Student Employment Recognition Ideas

Student employees make a significant contribution to Kent State University. The Career Services Center student employment staff encourages you to take every opportunity possible to recognize the hard work of your student employee/s. The recognition ideas below are just a sample of the many ways you can let your student employee/s know just how much you appreciate them.

Acknowledging your student employee/s does not always have to cost you or your department money, a simple pat on the back and a sincere "Thank you" goes a long way. If you have other recognition ideas you would like to share, email the Student Employment staff.

• Write a card or note of thanks.
• Nominate an outstanding student employee for Student Employee Of the Year!
• Have a recognition potluck, ice cream social, or lunch for students.
• Give the student a gift certificate to a local restaurant.
• Give the student a pat on the back, handshake, and a simple and sincere "Thank you."
• Surprise students with beverages and cookies or other refreshments.
• Make care packages for student employees during finals week.
• Send an email to the student thanking them for a job well done.
• Have the director or dean of your department take the student out to lunch.
• Offer to write a letter of recommendation for the student when they are seeking full time employment or an internship.
• Leave a flower, balloon, candy or a note at the student's work area.
• Use professional contacts to assist the student with networking for a full time job after graduation.
• Provide the student with tickets to a Kent State event such as an athletic, music, or theatre event.
• Buy a Kent State t-shirt, ball cap, or other memorabilia for the student.
• To recognize a team, bring in a cake and display a poster describing the accomplishment.
• Arrange for the student to get a massage at the Kent State Recreation & Wellness Center.
• Sponsor a departmental "treat day" where staff bring in treats/lunch for the students.
• Give the student candy with a corresponding message:
  • "Smarties" candy when they get a good report card
  • "Kudos" candy when you hold them in high regard
  • "Extra" gum when they go the extra mile
  • "Snickers" candy bar to recognize a good sense of humor
  • "Pay Day" candy bar to say they are worth an extra pay day
• Make office coupon books. Hand out coupons to students to redeem for a can of soda, home baked goodies, etc . . . be creative!
• Recognize progress toward goals - don't wait for the end of the project.
• Provide a word of encouragement after a failed project.
• Hold a special graduation party for senior student employees.
• Have a senior staff member present a special award or personally congratulate recognized student employees.
• Make certificates or awards for the student. Use your word processing software to create certificates. Suggestions include:
  • One Academic Year of Service
  • Quality Customer Service Award
  • Innovation Award
  • Best Work Improvement Idea of the Semester/Year
  • Teamwork Award
  • Project Support Award
  • Outstanding Initiative Award
  • Extraordinary Helpfulness Recognition
• Practice "one-to-one" recognition. Call or visit the student for no other reason than to recognize him/her.
• Make a banner and hang it in the office for the entire National Student Employment Week or periodically throughout the year. The banner could read, "Thank You Student Employees," or "Our Student Employees Rock!"

Recognition ideas created, in part, by Jose Dominguez, Evergreen State College