Freddy Lee holding a blue bucket working near a tree

Article

April 13, 2026

Student Workers Power Campus While Building Future Careers

Students who take on UNC jobs play a vital role in keeping the university running, and their contributions strengthen campus while giving them tools for long-term success

黑料社区

Each year during the month of April, the University of Northern 黑料社区 (UNC) celebrates National Student Employment Week. This week is an opportunity to show appreciation for all of the vital contributions that student employees make to campus life, as well as to highlight the value of integrating work experience into higher education. All over campus, student employees and the supervisors who provide them with valuable mentorship are honored as part of this celebration. And there are plenty to celebrate. In total, during the spring semester, there are 918 undergraduate student workers.

As part of this year’s festivities, the university is thrilled to recognize several outstanding student employees whose dedication and positivity continuously enrich the campus community. Read on to meet some new and familiar faces, and learn more about the unique roles student employees hold across campus.

Click on a student’s photo in the gallery below to jump to their section.

Nolan Bond smiling and writing on an Einstein's Bagel cup

Keira Bowman with her head in the ceiling working on electrical wires.

Jasmine Gaines looking at the camera and smiling while wearing glasses

Blake Hays holding a notbeook and a pen while working at Holmes

Freddy Lee standing in front of a navy truck doing two thumbs up

Savannah Mallory, wearing a UNC uniform and smiling at the camera

Lexie Martin standing on a football field holding up a camera

Kaydyn Richey smiling at the camera and putting a library book back on the shelf

Kyle Yoder smiling at the camera standing in front of shelves of books

Nolan Bond

Einstein Bagels

Root for the customers and remember, dining dollars aren’t actually taxed in every purchase, so letting a customer know how much they’re saving can be nice info for them to know!

I’m a worker at Einstein’s. Typically covering the register and/or drinks. These shifts tend to be just a few hours long, serving about 100+ customers every day, more or less.

I have become better at speaking to people and have learned how to communicate well. I also know how to make a mean latte. Also, not a skill, but related, I finally attained a caffeine addiction this past semester.

I have a good number of favorite regulars that stop by consistently, and I enjoy getting to serve them and make sure they get their food. I may not always remember their names or orders, but they are great familiar faces to know.

BASIC. HUMAN. DECENCY. Please, please, please don’t just come up to the register and jump into ordering. Just a tiny hello or responding to the cashier’s “good morning” is all you need to do. Understanding that Einstein’s is always backed up and understanding that we’re doing our best is also pretty great.

I love the weird orders. Be who you are and what your tastes want. Order that large cup of milk. Order a pepperoni pizza on a chocolate chip bagel. Have a million add-ins and requests on a drink. Personally, it makes it interesting, and I find it fun.

Even if it’s not a lot, it has paid me enough that I keep a pretty stable amount throughout college semesters. I also have probably eaten so many bagels that my gut has undoubtedly altered from what it would otherwise look like.

I think this experience will look very good on my resume for barista jobs that will actually pay me tips.

Truly and honestly, match the energy of your customers. Of course, always be welcoming and kind to your customers. But that can take different forms. If someone is tired and lowkey, match your pitch and energy to that. If they’re confident and all smiles, match that exactly. Don’t forget eye contact. Root for the customers and try to ensure they get the best bargain they can (within reason, of course). And remember, dining dollars aren’t actually taxed in every purchase, so letting a customer know how much they’re saving can be nice info for them to know!

Keira Bowman

Student Locksmith, Facilities Management

I love the unpredictability of this job. I rarely have a boring day at work, and no two days are the same. Every new work order presents itself as a new problem to solve.

I am the student locksmith on campus. There are a few main duties I take care of in a shift. I fix work orders for residents and faculty, I change locks, I pin up new locks and I cut a lot of keys.

Keira Bowman holding an ipad and sticking her tongue out

There are definitely some locksmith-specific skills I’ve gained, such as knowledge of how to shim a door or program the electronic locks we have here on campus, but I’ve also gained a lot of transferable skills. This job has made me more independent, a better critical thinker and given me more self-confidence. Even though I’m a student locksmith, my bosses send me out on my own, mostly without instruction, and I have to figure out what’s wrong with a door and then figure out how to fix it. Even after working here for almost a year, you’d be surprised how many times I run into an issue I’ve never had before, and I just have to trust in myself and the skills I’ve gained.

