Cornell University Library recently honored a select group of its student workers with the Fuerst Outstanding Student Employee Award.
As a surprise by their supervisors, the students were handed their awards during their work shifts. The awardees are Brandon Boit ’26 at Mann Library; Areli Esparza ’26 at the Math Library; and Michael Neiss ’26 and Breawna Smith ’26 at the Law Library.
This year’s group of Fuerst awardees were praised by their supervisors for their dependability, professionalism, and excellence in their day-to-day work—from tracking down missing or incorrectly shelved books to trouble-shooting printer problems for students; from creating protective boxes for rare materials to calming down stressed-out library patrons needing research help.
Now on its 32nd year, the Fuerst Award is named after William F. Fuerst Jr. ’39, who endowed a fund to recognize the achievements of library undergraduate student employees. Outstanding students are identified through a nomination process, and the awardees are chosen by a committee. The Fuerst Award currently comes with a $1000 prize.
For the students, the award is an inspiring form of recognition.
“Receiving the Fuerst award has been a great honor, and, to me, it represents the community I have developed across the library system,” Smith said. “This award is an example of the spirit that the libraries have, respecting and uplifting student voices.”
Learn more about the Fuerst Outstanding Student Employee Award and view past awardees.
