The Academic Success and Career Center announced the winners of the annual Student Employment Soiree on April 10.
The ceremony was held in the Lightly Student Services building, according to a Daily Evergreen article. There were a total of 18 nominees and six winners chosen.
The WSU Overall Student Employee of the Year Award was given to Ariana Williamson, senior strategic communications major with an emphasis in public relations. Williamson said she works as the Women*s Center Digital Media Coordinator.
“I was actually kind of shocked because it was my bosses that nominated me,” she said. “It was really great. It felt really great to be recognized.”
Alongside her work with the Women*s Center, she is an intern for Crimson Creative, the Bateman team Creative and Social Director, President of the Black Student Union, ASWSU Committee square Chair, member of People of Color Pre-Law Coalition and the Black Womens’ Caucus. Williamson said she gets to help people out who come to the Women*s Center on a daily basis and is a known resource there.
“I’m obviously in charge of the social media and in charge of the newsletter we have. I get to make flyers that get put out by the Women*s Center,” she said. “Those are just my specific job title things I do. I get to help put on events and plan events, I get to join in our tabling. I get to join in on even just going and presenting in classrooms … Getting to educate about feminism and intersectionality and the importance of solidarity; I really love being able to do that here.”
At the Women*s Center, Williamson also works with the Coalition for Women Students, Violence Prevention Coordinators, Harpy*s Magazine and Cougar Safe Rides, she said. Williamson was at work when the ceremony took place and was not able to attend.
“There’s so many student employees here I did not think in any way, shape or form I would have made it even in a top ten list,” she said.
Williamson did not receive any official notification she won the award, but despite missing the ceremony, she said she was still able to get the award. She received a framed certificate, a goodie bag which contained a coffee cup, a shirt, a Ferdinand’s gift card and a Cougar flag.
Winning the award has helped affirm her sense of accomplishment at WSU, as after she moved away from athletics she did not feel she had a place here. Winning the award is a sign of growth, as she received the award from the Academic Success and Career Center just a year after being on academic probation and reinstating at WSU.
