Yale honors student workers for campus contributions

Yale last week honored 10 undergraduate students whose dedication to on-campus jobs helped strengthen the campus community and the world beyond — and celebrated the importance of work in the Yale College experience.

The Y-Work Awards for Outstanding Undergraduate Student Employees, created by the Yale College Dean’s Office and the Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid, celebrate the positive experiences of student workers and the key contributions they make to the offices and departments for which they work.

Students receiving this year’s awards included a photographer whose “publication grade” images of complex fossil specimens benefited researchers worldwide; a laboratory assistant who helped boost the productivity of the Department of Anthropology’s laboratories; a talented writer who quickly gained the trust of colleagues at Yale School of Medicine; and a head peer liaison who offered mentorship and support to fellow students in the Afro-American Cultural Center.

“Out of the many award nominations we received, the students here this afternoon clearly stood out for their dedication and professionalism in the workplace as well as their initiative and innovation to go above and beyond the call of duty,” Yale College Dean Pericles Lewis said during a ceremony at the Yale Schwarzman Center.

Lewis also expressed gratitude to the students’ supervisors, who offered valuable opportunities “to extend their learning beyond the classroom and make valuable and lasting contributions to Yale’s community.” 

“I am sure that due to your mentorship the students in this room and others that you work with are not only able to thrive in their current positions but are also gaining lifelong skills that will serve them well for many years to come,” he said.

This year’s Y-Work Award recipients, and their award citations, follow:

Maxwell Kiekhofer (Class of 2026), laboratories assistant, Reproductive Ecology Laboratory

Supervisor: Gary Aronsen, research associate, supervisor of Yale Biological Anthropology Laboratories, Department of Anthropology

“Max provided new methods and techniques for managing the lab collections, provided a new public face to our lab via website management, made sure all researchers were effective at bench work, and conducted his own independent research using the skills he learned as an assistant. Gary Aronsen says, ‘In short, Max’s commitment and fervor for our lab work improved our productivity, made the lab more efficient, and was instrumental in his decision to pursue this as a profession. As his supervisor, colleague and friend, I can give no greater praise. We will not find an assistant like Max again!’” 

Roan Hollander (Class of 2026), social media manager and student coordinator, Undergraduate Environmental Studies Program (EVST)

Nominator: Linda Evenson, program manager, EVST

“Roan demonstrates an extraordinary level of commitment, reliability, and professionalism in her work with the Environmental Studies program. In her dual role as social media manager and student coordinator, she consistently delivers high-quality work with remarkable efficiency and attention to detail. According to Linda, ‘Equally notable is Roan’s positive presence. She is consistently kind, approachable, and a joy to work with, bringing a warm and welcoming energy to every interaction. Her professionalism is matched by genuine care for the EVST community, and she fosters a supportive and inclusive environment in all aspects of her work. Roan’s reliability, work ethic, and uplifting spirit set her apart, and she exemplifies the very best of student employment.’”

Matt Sprintson (Class of 2028), fellow, “Reforming Social Security” research project, Department of Economics

Supervisor: John Geanakoplos, professor of economics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences

“Matt has gone through all Social Security legislation from 1938 to the present, parsing the congressional record to code the evolving Social Security benefit rules. The Social Security tax and benefit rules have been modified in great detail about a dozen times. Each modification requires a complete re-working of the tax and benefits rule defined down to the minutest detail. In the words of his Supervisor, Professor Geanakoplos, ‘Matt Sprintson’s performance, dedication, attention to detail, and brilliance have been astounding. As for his dedication in particular, in an entire year of weekly two-hour meetings, Matt has never missed a session, often zooming in from home, or from travels in Europe. In almost every one of these sessions, he has been called upon to make a detailed report of his weekly progress; the reports have been thorough, and thoroughly entertaining. If his future career in Economics fails, he could be a stand-up comedian.’”

Giacomo Sotti (Class of 2027), student curator assistant, Beinecke Library

Supervisor: Haruko Nakamura, Librarian for Japanese Studies, Yale University Library

“Giacomo embodies the highest standards of commitment, reliability, and professionalism. He approached every task with a profound sense of ownership and was unfailingly punctual and dependable. This reliability was the bedrock of our project’s success. He meticulously enhanced our bibliographic data and produced a vast portfolio of high-quality photographs that became the primary tool for Professor Yamamoto, who was working remotely from Japan before joining Yale’s faculty. According to Rachel Herschman, the library’s exhibitions and publications program director, “’Textured Stories’ has received the highest number of visitors of any exhibition in Beinecke’s history, making it a high-profile and profoundly successful project. Within this context, Giacomo consistently demonstrated initiative that went far beyond his defined role, operating not as an assistant but as an engaged intellectual partner. As the exhibition evolved, he embraced every new challenge with adaptability and an inspiring desire to learn.’”

