2025 Employee Achievement Awards

Employee Achievement Award Winners Fall 2025

The K-State Student Union is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Employee Achievement Awards. The awards are given each fall and spring semester to recognize one staff member and one student employee who provide extraordinary service to the university community by going above and beyond job responsibilities, demonstrating leadership, inspiring others, contributing exceptionally to a project or reacting positively to an urgent situation.

Nominees for the award include any Union staff or student employee who has been nominated for the weekly Reconginzing U Award during the same academic semester, which uses the same criteria listed above. The winners were recognized individually in December of 2025.

Staff Winner: Joel Knarr, Information Technology

Joel Knarr accepts his Employee Achievement Award from Executive Director Erik Kahl

Joel was nominated for consistently going above and beyond the designed scope of his duties when he was asked to complete a comprehensive audit of the IT systems for the Union and several other departments within the Division of Academic Success and Student Affairs (DASSA). This audit was an extensive collection of research, documentation of systems, operational procedures, and contractual agreements, all of which were provided to a state-appointed firm to assess our IT processes and security. Joel's efforts have played a vital role in keeping the Union's systems operational. 

Student Staff Winner: Miranda Jenne, Chick-fil-A

Miranda Jenne accepts her Employee Achievement Award with Executive Director Erik Kahl and other Chick-fil-A staff members

Miranda was nominated for her reaction to an urgent situation. Miranda noticed an issue with the KDS ordering system early in a Saturday shift. Knowing how this would eventually impact services, she proactively reached out to discover a solution that prevented an early closing and inability to provide quality customer service. Miranda often looks for additional opportunites to assist in the delivery of goods and services within her unit. 

The Union’s mission is to serve all, especially students, with facilities that provide services, programs, leadership experiences and educational opportunities which foster a sense of well-being, belonging and community.