Photo courtesy of the Cahill Center
This week is National Student Employment Appreciation Week. Offices around the campus, in coordination with the Cahill Center, all come together to celebrate more than 900 Ramapo students who work on campus.
Patty Migliorisi, Student Assistant Coordinator in the Cahill Center, worked hard to coordinate the week of celebration.
“This week focuses on the importance of our student employees who add invaluable contributions to over 100 units across campus and recognize their celebrated presence in the Ramapo College community. We had some fun, engaging and informative events throughout the week to say thanks,” she said.
To start off the week, the Cahill Center coordinated a gift basket raffle, where student employees were invited to stop by the student center and enter to win. Later in the day, drawings were held for each basket and winners were notified. One winning student was Brandon Smith, a student intern for the Russ Berrie Program in the Office of Institutional Advancement. Smith won a finals survival kit, donated by the Center for Student Success. The kit contained snacks, candy, a Starbucks gift card and more.
“A lot of us do hard work behind the scenes to help our offices operate,” said Smith, appreciating the gift basket. “It is nice to get recognition for that work on such a large scale.”
On Tuesday, a similar raffle was held, but this time, students entered by submitting their direct deposit receipts. The winners of these raffles received gift cards to various stores and restaurants.
Wednesday’s celebration included a luncheon for student employment award winners. Four student employees from across the campus were recognized for their efforts and dedication to their jobs. Those four students and their supervisors were invited to the luncheon to celebrate their accomplishment.
Lauren Brereton, a junior and Commuter Affairs Student Manager, was selected as the winner out of junior year employees. Brereton was a little surprised to hear about winning her award, but was honored.
“It feels really good to be recognized, but to be completely honest I was really surprised I got the award,” she said. “There are a lot of people I work with that I feel would be just as great candidates because they all work so hard to make Ramapo better.”
In addition to the campus wide celebration efforts, many individual offices chose to celebrate their employees. The Center for Student Involvement held a coffee-themed student staff appreciation week. Throughout the week, students were given coffee beans, munchkins, special coffee creamers and more. The CSI Staff also held a BBQ lunch on Wednesday where the students and staff played outdoor activities and games together.
Dr. Rick Brown, Director of the Center for Student Involvement, was asked about the week and stated, “We have 65 student employees and they are the backbone of everything we do in the office. Having this week is the least we can do to recognize them and thank them for everything they do. It is also great to see the whole campus getting involved and recognizing students in all offices for their work.”
Dr. Brown’s comments speak to the purpose of the week and why it is so important to celebrate.
The Office of the President also individually observed the week of appreciation. Those celebrations included a luncheon for all staff members on Wednesday, as well as providing gift baskets for each of the student workers. While the staff in this office is always certain to recognize student workers, this week, they did a little extra to truly show that appreciation.
Alyssa Bernstein, junior, works as a student aide in the President’s office.
"I am really enjoying student staff appreciation week,” Bernstein said. “This is the first one I have experienced as a student employee and the Cahill Center has really done a great job organizing events throughout the week. This week was extra special."
The celebrations conclude on Thursday, where student workers will receive free ice cream as a final token of appreciation. Overall, Ramapo’s celebration of National Student Employee Appreciation Week was a fun week and great success!
ewisnesk@ramapo.edu
