Recognizing Excellence
Rec Sports honors Student Employees of the Year for their contributions to the department and the communities they helped create
Congratulations to all the student staff who were honored with the Student Employee of the Year Award!
Before students eyes land on the weight room or the towering rock wall in the Student Rec Center, their eyes fall to the student employees lining the halls. Whether working behind the front desk, walking through the weight room, or leading group fitness classes, student employees are an integral part of Rec Sports.
At the end of every spring semester, a student employee from each program area is recognized with the Student Employee of the Year award. They are celebrated by Rec Sports and they receive a brick engraved with their name and position in the Circle of Excellence located outside the Student Rec Center.
For Abigail Simmons ’26, graphic design manager for Marketing & Communications, the award came as a welcomed surprise.
“I was shocked,” Simmons ’26 said. “I just didn’t expect it to be me. It was truly an honor, and I felt so recognized for all of the hard work I’ve done in the past two and a half years.”
Simmons was not alone in feeling honored by the recognition.
For Alexandra Saenz ’27, facility supervisor, the award reflected the impact she had on those under her.
“I’m very big on helping others and wanting to be there as a resource to others,” Saenz said. “Since I’ve been a supervisor for two years now, I’m a point of reference for a lot of people. So getting the award just made me feel proud of myself for everything that I’ve done and who I’ve impacted.”
While some winners were surprised to hear their names called, their supervisors were not. Strength & Conditioning Coordinator Makenna Kulzer — supervisor of Sydney Austin ’26 who is the personal training and small group manager — said Austin’s impact extended far beyond training sessions.
“What truly sets her apart is her genuine care for the people around her — her clients, her fellow trainers, and the program as a whole,” Kulzer said. “That dedication shows up in everything she does.”
For many, the award represented more than individual accomplishments, it represented the work, the environment and the people in the Rec.
“You’re working with a lot of like-minded individuals like yourself,” said Jayden Wilson ’27, Strength & Conditioning manager. “That’s super important when you’re working the job, and it’s one of the things that I will forever be grateful for — all of the personal connections, best friends, [and] family members I’ve made from this job.”
While the award highlights individual achievement, many supervisors emphasized that student employees contribute to the broader culture of Rec Sports.
“Student employees have always been, and will continue to be, essential to both the culture and success of this department,” Kulzer said. “They are not just filling roles; they are shaping experiences, building community and helping define what it means to be part of Rec Sports at Texas A&M. As our department grows and evolves, their contributions will only become more significant. The Rec is what it is because of the students who show up every day and invest in it.”
One challenge of a student-led workforce is that many of its leaders eventually graduate and move on. Even so, their impact continues long after they leave campus. As she moves on from Texas A&M, Simmons hopes her experience at Rec Sports will encourage future students to take chances and get involved.
“You should take any opportunity that you can,” Simmons said. “Even if it seems like you won’t get it, or if it seems far-fetched. Because I didn’t think I would get this job, and I think it worked out well, and really shaped my college experience. So just take any opportunity you can take, because you never know the impact it’ll have.”
