April 14 begins National Student Employee Appreciation Week, when Georgia Tech joins colleges and universities across the country to celebrate the hardworking students who not only work diligently in class but also show their dedication as student employees. 

“Tech’s nearly 10,000 student workers are an essential part of campus operations, and they make the Institute a better place,” said John Stein, associate vice president for Student Life and dean of students. “Our student employees are the backbone of our campus community — bringing energy, enthusiasm, innovation, and dedication to everything they do. Their ability to balance academics, work, and campus life with such skill and resilience is truly inspiring. They don’t just add value to the workplace; they aid all of us in fulfilling our motto of progress and service.” 

This month, Georgia Tech Human Resources is sharing ways to celebrate these dedicated students, who work in roles ranging from food service to administration and research.  

Evan Atkinson, assistant director of social media for the Institute, works with students who take photos or assist in creating social media posts that go out to the entire campus, as well as parents, prospective students, and the larger Atlanta community. 

He said their firsthand student experience makes them irreplaceable assets to a team dedicated to spreading Georgia Tech’s most authentic student-centric messages. 

“Our student employees provide perspective to our work, helping us connect more genuinely with the Georgia Tech community. Their ability to balance academics, on-campus jobs, and personal commitments speaks to their drive and adaptability,” Atkinson said. “We rely on their insight, creativity, and dedication to enhance our outreach and ensure our messaging truly resonates.” 

Often, student employees hold jobs on campus that relate directly to their majors. However, even jobs that offer professional development opportunities in students’ side interests or hobbies can be fulfilling and beneficial to future careers. 

Prateeksha Gupta is a first-year, Business Administration major working with the Employer Brand team in Georgia Tech Human Resources. Gupta said she applied because she wanted to play a meaningful role in supporting Georgia Tech’s campus community.  

In her role, Gupta helps create social media posts, graphics, and other digital materials to support HR campaigns and events. Her work promotes employee engagement, showcases opportunities for employees to connect, and highlights the work HR does for the Georgia Tech community. 

“My experience working with the team has been incredibly positive. Everyone is so supportive and approachable, which makes it easy to ask questions and learn,” Gupta said. “They’re really understanding of our responsibilities as students and are always flexible with scheduling. I also appreciate how much they encourage creativity and give us the chance to share ideas and take creative control of specific projects.” 

Being part of a department that focuses on supporting Tech employees and fostering engagement across campus is extremely rewarding, but the work has also helped build valuable professional skills in communication, teamwork, and content creation, she said. As a direct result of her work on campus, Gupta said she’s landed a summer internship with Cox Enterprises. 

“The position involves various skills that closely align with the work I’ve been doing as a student assistant for the GTHR branding team. During my internship interview, I was able to confidently speak about the real-world experience I’ve gained through my role at GTHR – creating digital content, interviewing employees and sharing their stories, and collaborating with a professional team.” 

Beyond landing her internship, Gupta said she’s just happy to help spread positive news to the campus community and make employees at Tech feel as important in their work as she does. 

During National Student Employee Appreciation Week, consider giving a student worker a heartfelt thank you note, sending an appreciative email, or treating them to lunch. We want to make sure all our employees feel appreciated, and recognition means a lot to our students. 

For more ideas on how to celebrate our student workforce, download the recognition ideas list and visit our Recognition website. You can also share your story with us for an opportunity to be featured on Georgia Tech’s social channels. Follow @gatechcareers on Instagram to share stories.