Tianna Richards (right), coordinator of Multicultural Student Affairs at Moraine Valley Community College, is handed the 2019 State of Illinois Student Employment Supervisor of the Year award from Dr. Pamela Payne, director of the Job Resource Center at Moraine Valley.
For her dedication and work with student employees, Tianna Richards, coordinator of Multicultural Student Affairs at Moraine Valley Community College, has earned the 2019 State of Illinois Student Employment Supervisor of the Year by the Midwest Association of Student Employment Administrators.
Winners must be supervisors who work with student employees and have exhibited mentoring, professionalism and leadership to student employees. In the nomination, Richards was highlighted for her work style, motivation and impact on the students. Every year, one employee is chosen from each of 14 states, which then go up for the region honor.
“I am pleasantly surprised to receive such an honor, and I am extremely grateful to be recognized for nurturing my student employees and to represent the college in such a positive way. I am still in disbelief that I won this award for the state of Illinois. Yet, as a student employee supervisor, I am never looking to be awarded for supporting my student employees through life in and outside of school. For me, I am not just their supervisor but their coach, mentor and advocate. The real reward is when they graduate and persist toward their future goals,” Richards said. “Oftentimes, I remind my student employees that they make my work days successful, so I was extremely humbled to know they feel the same way.”
Moraine Valley’s Job Resource Center nominates a supervisor every year for the award. This is the third consecutive year a Moraine Valley employee has won the honor.
“This award/recognition reminds me that I am serving my purpose in life. This honor has enhanced my mindset to continue to grow each of my students personally and professionally. It also encourages me to reach additional students to help them grow as well,” Richards said.
