continuing & Distance Education
Luke Beal, IT-Client Services
Lindsey Buzynski, UNI Admissions
Laura Campbell, Curriculum & Instruction
Nicholas Chell, Recreation Services
Chase Collins, UNI Admissions
Forrest Cronin, Recreation Services
Riley Dempsey, History
Shelby Frederick, Career Services
Cassidy Hanson, Recreation Services
Logan Hoile, Recreation Services
Kayla Hollis, Recreation Services
Sydney Hughes, IT-Client Services
Keeghan Hutchinson, UNI Admissions
Maya Jess, UNI Admissions
Molly Keyes, UNI Admissions
Timarie Lafoy, School of Music

‌Ashley Lang, College of Business
Jacob Manderscheid, UNI Athletics Facilities
Maggie Mathiasen, Office of the Registrar
Frani McDermott, Career Services
Benjamin Milijkovic, IT-Client Services
Maddy Milks, Office of Student Life
Molly Mingus, Department of Residence
Jack Murphy, Financial Aid & Scholarships
Carly Nielsen, Compliance & Equity
Sydney Ohrt, Panther Village
Lydia Pakala, Rod Library
Tabby Robinson, IT-Client Services
Hannah Smith, GBPAC
Hallie Speed, Student Accessibility Services
Abby Steadham, IT-Client Services
Abby Steill, Office of Student Affairs
Aminata Traore, College fo Business
Brookelyn Wahlert, Continuing & Distance
Jessica Welter, Classic Upward Bound
Luke Wingert, UNI Admissions
Pui Yann Sun, UNI Admissions

2019 | Kate Mulder, History

George Ahrenholz, Student Wellness Services
Emma Alman, Student Wellness Services
Sharla Brunsvold, Student Life & Events
Hailey Buzynski, Admissions
Bryce Cox, Student Health Clinic
Alissa Eaton, Dept. of Residence
Alexis Eick, Student Accessibility Services
Courtney Fiechtner, The Learning Center
Kyla Ford, Center for Multicultural Education
Haley Gehlsen, IT-Client Services
Nick Grober, UNI Bookstore
Dan Happel, Registrar
Logan Hoile, Recreation Services
Zainab Illo, Center for Multicultural Education
Nick Kayser, Financial Aid
Jeanette Kempe, DOR - Dining

McKayla Klostermann, Financial Aid
Laura Love, Admissions
Neana Malow, Rod Library
Molly Mathes, Child Development Center
Sabrina Menke, Admissions
Kate Mulder, History
Courtney Ralfs, IT-Client Services
Mandy Rawson, Admissions
Orion Risk, GBPAC
Nick Sandford, IT-Client Services
Devin Schupp, GBPAC
Kate Sinnott, Tallgrass Prairie Center
Hannah Smith, GBPAC
Abby Steill, Student Affairs Office
Megan Steim, Admissions
Trevor Wangsness, Financial Aid

2018 | Bridget Tharp, UNI-CUE

Lydia Allen, Financial Aid & Scholarships
Daniel Alonso, Information Technology
Maranda Bear, Financial Aid & Scholarships
Emily Brandt, Student Success & Retention
Jen Brown, GBPAC
Eugene Cheok, GBPAC
Rachael Fix, Rod Library
Christine Haag, Academic Advising
Ethan Harvey, Recreation Services
Hannah Herington, Office of Admissions
Emily Huntington, Department of Residence
Kate Kolsrud, Compliance & Equity Mgmt.
Rachel Larsen, Admissions
Amber Lawrence, Mathematics
Paige Licht, UNI Health Clinic
Erica Lockin, Office of the Registrar
Melanie Majeed, Multicultural Education
Zachary Martins, Recreation Services

Maddy Miller, Financial Aid
Bailey Miller, UNI Police Department
Megan Nissen, Academic Advising
Sarah Pate, Information Technology
Kaitlin Pranger, Child Development Center
Alexis Scharfenkamp, Career Services
Breezy Scobee, Business Operations
Jazmine Shonka , Mail Center
Breanna Smith, Teacher Education
Matthew Stein, Science Education
Bridget Tharp, UNI-CUE
Taylor Trimble, Recreation Services
Tommy Truelsen, School of Music
Aaron Van Maanen, Admissions
Mary Elizabeth Walsh, Child Development Ctr.
Eric Weinberg, Information Technology
Annie Wilson, Admissions
Logan Winford, Earth & Environmental Sci.

2017 | Casey Hoekstra, Academic Learning Center

Lindsey Anderson, Student Life
Lydia Anderson, Information Technology
Anna Backstrom, Center for Teaching Math
Olivia Ballhagen, Office of Admissions
Lauren Bever, Professional Readiness Program
Keely Brandstad, Office of Admissions
Rachel Bruns, Recycling & Reuse Tech Ctr.
Jordan Brunsma, GBPAC
Jozelyna Calderon, Student Health Clinic
Zach Chaplin, GBPAC
Eugene Cheok, GBPAC
Nick Fisher, Communications
Kenzie Flaherty, Instructional Support Services
Nathan Friederich, Office of the Registrar
Bailey Higgins, Residence and IT
Casey Hoekstra, Academic Learning Ctr.
Cecelia Hotzler, CHAS/GBPAC
Anna Hunt, Career Services
Meghan Jansen, CBA-PRP
Rylan Johnson, Office of Financial Aid

