Noah Dotson, a psychology scholar from Cumming, has been honored as the University of Georgia’s 2025 Undergraduate Student Employee of the Year for his significant contributions as the manager of UGA’s Outdoor Recreation Center.

The annual Student Employee of the Year Awards luncheon organized by the UGA Career Center occurred on April 16 in the Grand Hall of the Tate Student Center. This event recognized 100 exemplary student employees, put forward by their supervisors. Special acknowledgment was given to the graduate and undergraduate Student Employees of the Year, runners-up, and the winning student employee team.

Dotson received his nomination from J.T. Schexnayder, who remarked that his influence on ORC will continue to benefit the center well after his graduation.

“Noah possesses a relentless work ethic that surpasses the expectations associated with his role,” Schexnayder noted. “In his role as manager, he is tasked with overseeing and offering logistical assistance to trip leaders as they plan, prepare, and conduct outdoor excursions throughout the Southeast. Nonetheless, he consistently seeks out opportunities to enhance the ORC’s procedures.”

Dotson has initiated and guided various trips, such as a seven-night thru-hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and a whitewater rafting day trip on the Chattahoochee River, both of which broadened the ORC’s typical offerings. He has also aided trip leaders by conducting training sessions on best practices for trip planning, alongside technical training on paddling fundamentals and knot tying.

Most notably, Dotson orchestrated a series of “Ideal Trip Leader” workshops. These led to the establishment of six core values — empathy, humility, adaptability, perseverance, teamwork, and expertise — which Dotson embedded into the ORC’s vision, mission, and purpose statement.

Additional honorees

The first runner-up, Anna Coleman, a student employee at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, was nominated by Jason Young. Second runner-up Joy Hwang, a graphic design student assistant at the UGA Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, received her nomination from Jason Hasty.

2025 Graduate Student Employee of the Year award

Daniela Cortes, a master’s student at the College of Veterinary Medicine, has been named the 2025 Graduate Student Employee of the Year. She joined the department of large animal medicine at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in 2023 as a theriogenology resident, a specialized segment of veterinary medicine that focuses on animal reproduction. Cortes collaborates closely with Maria Ferrer with pride, responsibility, and dependability.

“Dr. Cortes serves as an exceptional role model for students and other house officers. She is not only knowledgeable and capable but also empathetic and kind,” Ferrer stated. “I am privileged to work alongside her, and I foresee her having a bright future in a leadership role. She will showcase UGA and our core values remarkably wherever she goes.”

Cortes approaches veterinary healthcare with a critical and analytical perspective, equipping her to handle complex cases and enhance patient care. Her creativity and innovative mindset further drive her to achieve meaningful scientific breakthroughs.

Cortes’ influence stretches well beyond her work environment. She secured first place in the student competition at the Society for Theriogenology, where she shared the outcomes of her research. Furthermore, her master’s thesis received international recognition, with presentations scheduled in Spain in 2024 and Portugal in 2025, bringing global visibility to UGA’s theriogenology program.

Her collaboration with small animal clients has also led to financial contributions for the department. Cortes’ impact on the Veterinary Teaching Hospital will continue to enrich the program for years ahead.

Additional graduate honorees

The first runner-up, Averi Caldwell, works as a graduate assistant for UGA Columns, and was nominated by Krista Richmond. Second runner-up, Armando Gomez, an environmental educator at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, received a nomination from Emory Perry.

2025 Student Employee of the Year team award

A group of five student employees from the UGA Dining Services nutrition team was awarded the 2025 Student Employee of the Year team award:

• Jessica Harris, family and consumer sciences
• Alyssa Johnson, undergraduate student, family and consumer sciences
• Anna Dupree, master’s student, family and consumer sciences
• Elizabeth Baran, undergraduate student, family and consumer sciences
• Abriana Byrd, undergraduate student, family and consumer sciences

This team, consisting of nutrition managers, nutrition supervisors, nutrition clericals, and dietetic interns, was nominated by Katherine Ingerson for their efforts in integrating education within the dining commons.

“These students are intelligent, self-sufficient, motivated, passionate, and diligent,” Ingerson expressed. “They grasp assignments and new concepts exceptionally quickly and never complain about the more monotonous, tedious, or labor-intensive tasks. Instead, their work is always meticulous and comprehensive.”

This team undertakes various responsibilities, from entering food allergen data into the nutrient database to aiding in menu creation, recipe entries, and designing and posting nutrition labels. In addition, these students assist the food safety team with weekly audits across the dining commons and retail facilities on UGA’s campus.

“The camaraderie within this group is robust,” Ingerson remarked. “It is a privilege for me to mentor such an incredible group of dedicated and passionate students. They truly merit recognition for their behind-the-scenes contributions to campus.”

About the award

The Student Employee of the Year is an annual accolade determined by a 15-member selection committee, comprising faculty and staff from various areas of the UGA campus. The committee evaluates each nominated student according to UGA’s competency criteria:

• Critical Thinking
• Analytical Thinking
• Communication
• Social Awareness & Responsibility
• Leadership & Collaboration
• Creativity & Innovation

The Student Employee of the Year awards originate from the National Student Employment Association, with awards conferred at hundreds of campuses across the nation.

The post 2025 Student Employee of the Year awards announced first appeared on UGA Today.