Recognition Ideas

All staff members want to know that their contributions are important to the success of the department. Here are suggestions for ways to acknowledge your student staff members during Student Employment Month in April, and throughout the year. Tailor these ideas to fit with the culture of your department.

Start an award recognition program

Look around the office or at home for a white elephant item. Name the item for the award (Employee of the Month/Week, Great Idea Award, Gotcha Award—catch someone in the act of doing something right) and then make the first presentation of the award during Student Employment Month in April.

Put your appreciation in writing

  • Prepare “Certificates of Excellence” citing students for excellence and present the award with fanfare.
  • Place an ad in the campus newspaper (The Trail), on your website, or in your departmental newsletter thanking your student staff members.
  • Purchase or make blank certificates and make up unique awards such as “best telephone voice,” “best Web surfer,” “most customer service oriented,” etc.
  • Ask the department head to write letters thanking student staff members for their contributions to departmental success.
  • With the student’s permission, write a letter to their family and let them know what the student does, how their work impacts your department, and share kudos.
  • Chalk the sidewalk in front of your office or post a sign on the door saying “thanks” to your student staff members.
  • Send a virtual card.

Host a Celebration

  • Have a game night (or morning or afternoon)! Bring in board games or card games and have the students choose what to play.
  • Visit the Collins Memorial Library Makerspace to do a creative project together. Contact makerspace@pugetsound.edu to discuss, plan, and schedule a workshop. Check out sample workshops.
  • Get off campus: Arrange an outing to a nearby park (Old Town Park or Point Defiance would be good options) for some time outdoors.

Show and Tell

  • PDA—Public Displays of Acknowledgment: Simply thank staff members publicly during a staff meeting or gathering.
  • Training: Ask top performing students to help train and welcome new staff members or offer a training session for peers during a staff meeting.
  • Shadow: Invite a student or students to shadow your professional staff meeting or some of your daily work or projects.

Decorate

  • Create a bulletin board collage with lists that lists the ways student staff members contribute to your department. (Please do not post photos of students without their consent.)
  • Draw an outline of your hand on colored paper and write “High Five” over the top. Put the student’s name in the middle and write 5 positive attributes or contributions around the hand. Post in a common area.
  • Select a theme and decorate an office wall, door, or desk in recognition of your student staff members.

Cook, bake or otherwise provide food

  • Take student staff members out to lunch, or host a departmental open house for all student staff members.
  • Bring in treats or lunch.
  • Have a cookie exchange. Bake cookies and place them in personalized take-out boxes for each student staff member.
  • Order students’ favorite beverage from a campus cafe and have it available during their next shift.

Give a low-cost/high-creativity award or gift

  • Friendship Plant: Take cuttings from a plant in the office and give to each student as a live “connection” to the office.
  • Good Egg Award: Fill plastic Easter Eggs with goodies and give out with “Good Egg” certificates listing what the student did to deserve this award.
  • Pat on the Back: Draw an outline of your hand on a piece of paper. Photocopy enough copies for all students in your office. On each hand write a note that tells the student why they deserve a “Pat on the Back.”
  • Take a group picture to give out at the end of the year.
  • Peruse the CES Pinterest board for inspiration.

Thank you for all that you do to orient, train, motivate, and acknowledge student staff members!


We’d love to hear about or see photos of the ways that you’re acknowledging your student staff members. Please drop us a line or tag CES on Instagram! (If you’re posting images or names of students online, please make sure to get their consent first.)