President's Student Employee of the Year Award
President's Student Employee of the Year Award
The President's Student Employee of the Year Award is given annually to an outstanding student employee who has made a positive impact on the University and has demonstrated an exceptional quality of work and commitment to the University’s purpose and core values.
Congratulations to the 2026 Student Employee of the Year Award recipients!
The winner receives a certificate and an award of $1,000, sponsored by the Office of the President. The UT Austin winner is entered in the national competition sponsored by the National Student Employment Association (NSEA).
In addition, ten nominees are chosen as finalists and will receive an award of $250, sponsored by Career Success.
Who is Eligible for Nomination?
Only students employed in hourly-paid non-academic and academic student jobs as well as Resident Assistants are eligible for this award. The Graduate School oversees awards for salaried Graduate Academic student employees.
Additionally, only student employees who are assigned to work approximately 240 hours between June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026 are eligible for nomination.
Nomination Guidelines
Any staff or faculty member can nominate an eligible student employee for an award.
Award recipients are selected based on the quality of the nomination, and not on the quantity of nominations they receive. Nominations selected for an award will provide specific details about the student nominee and address how they have exceeded expectations and demonstrated an exceptional quality of work.
The Student Employee of the Year and finalists will be notified in March. They will be formally recognized in April as a part of National Student Employee Appreciation Week!
2026 President’s Student Employee of the Year Award Winner
Sahithi Alla exemplifies excellence in student employment at The University of Texas at Austin. As a student associate with the Employee Development and Engagement team in University Housing and Dining, she played a key role in supporting large‑scale training, recognition, and engagement initiatives that positively impacted hundreds of staff members across campus.
Sahithi demonstrated exceptional critical thinking, attention to detail, and initiative in managing the growth of UHD’s Star to Star peer recognition program, which has supported more than 4,200 recognitions since its launch. Her leadership was especially evident through her work on the Golden Horns staff awards, where she carefully processed hundreds of nominations to ensure accurate and meaningful recognition.
Widely admired for her calm, compassionate leadership and strong communication skills, Sahithi collaborates confidently with peers, professional staff, and senior leaders. Her work has strengthened programs, empowered colleagues, and fostered a culture of recognition and engagement - making her a deserving recipient of the President’s Student Employee of the Year Award.