Two RecSports Student Employees Named Finalists for 2021 President’s Student Employee of the Year Award
By Dixon Hankins, Associate Director for Outdoor Recreation, and Ross Rodriguez, Senior Assistant Director — Outdoor Satellites and Instructional Program
The President’s Student Employee of the Year Award is given annually to an outstanding student employee who has made a positive impact on the university and has demonstrated exceptional quality of work, initiative, and professionalism. This year, two exemplary RecSports Student Employees were named finalists for this prestigious award.
Connor Chewning
Connor Chewning, a senior graduating this May with a BS in Environmental Engineering, is an Adventure Trip Program Assistant, Lead Trip Guide, and Climbing Wall Supervisor for the Outdoor Recreation program. He began his journey with RecSports two years ago and joined the team with considerable experience from his previous participation in a wide variety of outdoor pursuits as well as a semester abroad in Patagonia with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). He easily integrated with the outdoor staff by demonstrating an enthusiasm to continue learning combined with a humble desire to teach others.
Connor’s impressive quality of work led him to nearly every position in the Outdoor Recreation program. He has excelled in all of his roles due to his diverse skillset and commitment to bringing outdoor and adventure experiences to the Longhorn community. Connor embodies the university values of learning, discovery, leadership, and responsibility and uses calm leadership as a program assistant to develop new staff. He focuses on learning and discovery and shares his knowledge during workshops and training, and demonstrates responsibility by regularly taking the initiative to complete projects with minimal need for guidance.
Connor has been integral to the transformation to virtual and reduced-capacity activities. After returning from studying abroad in Denmark in April of 2020, Connor transitioned into a new leadership role as the Program Assistant for Adventure Trips. He seamlessly began collaborating with other students to provide virtual content for participants all while balancing the completion of his study abroad coursework, including taking exams in the middle of the night due to the time difference.
Connor grasps the necessity of creating an environment of inclusivity. He develops his skills by being involved in every step of the planning and trip process and ensures that during trips there is dedicated time to share knowledge with participants who are interested in learning. He assisted in creating a comprehensive resource list that highlights articles, books, videos, podcasts, people, and organizations working to improve issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the outdoors.
“As a thoughtful, empathetic, and articulate leader, Connor helps build a safe and welcoming environment where RecSports participants and staff can feel seen and included.” — Dixon Hankins, Associate Director for Outdoor Recreation
Connor has had a considerable impact on the student staff he supervises, RecSports participants, and the Outdoor Recreation program as a whole. Perhaps the biggest impact of his work is his dedication to providing a meaningful experience for RecSports participants and staff regardless of the situation. Connor always thinks about how any adventure experience can have a powerful impact and benefit everyone involved. He demonstrates an unwavering commitment to the idea that providing safe opportunities for Longhorns to experience the natural world, challenge themselves, and find community has a significant positive impact on campus life.
Jasmine Pham
Jasmine Pham is a Building Coordinator with the Outdoor Satellites Facility Operations team. She has been an integral part of the RecSports Outdoor Satellites Facility Operations team for over three years. During that time, Jasmine has seen three different direct supervisors and helped to re-open RecSports’ Wright-Whitaker Fields Complex after its major renovation in 2017.
Jasmine has been a rock in terms of her reliability, dedication to the RecSports mission of enhancing the well-being of Longhorns by providing education through recreation, and the way in which she conducts herself. She is often looked to for guidance on how to navigate the challenges of being a full-time student while also working 15–20 hours a week and participating in various extracurricular activities beyond the classroom. Jasmine is extremely dedicated to the success of the Outdoor Satellites team and wholeheartedly supportive of RecSports. She routinely volunteers to work shifts and always exceeds expectations.
Jasmine helps build a sense of community among teammates by ensuring that each and every team member feels appreciated. She is frequently a part of hiring new students and advocating for additions who embody the RecSports culture.
“Jasmine has been a steady, reliable member of this team and continued to serve the campus community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. For that, she deserves to be recognized for her steadfast leadership and sense of pride in being a part of the Longhorn community.” — Ross Rodriguez, Senior Assistant Director — Outdoor Satellites and Instructional Program
Jasmine helped transform the Outdoor Satellites team from a disjointed group of individuals working at two different facilities spread out over three miles in Austin, to a family of 40+ teammates who genuinely care about each other and the service provided to the campus community. RecSports facilities could not operate without student employees like Jasmine. She has spent over three years helping the Outdoor Satellites team build a reputation of being a place where students can come and recreate in a safe environment. New teammates who are going through a period of transition into new leadership roles frequently speak about how they plan to emulate Jasmine’s style and approach to her job. Jasmine has been a steady, reliable member of this team and has continued to serve the campus community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. For that, she deserves to be recognized for her steadfast leadership and sense of pride in being a part of the Longhorn community.
