Cornell University honored 13 student and staff leaders at its first-ever Student Employment Awards Ceremony, held April 11, 2025, at Willard Straight Hall.
The event, hosted by Cornell Student and Campus Life (SCL), celebrated the achievements of nearly 2,900 student employees who supported operations across the university this academic year. Contributions included maintaining essential services during a union work stoppage and improving systems at the Cornell Store.
Nationally Recognized Excellence
The awards coincided with National Student Employment Week, a program led by the National Student Employment Association. Cornell’s honorees were submitted to the national competition, where they will compete against students from colleges across the country.
Brandon Fortenberry, senior manager of dining training and development, opened the ceremony by highlighting the vital impact of student workers. “We honor those who have demonstrated outstanding dedication, initiative and leadership—contributions that strengthen our campus community,” he said.
Student of the Year: Giving Back to the Community
Rachel Cannata ’25 received the Student Employee of the Year award in the Community Service category for her work with Catholic Charities of Tompkins and Tioga counties. Through the Einhorn Center’s Community Work-Study Program, Cannata supports the nonprofit’s Clothing Closet, which helps residents in crisis gain access to free clothing.
Cannata’s nominator praised her for creating a dignified, inclusive environment for people facing hardship. “You don’t need a grand idea to make a difference,” she said. “Just help where you can.”
Other Award Categories and Winners
Cornell also recognized excellence in leadership, technology, inclusion, and critical thinking:
- Critical Thinking: Annie Stewart ’25
- Diversity and Inclusion: Janice Indajang ’25
- Innovation and Technology: Andres Castellanos ’25
- Leadership: Petros Pisinos ’25
Dining and Campus Service Awards
Cornell Dining honored five student managers with Outstanding Student Manager Awards:
- North Campus Board: Anna Chen ’25
- North Campus Retail: Matthewjordan Rueda ’27
- Ag Quad: Shivani Tripathi ’25
- Central Campus: Nylicia Campos ’26
- West Campus: Aryk Maraj ’27
Two students received the Brad Ginsburg ’13 Award for Outstanding Student Service:
- West Campus: Lydia Sun ’26
- North Campus: Andrew Doty ’26
Supervisor of the Year: Mia Ferraina
Mia Ferraina, public service career coach at Cornell Career Services, was named Supervisor of the Year. Students praised her leadership style, which balances clear expectations with empathy and student-centered feedback.
Ferraina also earned the regional Supervisor of the Year award from the Northeast Association of Student Employment Administrators.
“Our student staffers improve our systems and make us more accessible,” she said. “They help us remain relevant and approachable to the student body.”
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