Although the semester may seem to be over, SMU does not want students to leave just yet. April 13-18, 2003 marks National Student Employment Week, a week dedicated to honoring the efforts of campus student workers.

SMU, being a member of the Southern Association of Student Employment Administrators (SASEA) for three years, wants to show appreciation to its student employees.

The SESEA holds regional and national competitions to find and award outstanding student workers in its 12-state region.

Each member school selects a student worker that excels in key areas such as reliability, quality of work and professionalism.

Julie Zhou, a senior finance and international studies major and Student Assistant of The Foreign Language Technology Center, was selected as the Student Employee of Year.

Zhou will represent SMU at the regional conference in Mississippi and may advance to the national conference held in Hawaii.

“Work study has made college life different and fun,” Zhou said. “It has helped me manage my money and time wisely.”

Zhou was nominated by her boss Andrea Allen, director of the Foreign Language Technology Center.

“I knew I had the person who was going to win,” Allen said.

To continue with the celebration of National Student Employment Week, SMU will sponsor a picnic luncheon for nominated work-study students and their employers on Wednesday, April 16 from 11:00 a.m.-1: 30 p.m. behind Perkins Administrative Building.

“SMU is trying to show a token of appreciation to our workers,” Mary L. Beard, assistant director of student employment said. “We would like to see all student workers celebrated across the university and encourage staff to show appreciation to these students.”

Festivities for the luncheon will include free food, gift certificates and an Easter egg hunt. The Division of Enrollment Services will provide door prizes for the event.

Corporate sponsors will be also be donating t-shirts, pens, pads and other goods.