I love the unpredictability of this job. I rarely have a boring day at work, and no two days are the same. Even though I have the same basic tasks, every new work order presents itself as a new problem to solve.

My co-workers always brighten my day. I don’t work with any other students; I only work with full-time staff, and I adore them. They are so respectful and appreciative of the work that I do. They never discount me for my age or lack of experience. They are so much fun to work with, and they never fail to make me laugh. They treat me not as a student worker, but as their equal.

The first month working as a locksmith, I had a job I will never forget. My boss asked me to override a circuit board because the electronic lock was malfunctioning and we couldn’t get into it. In order to do this, I had to climb into the ceiling and take an extra wire we had in the shop to connect two parts of this circuit board to override it and open the lock. I just remember feeling so cool in that moment because I was always a kid who was interested in engineering, circuit boards and mechanics, and I know if little me could see me now, she would be proud.

Weirdly enough, this role has given me a lot of opportunities in college. Being a locksmith means you interact with people all across campus, both students and staff. I have made so many connections working here and gained a lot of trust with the faculty. This is incredibly helpful to me as a School of Theatre Arts and Dance student director because, in order to produce my shows, I have to rely on the kindness of others. Because of the connections I’ve made and the trust I’ve built with faculty all across campus, I have gotten set pieces, storage spaces and even performance spaces for the shows that I direct. For example, this past semester, I was lucky enough to put up a production in Snyder Hall because of the connections that I’ve built with faculty in housing.

It’s given me a lot more confidence in myself and my abilities. When I first started here, I remember thinking that I would never pick up on everything because there were just too many things to remember. Now, I don’t even have to think about it. I’m always proud of the work that I do, and working here reminds me every day that I can do hard things.

Talk to everyone. Be open to everyone who crosses your path. I have made some extremely valuable connections through working this job, and it’s gotten me opportunities here on campus that I wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.

Jasmine Gaines

Student Ambassador

This job has shown me how important it is to have good, open communication with everyone you are working with, not only your peers or supervisors, but with everyone together as a team.

My job on campus has two different parts. I started as a student ambassador, which consists of giving tours and working with prospective students. For the past year, I have been working as the student coordinator of training and hiring. In this role, I help with hiring all of our new ambassadors as well as plan and execute our yearly fall training. A typical shift in this role is me working in the office, making sure our ambassadors are certified and working on our staff meeting presentations.

The skills I have gained are how to effectively communicate with multiple people. I have also become more confident in my work and not needing to get approval from my supervisors constantly.

My favorite part of working in the Office of Admissions is the people. Everyone who works in the office is incredible, from the full-time staff to all of the student employees. Everyone is so nice, and they are always willing to talk whenever. I also love working with the prospective students and knowing that I am making an impact on people.

What always makes my days better during a shift is chatting with the other ambassadors who are in the office. I love just talking to them and catching up about how school is going for them.

Some moments that stand out in my mind from this job are all of our big event days. They are always the longest days, but they are also the most fun and have the most impact on students and staff.

This role has shaped my college experience because I have a completely different outlook on the university and the admissions process as a whole. I have also met some of my best friends through this, and I will continue those relationships past college.

I am pursuing a career in education, and this job has prepared me for the unpredictable things that could happen. This job has also shown me how important it is to have good, open communication with everyone you are working with, not only your peers or supervisors, but with everyone together as a team.

The advice I would give to new student employees would be to embrace the entire experience, whether it is good or bad. All of our on-campus jobs help to prepare everyone for a career after graduation, and it is a great way to learn how to make mistakes and how to get feedback on those mistakes.

Blake Hays

Lead Student Supervisor, Holmes Dining Hall

My all-time favorite part is 100000%, my coworkers, I love hanging out with them in and outside of the work environment.

A multitude of skills were gained, a couple of which stand out in particular are time management, filling a leadership role and being someone to look up to.

My all-time favorite part is 100000%, my coworkers, I love hanging out with them in and outside of the work environment.