Kalvin Verner, Jr. (Class of 2026), head peer liaison, Afro-American Cultural Center 

Nominator: Timeica Bethel, assistant dean; director, Afro-American Cultural Center

“Kalvin demonstrates exceptional commitment, reliability, and professionalism across every aspect of their work. Their commitment is most evident in their sustained investment in mentorship. Through their role as head peer liaison, Kalvin has consistently supported students from historically marginalized backgrounds, now mentoring over 30 first-year students while supervising a team of 13 peer leaders. Their dedication extends beyond individual mentorship to community-building. They host weekly drop-in hours, meet one-on-one with each first year each semester, and partner with FroCos to host duty nights. Assistant Dean Bethel goes on to say, ‘Their approach to mentorship is also innovative, treating it as a “civic calling” and emphasizing empathy, intentionality, and community-building over transactional support.’”

Daniela Fernandez (Class of 2027), communications assistant, Yale School of Medicine

Supervisor: Catherine Urbain, communications manager, Yale School of Medicine

“Catherine Urbain said it best, ‘I am truly delighted to nominate Daniela Fernandez for this award. I have worked with many interns and student employees, and Daniela stands out as exceptional. From the outset, she brought not only strong skills but also an unusual level of maturity, initiative, humor, and genuine investment in the success of our work. Her contributions have been both substantial and consistently impressive, and she rapidly earned the trust and respect of faculty, staff, and leadership. In addition, she creates engaging and polished content for social media platforms, photographs and edits images from department events, and prepares grant materials with careful attention to detail. What sets her apart is not just her technical competence but her remarkable sense of ownership and pride in her work. She approaches every responsibility with care, follows through without exception, and elevates the quality of everything she touches. It is rare to encounter a student employee who operates with such consistency, professionalism, and quiet leadership. Her impact on our department has been significant and lasting, and I recommend her with the highest possible enthusiasm.’” 

Maya Ortiz (Class of 2028), museum research assistant, Yale Peabody Museum

Supervisor: Erynn Johnson, collections manager, Division of Invertebrate Paleontology

“Maya has been the epitome of commitment, reliability, and professionalism. According to her supervisor, “Maya has won dozens of awards for her photography because of her exceptional talent. For this reason, Maya is assigned to photography our most challenging collections — primarily fossils, like graptolites, that are preserved as carbonaceous films that can only be viewed with careful lighting. My assistant and I frequently ask Maya to help us with image requests for researchers from all around the world because her photography is publication-grade. Beyond the impact of her technical skills, Maya is a positive influence on everyone around her. Simply put, Maya is a delight to work with. She is kind to her peers, eager to take on new challenges, and has a sharp and witty sense of humor that never fails to make everyone laugh. Her calm, focused presence encourages other students to mirror her diligence. Our division is particularly lucky to have her because her interdisciplinary interests spanning science and literature has helped new students feel included regardless of their background or academic interests.’”

Avi Patel (Class of 2026), student intern, Office of Development; communications intern, Department of Internal Medicine 

Supervisors: Gena Lai, senior director of complex gifts management, Office of Development; Serena Crawford, associate director of communications, Yale School of Medicine

“Avi has done exceptional work interviewing and writing news stories about faculty, staff, and trainees — work that has strengthened the department’s reputation and boosted morale. During his internship, he quickly earned the trust of colleagues across the department and emerged as one of the strongest writers at Yale School of Medicine. His stories have appeared regularly in Yale News and Yale Today, and the faculty he profiles are frequently contacted by outside reporters about their research. In addition, Gena Lai states, ‘Avi Patel’s initiative and impact on our office have been truly extraordinary for an undergraduate employee. Although the work of CGM falls well outside his primary academic focus, Avi quickly learned new subject matter and proactively applied his skills to address complex operational challenges.’” 

Beta Lomeda (Class of 2026), program assistant, Global Health Emerging Scholars (GHES) program assistant, 

Supervisor: Chelsea Evankow, associate director, GHES

“Beta’s Supervisor, Chelsea Evankow, started her nomination by saying, ‘One of her most impactful contributions was supporting our fellowship recruitment and review process. Beta coordinated the assignment of each application to three external reviewers, a highly detailed and complex task requiring careful matching by expertise, management of large datasets, and consistent communication. Her work ensured both efficiency and rigor in our selection process.’ Beta Lomeda consistently demonstrated exceptional commitment, reliability, and professionalism throughout her time as a program assistant for the NIH-funded Global Health Emerging Scholars Program at Yale. She operated in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment where nearly all work is time-sensitive and involves competing deadlines across multiple institutions and stakeholders. Despite this complexity, Beta was remarkably dependable and consistently delivered high-quality work with minimal oversight.”

Yair Guijosa-Torres (Class of 2027), pedagogical partner, Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning

Supervisor: Julian Posada, assistant professor of American studies, Faculty of Arts and Sciences

“Julian Posada states, ‘I have taught students for many years, but I have learned a great deal over the past year through my collaboration with Yair. His insights on pedagogy, thoughtful and perceptive feedback on my teaching, and assistance in both redesigning the syllabus and observing my classes have not only made me a better instructor but have also enabled me to teach what I consider to be the best seminar I have offered at Yale. Yair’s impact extends beyond our collaboration and reaches the many students I am currently teaching, enhancing their learning experience in meaningful ways.’”