Student from Colorado Named UW Student Employee of the Year

Madison “Maddie” Deutsch, a senior from Littleton, Colo., has been selected as the University of Wyoming’s Student Employee of the Year.

As the top selection, Deutsch qualifies for the regional competition of the Western Association of Student Employment Administrators, where winners have yet to be determined. That winner then advances to the national level.

Caleb Carlson, from Casper, was the first runner-up, and Haley Cohn, of Redwood City, Calif., was the second runner-up.

Student employees were judged on reliability, quality of work, initiative, professionalism and the uniqueness of the student’s contribution to his or her employer. The top three students received scholarships of $500 for first place, $250 for second and $100 for third. Supervisors nominate student employees whom they believe warrant particular recognition for their performance on the job.

Deutsch, a speech language/hearing and hearing science major, works in the Office of Admissions. A nominator says Deutsch has a gift for connecting and working with people with a variety of backgrounds.

“We are so lucky to have her as a part of our UW Ambassadors team because of her empathy and kindness. This proved especially true with one family who was not sold on UW until their on-campus visit and tour guided by Maddie,” the nominator says. “They raved about how helpful, kind, funny and informative she was, and it made UW their top college choice.”

She also was cited for her great pride and enthusiasm for UW and her “can-do” spirit, which helps to inspire other ambassadors.

“She is a natural leader, leading by example. She will step in and take control if needed with great poise and confidence,” the nominator adds. “She has had significant impact on our student office. Maddie always has a smile, goes with the flow and never misses a beat.”

Carlson, a computer science senior, was cited for being dependable, innovative, capable and humble. He works as a student programmer for Information Technology.

“Humility, or a willingness to admit that we don’t know everything, is absolutely crucial for this position, as there are so many things to learn. Caleb is willing to accept advice in a very kind manner and then will research to find more information, ask questions and will take on any project he is given,” his nominator says. “He has a great understanding of priorities and how to manage many tasks with little to no direction. He exceeds our expectations when it comes to timeliness. As many departments put it, working with Caleb was easy; he’s organized, timely and thorough; and we genuinely appreciate his assistance and time-saving efforts.”

Cohn, a mechanical engineering senior, works for UW Operations as a facilities engineering intern.

“One of the greatest and most unique attributes that benefits both our department and her development has been Haley’s curiosity,” a nominator writes. “As a mechanical engineering student, she is interested in how the UW campus works behind the scenes.”

She has sought out projects and tasks that allow her to explore the mechanical and electrical rooms throughout the campus, and asks questions and works with staff to gain a better understanding and knowledge of what is possible when a customer proposes a project.

“Haley has a very professional attitude, but still treats all customers and fellow employees with great respect and kindness,” the nominator says. “Haley has a strong work ethic; is not afraid to jump right into a project; and possesses great skills such as task coordination, leadership and initiative.”