I would have to go with break time, no matter how the shift went. At our 10-minute break at the end of the night, I can always joke and banter with my friends, and it makes the rest of the shift go by.

On one of my shifts, I must have been moving too fast and was trying to install a new milk bag for the guests, and spilled all of it, not a carton, five gallons of milk all over the place.

Short answer, yes. The idea of working 32 hours and also being a full-time student and doing research on the side, I am always unbelievably booked, but it’s an amazing life skill to have, because now my time management and stress capacity are significantly better than average.

Not in a super direct way, but the skills of leadership and hospitality, in my humble opinion, have potential for filling my resume in hopes of something down the line. I love helping people, and this line of work has been only that.

If I had to give any, don’t look at something like this as ” just a food service job to pay rent,” and instead think of it as an opportunity to meet new friends and put work into something you know will reward you. For example, sometimes school gets busy and my day is far from good, but the shifts where I can pop in music and just wash dishes and get paid for it while I take my mind off things are great! Food service on top!!!!!!!!

Freddy Lee

Student Gardener

The birds are always the highlight of my day. I love hearing their songs!

My typical shift includes picking up ground trash and emptying trash cans, pruning and trimming the landscaping and maintaining the health of the grounds around campus.

I have learned how to operate different pieces of machinery, including skid-steer loaders and a bucket truck. I’ve also learned about how to care for 黑料社区 native plant species.

My favorite part about working at UNC is the environment- everybody is eager to help out and is a fountain of knowledge.

The birds are always the highlight of my day. I love hearing their songs!

There are many good times on campus, but working with my supervisor is sure to be a good time. We often say “hi” to the campus dogs that walk past as we work.

This role has definitely made my college experience easier by being a job that is extremely accommodating to my class schedule.

This job has opened up careers I would not have previously considered- and is making it easier for me to achieve them by giving me work experience opportunities.

Just apply! You might find that the job has a little more depth than you might have thought. You can also use a campus job to break into an industry- and help you graduate with hands-on experience in your field.

Savannah Mallory

Lead Supervisor, Homes Dining Hall

I can confidently direct a room of people, handle emergencies calmly and am able to help out our customers no matter what the problem is.

I am in charge of helping make sure that students’ schedules work for them, as well as helping shifts run smoothly. A typical shift for me starts with setting up each station for my coworkers before we open for a meal; that means putting out clean sanitizing buckets, making sure there are gloves of every size at each station, and making sure that there are also hot pads available. Once I have done that, I make sure that all of our drinks are filled up and that our desserts are ready to go. I then assign students to specific stations while keeping in mind any allergies, medical concerns, and likes/dislikes. From there, I just help the shift run smoothly by giving water breaks or bathroom breaks when needed, grabbing back-up food, and helping out any other way that I can. Once we have closed the building to customers, I help make sure that clean-up runs smoothly and that I get everyone out on time.

After working at Holmes for the last four years, I would say that I have become a more confident and outgoing person. When I first started, I was very shy and rarely spoke to anyone. Now, I can confidently direct a room of people, handle emergencies calmly and am able to help out our customers no matter what the problem is. I have also become better at making decisions quickly and changing my plans depending on what is happening that day.

My favorite part of working here would have to be how consistent and predictable most shifts can be. I’m never really thrown into the unknown, as I know how every shift is going to be. I know Wednesday nights are usually busy, and Thursday nights are a little slower. I know that lunch rushes usually come around noon, and breakfast rushes come at 9 a.m. Having a consistent routine is definitely my favorite part about working here.

A small thing that always makes my day better during a shift is my coworkers. After working in the same place for so long, I have developed a lot of friendships, and being able to talk to people really makes my day better.

Honestly, any time I have worked over the summer at Holmes has been a memorable experience. With fewer employees working, you build a deeper kind of friendship than you would during the school year, and having shorter mealtimes gives more time to still enjoy the break. A lot of times when we are working summer shifts, we all hang out during our breaks between mealtimes by playing games or just talking, and it is a great experience.

This job has helped shape my college experience by giving me a wide variety of experiences at different places and by interacting with the many different kinds of people in our area. It is a very flexible job that works with your school schedule and your social schedule while still helping you develop skills that you can use for the rest of your life.

