KU announces 2023 Student Employee of the Year

LAWRENCE — The University Career Center has announced that the 2022-2023 Student Employee of the Year (SEOTY) is Victoria Garcia Unzueta, of Dodge City, who works for the University of Kansas Department of English in the History of Black Writing (HBW) research center.

Unzueta, a senior in journalism and mass communications, began her work with HBW as a social media assistant in August 2019. She was promoted to social media coordinator in May 2020. When Unzueta graduates in May 2023, she will have worked with HBW for four academic years.

The SEOTY award recognizes student employees who embody service excellence, dedication, and whose academic achievements remain exceptional. Unzueta received an engraved plaque and a $500 award. She was also recognized by the Midwest Regional Association as the runner-up in the Technology & Innovation category, for which she received a certificate and a $50 award.

“Victoria will graduate from KU in May 2023 and leave HBW. To say that we will miss her, both personally and professionally, is an understatement,” said Sarah Lendt, research project manager and Unzueta’s supervisor. “She has been a wonderful addition to HBW as the project has been able to expand and become more effective in its work due to her skills, commitment and care.”

Fifty students were nominated for this year’s award. A team of volunteer reviewers selected five finalists, including the winner. Additional finalists:

• Nathan Ohl, of Conway Springs, Office of Admissions
• Macy Gallagher, of McLouth, Student Housing
• Chloe Ferrara, of Omaha, Nebraska, School of Business – Human Resources
• Thomas Way, of Shawnee, Academic Success.

The nominees were recognized during a ceremony April 11. During the recognition ceremony, Misty Chandler, executive director of success initiatives for Academic Success, shared her appreciation for student employees.

“We absolutely could not operate this institution without our student workers — and without the energy, the ideas and the passion they bring.”

Find more information about the SEOTY program.