Our annual celebration recognizing outstanding employees who have gone above and beyond in their dedication and service to the Cal State LA University-Student Union community
Excellence at the U-SU is rarely loud; it looks like a student worker who stays an extra fifteen minutes to greet the last visitor of the day, an operations assistant diligently working, a designer who quietly reworks a flyer until it sings, a manager who knows every team member's name and major. The U-Awards celebrations exist so that the whole community can see the brilliance we experience every day.
Dr. Megan Bell
Executive Director, U-SU
Fourteen members of the U-SU team, both students and full-time staff, nominated by their colleagues and selected by committee to be recognized for outstanding work, embodying our values, and building the culture that makes Cal State LA feel like home!
One from each U-SU department, nominated by their teams.
Students who each best represent one of our six core values.
Two full-time staff members who embody every U-SU value, every day.
One from each U-SU department, nominated by their teams.
One student for each of our six core values.
Two staff members who embody every U-SU value, every day.
A look at the U-Awards ceremony: speeches, surprises, the cohort photo, the dessert table. Pick a year and experience the magic.
Five years of U-Awards recipients. Browse by year or department to see the people who built the U-SU we know today.
Showing 12 of 12 honorees.
These six values guide who we hire, how we work, and who we celebrate. Every honoree was nominated because they embody at least one of them—usually more.
We are accountable to each other and to those we serve. We follow through, own our outcomes, and hold ourselves to a higher standard.
Why it matters: students rely on us. Showing up daily and consistently means doing what we say we will, every time.
We act with honesty and consistency, especially when no one is watching. Our word and our work line up.
Why it matters: trust is earned in small, daily decisions and it is the foundation of everything else.
We try things, learn quickly, and keep improving. We invite new ideas in and reshape what is possible for student life.
Why it matters: the only constant in life is change. We are always looking for ways to iterate for the better
We identify the specific needs of our community and intentionally create a culture of belonging for every Golden Eagle.
Why it matters: nobody soars alone. The U-SU is at its best when every student feels at home on campus.
We enjoy what we do, sharing joy and passion to instill an enjoyable, welcoming environment for students and staff alike.
Why it matters: college is short. Memorable moments make the work meaningful for everyone involved.
We prioritize genuine connections, appreciating the unique value in each other and the people we serve.
Why it matters: relationships outlast roles. Strong connections turn coworkers into mentors and friends.
Everyone on this page started as a student or staff member who simply applied. The next cohort is being built right now and there is more than one way to be part of it.
Browse open student/staff roles across Graffix, CSI, CCC, Operations, Recreation, and Admin. The U-Krew is how thousands of Golden Eagles built their first résumé.
Know a U-SU teammate who deserves a shout-out? Drop their name in our feedback form and tell us why they deserve it. Many nominations start exactly this way.