The College of Science is excited to highlight some incredible UNT students for Student Employee Appreciation Week! This week is set aside for appreciating our student employees at UNT and all they help us accomplish. Here are a few of our student workers who COS staff and faculty nominated to celebrate.

Student Employee Appreciation: Renee Effirim
Job Title: Math Placement and Testing Center Monitor
Department: Mathematics
Major: Business

"A fun fact about me is that I am currently the Vice President of Pledge Education in Delta Sigma Pi, a co-ed business organization on campus!"

"Renee is a treasure and an asset to the Mathematics Department! She is very dependable, on time, and does things without having to be asked, we are so blessed to have her as part of our team. She is a welcoming face at the front desk with her smile and friendly personality and shows maturity and knowledge in dealing with students who come into the office. On top of working 20 hours a week, she is an excellent student staying on top of her studies." -Kelli Chase, UNT Mathematics

Student Employee Appreciation: Raven Trejo and Javi Martinez
Job Title: Student Assistants
Office: COS Advising

Raven Trejo
Major: Biology with Teaching Certification and a Pre-Veterinary and Chemistry minor

"A fun fact about myself is that I was involved in research working with live alligators and turtles. That was an educating and exciting experience! Right now, I am working in "green patches" around the DFW area to gather ecological data- and I love the hikes that come with it! When I have free time, I enjoy taking my dog on hikes, embroidering, and playing pool with friends. I have loved my time working at COS Advising, being a COS Ambassador, and being a member of the COS IDEA Council, and am excited to begin my student apprentice teaching in the Fall!"

"Raven has been with COS through many office changes and has contributed to holding the office together. She is EXTREMELY well versed at what she does and she comes to work with a desire to make our College of Science office better." - Michelle Williams, COS Advising Office

Javier Martinez
Major: Biology with Teaching Certification and Chemistry minor

"Growing up I have always been an outdoorsy person, I love surrounding myself with nature by taking bike trails or hiking with my dog. In my free time when I'm not doing homework, I find myself playing video games with my friends, or tasting foods from around the world. During my time here at UNT as a student assistant at the COS Advising Center, and as a COS ambassador I have acquired so many great skills and met many people who I would gladly call mentors. This upcoming Fall semester will be my apprentice teaching as I strive to become an educator in the future!"

"Javi came a little while after and has hit the ground running as he contributes to the office with SUPREME customer service skills. Javi has shown to be passionate in what he does and passionate about other student's success. Both students have helped me learn so much about how to help the office run smoothly." -Michelle Williams, COS Advising Office

Student Employee Appreciation: Antonio Logan Rojas
Office: Teach North Texas
Major: Mathematics, pursuing Secondary Teaching Certificate

"As a TNT student worker, Logan consistently handles his main tasks of organizing and preparing materials for TNT students to teach lessons in local school districts in a timely manner and with excellence. Logan consistently addresses TNT students, faculty, and staff with positivity, respect, and encouragement. Logan consistently goes the extra mile by learning and managing unexpected job duties that have arisen due to our program's relocation and staff vacancies. TNT is better and stronger because Logan is here. Beyond his fabulous work ethic and fantastic customer service skills, he seamlessly added in "mover" to his repertoire as he started just in time to pack up and move TNT to Hickory last May. Then he was a major contributor to the move back from Hickory to Curry as well as personally unpacking a huge percentage of TNT's boxes to get us ready to roll at the start of the Spring 2023 semester. We are extremely grateful for Logan!" -Nancy Terry, Teach North Texas

Student Employee Appreciation: Budget Office Edition
Maria Garcia Pallares, Jackye Gomez, and Erin McSpadden
Job titles: Student Assistants
Office: College of Science Financial Office
Responsibilities: Accounting
Majors: Accounting

"All three of us were/are a part of the UNT Women in Business organization. I am the current Vice President, and I will be the President next semester! I love the friends that I have made through WIB, including Maria and Jackye!" -Erin

"Our student assistants (Maria Garcia Pallares, Jackye Gomez, and Erin McSpadden) in the College of Science Financial Office have worked as a team to support the College and a number of departments. Since budget cuts during COVID the office has hired accounting students to help with tracking, auditing, and reconciling expenditures. Our current team has gone above and beyond exceeding all expectations. Maria Garcia Pallares and Jackye Gomez joined the office in August 2022. They quickly learned the ropes and have supported Physics and Chemistry respectively. These students not only did the work that was previously done by our student employees, they took it one step further.

