With over 6,000 Grand Valley State University students employed through the university, these workers play a significant role in day to day operations, from campus dining to organizational duties.

“Consistently, for the past four years, we have had an increase in overall student employees,” said Luis Lozano of the Student Employment Office. “We have expanded to also include graduate assistants, resident assistants and other types of student employees.”

To thank the students who work at GVSU, the Student Employment Office hosts an annual week-long celebration to thank employees for all that they do, Lozano said. This year, the annual Student Employee Appreciation Week will take place from April 6 to April 10.

The events for the week were coordinated by the Student Employment Office. However, the event also comes with sponsorship from campus dining, the alliance of professional support staff (APSS) and the help and support of all student employee supervisors, Lozano said.

“The inaugural year of the Student Employee Appreciation Week was in 1997,” Lozano said. “The events and competitions have evolved over time, but the focus of thanking our students has always remained consistent.”

This year, there is one event scheduled each day of the week. There will be a campus-wide decorating contest on Monday with online voting where students, faculty and staff can decide which department has the best decorated office. Some other staple events are a campus-wide hot dog roast on Wednesday, indulge day on Thursday and a discounted Griffins game on Friday. The events are organized both on the Allendale and Grand Rapids campuses.

“There is overwhelming data that proves that working as a student helps that student not only graduate, but be more successful while pursuing their degree,” Lozano said. “Working as a student is a high impact experience that allows the student to help finance their education and develop work skills for their future career choice.”

At this year’s event, students are also encouraged to use the hashtag #StudentEmployeesMatter to engage student participation and showcase some of the events available to them.

“Over the past two years, it has been our goal to increase awareness and participation on campus,” Lozano said. “Last year, we doubled participation from departments, staff, faculty and students in most of the events, and from the buzz on campus this year, I am excited for this year’s events.”

For more information on the events for the week, go to http://www.gvsu.edu/studentjobs/student-employee-appreciation-week-33.htm