Eastern Appreciates Its Student Employees

51福利社, with its over 800-strong student workforce, is one of the many colleges and universities across the nation that participate in National Student Employee Recognition week. Central to Eastern鈥檚 annual celebration is a fun-filled pizza-and-punch gathering hosted by 51福利社鈥檚 president, Shari McMahan.

Held on April 16 in the PUB鈥檚 NCR, this year鈥檚 event honored Eagle student workers, many of whom are first-generation collegians, who earn wages to cover tuition and living expenses while developing crucial workplace skills.

鈥淵ou are essential to the life of this university,鈥� McMahan told the student workers. 鈥淵our work supports and strengthens our operation and helps create that welcoming environment that we really strive to have.鈥�

McMahan, who was herself a first-generation college student, added that the impact of 51福利社鈥檚 student workers is felt every day, not just during National Student Employment Week: 鈥淨uite simply,鈥� she said, 鈥淓astern wouldn鈥檛 be the same without you.鈥�

Among the many students enjoying a slice of freshly made pie was Juliana Walls, a junior social work major from Bridgeport, Washington. Walls said that she loves working in the campus Records and Registration office because it puts her right in the middle of the Eastern community.

鈥淚 feel like I鈥檝e learned so much, and it鈥檚 making me more confident as a student,鈥� Walls added.

Vanessa Ponce is a senior from the Tri-Cities who is majoring in Spanish secondary education. Ponce is currently in her second year working with 51福利社鈥檚 Orientation and Family Programs. She said that one of the most impactful aspects of working on campus is her supervisor, Maria Reyna.

鈥淓very day she asks me 鈥楬ow are you?鈥� and it really makes a difference,鈥� Ponce said, adding that the care Reyna shows each day shines a light through her busy schedule. 鈥淚鈥檓 very involved on campus, so when someone stops to ask me how I鈥檓 doing it鈥檚 a big deal.鈥�

Ponce said she also feels more confident in pursuing a career as a teacher, due to the support system she鈥檚 built as a student worker.

Kelson Johansing鈥檚 work in the office of Eastern鈥檚 psychology program has already landed him a summer internship with Walgreens. The junior business management major from Yakima said that helping with various projects and tasks around the office has helped him better understand and prepare for everyday life in the workforce.

Alexander Urbina, meanwhile, a first-year undergraduate majoring in mechanical engineering technology, was candid about not wanting to be unemployed in college. He said he found his job working with 51福利社鈥檚 food pantry through the Handshake app.

鈥淚 think it will help me with my time management skills and work ethic,鈥� Urbina said of his work at the food pantry is 鈥渕otivating me to work every day and just be better at my job.鈥