Kimberly Olivas honored with TXST Undergraduate Student Employee of the Year Award and 2 NSEA awards
Malazonia (left), Olivas, President Damphousse, and Groat
Kimberly Olivas, a junior journalism major and digital media assistant in The Graduate College, was recently awarded the TXST Undergraduate Student Employee of the Year Award and two NSEA awards.
All three awards were presented to Olivas during the TXST Student Employee Recognition Awards Ceremony on April 14. Sara Groat, president of NSEA and associate director of student employment at Gonzaga University, traveled from Washington to present the awards to Olivas.
Since Career Services has been submitting to NSEA, this marks the first time that TXST’s student nomination has won a national award.
“I was already honored and so grateful just being nominated and then winning the award for the Undergraduate Student Employee of the Year at Texas State, so when they brought out the national award, I was in disbelief and overjoyed to the point that I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore,” Olivas said. “Still, I’m at a loss for words. I don’t think I will ever be able to fully express how grateful I am, not only for the awards, but for the amazing people who have helped me get here.”
Kimberly Olivas
As a digital media assistant, she plays an integral role in managing the college’s digital presence. Her responsibilities include producing and curating content for social media channels by filming and editing videos and audio, capturing photos, and designing graphics using various software. She also plans the content calendar strategically, scheduling posts to maximize engagement.
Andrea Golato, Ph.D., dean of The Graduate College, called Olivas an exceptional student employee and a team player.
“She brings incredible creativity, professionalism, and dedication to the job in our office,” Golato said. “It is wonderful when we can offer students (paid) opportunities to apply the outstanding training they receive in their academic program. Kimberly's future is incredibly promising.”
While experiences through on-campus employment can sometimes be downplayed, Olivas’ accomplishments prove they can be valuable, according to Ray Rogers, director of Career Services.
Kate Malazonia (left), Kimberly Olivas, and Mark Burrow pose for a photo at the TXST Student Employee Recognition Awards Ceremony.
“Through these roles, students gain meaningful experience, skill development, career knowledge, and self-confidence, all of which help them achieve their post-graduation goals,” Rogers said. “Kimberly’s experience exemplifies the remarkable achievements of student employees when encouraged by a nurturing department and a committed supervisor.”
Kate Malazonia, marketing and communications manager in The Graduate College and Olivas’ supervisor and nominator, said it has been a joy to see her grow throughout her undergraduate studies.
“Kimberly has made a lasting impact on The Graduate College through her exceptional professionalism, technical expertise, and dedication to fostering a supportive and positive environment,” Malazonia said. “I am excited for what’s to come for her as she heads into her senior year.”
As someone who expects a lot of herself, Olivas said there are moments when she feels like she’s not doing enough, but the awards provided her with validation and additional appreciation.
“I always want to give 100% of myself in everything I do because I want both myself and others to feel proud of my work,” she said. “With that mentality, sometimes it is hard to take a step back and acknowledge my achievements and how hard I’ve worked. So, when I received these awards, it felt like I was truly being seen and appreciated. It felt like someone was saying, ‘We all see how much you’ve done, and we value you.’”
Visit the NSEA webpage for more information about the organization and awards.
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