Besides tracking spending for Physics chartstrings, Maria worked to reconcile all grant accounts in Physics. She also led the team to create macros and tools to automate work and save time during data entry. Jackye filled a gap in the Chemistry Department when the Stockroom staff and student assistant both left. Jackye quickly trained with the leaving student assistant, filled the role and then passed the job knowledge on once a replacement was hired. With pending Spring internships Maria and Jackye trained a new student assistant, Erin McSpadden. Erin has picked up very quickly and been an eager learner filling some big shoes until the rest of the team returns. She is always willing to dig in to the details, use her resources, and ask for clarification or documentation when needed.

Our student assistant team does work that is critical for the COS Financial Office and the college. The exhibit qualities that are essential for a cohesive team. They exude an atmosphere of mutual support and trust achieving heights that would not be attainable individually." - Sue Wood, UNT College of Science Financial Office

Student Employee Appreciation: Kendall Teamer
Department: Chemistry
Duties: Stockroom, data entry, receiving, billing, office support
Major: Biology

"Kendall performs a variety of duties and excels at all of them . She is timely, conscientious, accurate, and a very quick learner who is willing to do whatever task is asked of her - and does it all with a smile on her face and joy in her heart." -Bruce Hale, UNT Chemistry

Student Employee Appreciation: Daniela Cruz
Department: Biology
Duties: Prepping labs and media for Microbiology
Major: Public health

"She is one of the hardworking, sweet, organized workers I have ever known. She is punctual, friendly and smart. She is very thorough in organizing labs, cleaning prep room, making media. This is her last semester with us as she is graduating. I wish her all the success in her life." -Syeda Alam, UNT Biology

Student Employee Appreciation: Jayla Reedy

Job title: Planetarium Console Operator and Astronomy Office Assistant
Department: UNT Physics
Duties: Hosts planetarium public and private shows, coordinates astronomy outreach and lab communications, customer/student service, data entry, really too much to list!
Major: Biology

"No task is too big for Jayla! She's one of the only employees that takes on two very different roles for us. She hosts exceptional planetarium shows, provides exceptional customer service skills for both our students and outreach guests, and is always is willing to help with additional projects. She's a leader, team player, quick learner, and always goes out of her way to advance our program. She owns her work and assists in a wide variety of projects. She has been a key asset in growth of our astronomy program!" -Ryan Bennett, UNT Physics

Student Employee Appreciation: Grace Reed

Job title: Astronomy Office Assistant
Department: UNT Physics
Duties: Coordinates astronomy outreach and lab communications, customer/student service, data entry, coordinating Labs on Canvas, really too much to list!
Major: Medical Laboratory Science

"Grace is my right hand for all things astronomy labs! She's incredibly organized, diligent, and always a step ahead. She communicates exceptionally and helps us keep a tight ship around the office, always with a bright smile. She provides excellent customer and student service and shows an unparalleled commitment to her work. We can always depend on her. She has been a key asset in growth of our astronomy program!" -Ryan Bennett, UNT Physics

Student Employee Appreciation: Jonathan Pond

Job title: Observatory Lead
Department: UNT Physics
Duties: Leads observatory outreach events, trains Labs and Outreach Assistants on how to give night sky presentations and use observatory equipment, helps maintain observatory equipment and facility, hosts star parties, and much more…
Major: Physics

"I don't know where the observatory would be without Jonathan. He's been a critical asset for getting our observatory organized and keeping it fully operational. He's an excellent public speaker, takes initiative, and has shown a completely unselfish commitment to our astronomy program. He owns his tasks and always goes the extra mile, whether it's learning to repair equipment and successfully doing or filling in some private star party shifts." -Ryan Bennett, UNT Physics

Student Employee Appreciation: Izabella (Bella) Pjecha
Job Title: Planetarium Console Operator, Lab/Outreach Assistant
Department: UNT Physics
Duties: Hosts planetarium public and private shows, hosting private star parties at the observatory, assists with astronomy lab operations, and much more…
Major: Physics

"Bella is incredibly bright, ambitious, and committed. In her short time here, not only has she mastered the art of hosting planetarium shows and star parties, she developed a program for the scouts where they can earn badges during observatory private events. She's also played a large role in coordinating events with the SPS in the planetarium and observatory. She regularly visits the office asking for any additional tasks she can help with. She has a incredible work ethic and is great public speaker." -Ryan Bennett, UNT Physics

Student Employee Appreciation: Diego Flores
Department: UNT Chemistry
Duties: Guides students through general chemistry problems
Major: Biology

"Diego does not hesitate to take on extra duties if it means helping others, and on top of being a PLTL and full-time student he has also joined the Omary research group as an undergraduate." -Nur Rabah, UNT Chemistry