Celebrating Student Success
Kudos to Our Student Employees of the Year Nominees
Celebrating Student Success
Kudos to Our Student Employees of the Year Nominees
The UH community gathered to celebrate the successes of our student workers to close out Student Employment Week. The attendees were all smiles at the photo booth during the event.
The UH community gathered to celebrate the successes of our student workers to close out Student Employment Week. The attendees were all smiles at the photo booth during the event.
University Career Services hosted a special celebration in the Student Center South’s Houston Room to close out Student Employment Week on Friday, April 18.
The event honored the outstanding contributions of student employees who play a vital role in supporting the University of Houston’s success across academics, research and daily operations.
This year, employees submitted 151 nominations to recognize students who have gone above and beyond in their roles. Their hard work and dedication reflect the best of Cougar pride and spirit. The finalists list is available below.
Torrence Douglas, associate director of campus recruitment and the event’s emcee, kept gratitude, laughter and appreciation at the forefront of the event, and the entire career services team expressed thanks to the employees who submitted nominations and took the time to attended and honor the nominated students.
Soon, the spotlight turned to the many outstanding students who received certificates of appreciation and a moment to shine before the career services team announced the overall category winners.
Meet the 2025 Student Employee of the Year Winners
Innovation & Technology Award: Jaimen Singh
A junior majoring in computer science, Jaimen Singh revolutionized student assessment processing at the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine by developing a secure app that turns PDF and Excel data into performance reports. His extraordinary system cut processing time from 30+ hours to under five minutes and enhanced accuracy, reduced workload and gained attention from peer institutions and national conferences.
Outstanding Leadership Award: Manasa Yerragunta
Described as one of the brightest minds in organic crystallization, doctoral candidate in chemical engineering Manasa Yerragunta, has been a research force in the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at the Cullen College of Engineering. She has led complex projects, including a groundbreaking Welch Foundation-funded study on crystal polymorphs that could transform pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Student Employee of the Year (Undergraduate): Sanam Davariar
A dynamic member of the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design’s communications team, sophomore architecture student Sanam Davariar redefined the college's student engagement through visual storytelling. Her creative work has doubled engagement, showcased student life and strengthened community connections — all while mastering new tools and leading student collaborations.
Student Employee of the Year (Graduate) Winner: Ah Rum Lee
With a decade of experience in the insurance industry, Ah Rum Lee, a graduate student studying business analytics, applies real-world expertise to her roles as teaching and research assistant at the C. T. Bauer College of Business. She implemented smart technology solutions, mentored peers and contributed cutting-edge AI research. Her work streamlining workflows elevated academic outcomes across her department.
Torrence Douglas, associate director of campus recruitment, captured the spirit of the week with his heartfelt poem, “Student Employees – You Are the Real MVPs,” applauding the energy, commitment and resilience student employees bring to campus every day.
Torrence Douglas, associate director of campus recruitment, captured the spirit of the week with his heartfelt poem, “Student Employees – You Are the Real MVPs,” applauding the energy, commitment and resilience student employees bring to campus every day.
Congratulations to all the nominees, winners and to every student employee making a difference at UH — you truly are the MVPs of our campus community!
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"Student Employees - You Are the Real MVPs" |
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At UH we roar, but also we grind to shine, With student employees, they are all one of a kind. From the front desk pros to the tech-savvy brains, Running the beautiful campus like a runaway train. They swipe their student ID with a loud “Go Coogs!” Then jet to their classes with an exhausted from the weekend snooze. They do it all — assignments, exams, and various work shifts, While uplifting the UH campus with Shasta sized lifts. Rockin' the red & white, they do it with flair, Always answering office phones with a professional tone and care. They’re mentors, peer advisors, assistants, and truly the heart of the pack With weekly schedules and UH Campus Store snacks stuffed deep in their backpacks. So here’s to the student employee Coogs who clock in and shine, Making UH departments run on schedule, and on time! We thank you all, we shout you out, we hype you up & celebrate you. Hopefully, we've made that abundantly clear Now everyone show appreciation with a super loud cheer For the hardest-working Student Employment Coogs of the year! |
2025 Student Employee of the Year Finalists
Adeeba Wafa
Alexia Changalpet
Allison Young
Ananya Agrawal
Anh Ky
Angelina Moreno
Anya Shrestha
Aria Robinson
Ashmin Kaur
Bardia Nabavi
Bianca Pickersgill
Bhuvaneshwari (Bhuvana) Palakonda Govindarajan
Braylon Johnson
Cameron Raschke
Carlos Alfaro
Catherine Rodriguez
Ceni Banks
Charlene (Tajj) White
Chantel Le
Craig Perez
Danelis Rodriguez Urbina
Dexter Green
Eleazar Hernandez
Emily Maldonado
Eno Mbaba
Gabriela Torres
Grace Lockett
Grace Rodriguez
Hareem Ali
Hong Lan Nguyen
Jaimen Singh
Jason Ramirez
Jason Southall
Joe McNease
Jonathan Nguyen
Jose Imperial
Katelyn Nguyen
Kenya Cardenas
Kenny Le
Kerni Trivedi
Lance Fegan
Lekha Chittajallu
Lilliana Degarmeaux
Logan Smalley
Lovelyn Kearstie Pearce
Lyric Obialo
Lyn DeBeir
Maithili Padhye
Mahajabin Mostafa
Manasa Yerragunta
Marianna Derry
May Le
Mihika Shah
Miguel Hernandez III
Michelle Gabriel
Moonbow Reign
Nafia Uddin
Nema Kebbeh
Nelson Chavez Cubas
Nhien T Nguyen
Nguyen Nguyen
Nicole Hall
Nobi Emina
Osiny Ogakwu
Phuoc Binh Vu
Phillip Tran
Raj Chinni
Reuben Issac
Ricardo Leyba
Robert W. Tindall
Roy Hernandez
Sania Holt
Sanam Davariar
Shalini Gupta
Shruti Satish Patil
Stephanie Ann Belanger
Stephen Etuokwu
Stephen Gude
Yagiz Karaman
Zohya Iqbal
UH student nominees Grace Rodriguez and Catherine Rodriguez posing with their certificate.
UH student nominees Grace Rodriguez and Catherine Rodriguez posing with their certificate.
UH student nominee Logan Smalley taking a photo of nominees.
UH student nominee Logan Smalley taking a photo of nominees.
UH student nominee Robert W. Tindall posing with his certificate.
UH student nominee Robert W. Tindall posing with his certificate.
Event MC Madison Brown speaking at the podium
Event MC Madison Brown speaking at the podium
Image of the certificate of recognitions awarded to students.
Image of the certificate of recognitions awarded to students.
UH student nominee Maithili Padhye walking across the stage with her award.
UH student nominee Maithili Padhye walking across the stage with her award.
Image of attendees seated at the event.
Image of attendees seated at the event.
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