This job has definitely helped me develop better skills for my career. As a future teacher, you have to be able to direct a room full of people, make split-second decisions and decide which task takes priority. This job has helped me develop these skills as I do them almost every single day.

My advice to new student employees is just to keep going and be yourself. We love having a variety of personality types as it keeps things lively and helps to foster a good community.

Lexie Martin

Student Photographer

This job has helped me realize how much I love photography and storytelling, especially when it comes to capturing real moments and real people.

Lexie Martin taking a picture from the top of a basketball hoop with the UNC men's basketball team pointing toward her on the ground

My job on campus is assistant photographer for all things at UNC. A typical shift for me could be a lot of things; some days it’s just being in the office editing, other days it’s joining a class on their field trips, other days it’s traveling with the basketball team. My schedule is always changing, and exciting things are always popping up on my calendar!

I have developed so many skills from this position, but the most impactful has been communication skills. I’m able to communicate with people of all walks of life and connect with them in a meaningful way.

My favorite part of this job is that every day is something new, there’s always a new person to talk to or a different event to capture and share.

I love talking to the other student workers in our department, whether it’s talking about an upcoming project or just chatting with each other; they always make my day better!

This role has made my college experience so much more meaningful. It’s helped me meet so many people across campus that I probably never would have talked to otherwise. It also makes me feel more connected to everything going on at UNC because I get to be part of so many events and stories.

Yes, it definitely has. This job has helped me realize how much I love photography and storytelling, especially when it comes to capturing real moments and real people. It’s made me more confident about continuing to do something creative in the future, whether that’s sports photography, working for a university or something totally different.

Don’t be afraid to talk to people and step outside your comfort zone; you never know who a helpful connection might be in the future. Some of the best opportunities come from just being open and willing to try something new. Also, enjoy it while you can because the time goes by so fast!

Kaydyn Richey

Inter-Library Loan Assistant

This position developed my ability to navigate the library space by finding physical information, as well as digital articles.

A typical shift looks like fulfilling digital article requests, scanning physical articles/documents and shipping out books that other libraries have requested nationwide. I have sent items to Harvard, Yale, and Princeton!

As a student researcher, the skills gained from this position allowed me to navigate my personal research with ease! I was able to request articles that didn’t belong to UNCO libraries.

I love learning new parts of the Library! We offer so many amazing resources for students, from checking out movies to research help with librarians.

One thing that makes my day brighter during a shift is interacting with my co-workers! My co-workers and bosses are so supportive and understanding!

This position has made the idea of graduate school tangible. I have been navigating working as a full-time student, and this has increased my time management skills, which is vital for graduate school. Furthermore, this position developed my ability to navigate the library space, by finding physical information, as well as digital articles.

Kyle Yoder

Materials Management Student Worker, Michener Library

This job has become a sort of safe place, a constant in my busy college life.

I work in the Materials Management department at Michener Library. A typical shift consists of maintaining the library itself. This includes arranging furniture, recycling old books, restocking the paper, and of course, shelving books.

I have gained skills in teamwork and organization. I’ve also developed an odd skill of really knowing the alphabet because the books are sorted through the Library of Congress Classification, meaning all the call numbers are done alphabetically.

I love the community; my boss and coworkers are all wonderful personalities who make working at a library more enjoyable than one might suspect. The scheduling is also very flexible and works with my classes and outside commitments very well!

I love when my boss will come and talk to me and ask me about my day. It is nice to know that the library cares about me as a person as well as a worker.

In my time working here, I will always remember the time we had a library-wide pizza party during our Student Employee Appreciation Week. It really brought all of us together to make it a friendly and positive work environment.

I’ve worked here for all four years of my college experience, and I can’t imagine having worked anywhere else. It has become a sort of safe place, a constant in my busy college life.

It has helped me understand how to operate in a team setting to get projects done. I think that’s an important skill to have.

New student employees should know that they’re going to get out of these jobs exactly what they put into them. They can be your safe escape from the craziness of classes and life. Talk to people, make friends, learn as much as you can and enjoy your time!

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Student Workers Power Campus While Building Future Careers