Karen Kiesel, Office of Business Operations
Jon Klein, Division of LYHS
Samantha Klein, IT-Client Services
Elena Mary Kraus-Taddeo, ETS & Media Srvs.
Katelyn Kuch, Human Resource Services
MJ Lashbrook, Biology
Zachariah Lillquist, Office of the Registrar
Brayden Longnecker, Student Abroad Center
Molly McCarty, Student Disability Services
Vanessa Nolan, Business Operations
Allan Nyhus, Professional Readiness Program
Diksha Ojha, International Students
Sarah Pate, IT-Client Services
Abbigayl Provost, Human Resource Services
Sarah Rudy, Orientation/New Student Programs
Jaimie Thier, Office of Financial Aid
Hayley Till, Culture & Intensive English Program
Tommy Truelsen, School of Music
Sushil Tuladhar, Earth & Environmental Sci.
Kadesha Zimmerman, VP for Student Affairs

2016 | Kayla Peterson, Wellness & Recreation Services

Alyssa Adamec, School fo Music
Anna Backstrom, Teaching & Learning Math
Madison Beeler, Earth Science
Josiah Bottelman, Iowa Waste Reduction Center
Katie Bruening, Compliance & Equity Mgmt
Courtney Clark, College of Business
Andrew Crawford, UNI Athletics
Lisa Daringer, Student Health Clinic
Myle Duong, Rod Library
Chris Dummer, ITS- User Services
Megan Frerk, Admissions
Hanna Kerr, Graduate College
Tony Ketelaar, Admissions
Kylie Knecht, Admissions

Priyasha Mahara, Ctr for Multicultural Ed
Cody McLees, University Advancement
Madalynn Meier, Languages & Literatures
Faith Neuwohner, Student Health Clinic
Hannah Peterson, Deans Office, COE
Kayla Peterson, Wellness Services
Bernard Pollmeier, Dept. of Residence
MaJo Rosada Cupul, Int'l Student Services
Jonathan Schlicht, ITS- User Services
Sydney Speide, ITS- User Services
Kelli Theilen, Student Disability Services
Kaylee Tritle, Teaching & Learning Math
Lauren Welser, Academic Learning Center

2015 | Austin Hansen, UNI Athletics

Elizabeth Adcox, Academic Advising
Joslyn Aldape, Admissions
Nathaniel Beyerink, International Programs
Katie Blake, COE Advising
Avary Bradford, Dean of Students
Jordan Brelje, Admissions
Kristin Buldhaupt, Int'l Student & Scholars
Claire Conrad, Admissions
Ashley Cottier, ITS- User Services
Jessica Dearden, Rialto
Kelsey Ewald, VP for Admin & Finance
Breanna Flater, Academic Learning Ctr
Meredith Gregg, WRS- Aquatics
Janessa Hageman, McNair Scholars Program
Austin Hansen, UNI Athletics
Miranda Hansen, HR Services
Diann Herington, Admissions
Shelby Huster, Int'l Students & Scholars
Ryan Kramer, UNI Athletics

Rachel Kuhn, UNI-CUE
Blake Larson, ITS- Computer Consulting
Janelle Martin, Study Abroad
Cody McLees, UNI Foundation
Amanda Mcnamara, UNI Athletics
Natalie Miller, Student Health Clinic
Emma Owenson, Curriculum & Instruction
Lillian Poe, Maucker Union
Hailey Rhum, Maucker Union
Frank Romanazzi, HPELS
Jonathan Schlicht, ITS- User Services
Colleen Sullivan, Business Operations
Robin Summers, Women's & Gender Studies
Michelle Temeyer, Marketing
Drake Tesdall, Financial Aid
Jesse Todd, Academic Learning Center
Kaylee Tritle, Teaching & Learning Math
Haleigh Weatherly, CIEP
Jacob Weiss, Iowa Waste Reduction

2014 | Meghan Opolka, CHAS

Paul Andersen, Financial Aid
Brooke Argotsinger, Ctr for Math
Samm Bass, Dept. of Residence
Kimber Bell, Camp Adventure
Lynette Bordignon, Career Services
Hailee Bossard, Athletics
Edward Broderick, Institutional Research
Kristen Buldhaupt, Int'l Students
Eric Carlson, Financial Aid
Sarah Crim, Financial Aid
Alex Deisbeck, Athletics Advising
Osvaldo DeLosRios, Dept. of Residence
Luke Gordon, WRS
Kayla Gump, Economics
Austin Hansen, UNI Athletics
Annie Jones, Human Sciences

Wes Jones, Dept. of Residence
Alison LaRoza, Camp Adventure
Kari Lien, Human Resource Services
Alexander McDaniel, Physics
Bridget Nulty, Int'l Students
Meghan Opolka, CHAS
Ethan Pelton, Environmental Health
Olivia Randolph, CIEP
Matt Reitz, Career Services
Sara Rockow, Admissions
Steven Sanchez, University Relations
Kayla Shipman, Prexy's/Chats
Jaime Sterling, Financial Aid
Nicole Stone, Childhood Development
Ramya Varadaraju, Dept. of Residence
Anna Werner, Ctr for Multicultural Education
Megan Wheeler, Registrar

Student Employee of the Year

2024 National Student Employee Appreciation Week

2024 UNI Student Employee of the YearSam Zimmerman of Study Abroad

Nominations & Award Recipients

2024 UNI Student Employee of the Year
Sam Zimmerman of Study Abroad