DeLano Receives BU Student Employee of the Year Award
The Boston University Student Employment Office has chosen STH student Lauren DeLano (MDiv ’16) as its Graduate Student Employee of the Year. Each year, SEO chooses a graduate and undergraduate award recipient from among all of the student employees at Boston University. DeLano is the first School of Theology student to receive the award since SEO began including graduate students in 2009.
DeLano is employed at STH’s Alumni Relations Office and Jaclyn Jones, alumni officer, nominated DeLano for the award. In her nomination letter, Jones said, “Lauren has shown incredible dedication and keen insight” and has gone “above and beyond” expectations. Adept at managing events and at understanding the value of stewardship, DeLano has assisted in the distribution of over 1,000 thank you letters and over 1,000 birthday emails and cards to alumni and donors.
“In her visible role at STH, she is also an excellent Alumni Office representative to the students, clearly articulating the mission of the office, and helping us build relationships with students,” Jones said. “Lauren is the best example of how the student employee program should work.”
DeLano, who also serves as president of the School of Theology Student Association, said that she sees her work in the alumni office as another way to invest in the STH community. It allows her to connect with the past of STH and to see the impact that donors have on the future. “Being involved in the bigger picture of where STH has been and where we’re going has been very valuable for me,” DeLano said. “I’ve been especially grateful for the alumni office as a place that’s been a home to me on campus.”
She believes the experience she has gained will serve her well in her future plans to pursue ordained ministry and become a university chaplain. Any ministry leadership role likely involves raising money to support the work, DeLano says, and she has learned the importance of connecting with people through their common interests and the treasured memories they have of a certain place.
Lauren has also worked as Protestant chaplain and Bentley Christian Fellowship advisor at Bentley University. She has worked to hone organizational skills that allow her to balance work, school and service, and she adds that it helps to enjoy all the work she does: “If you find things that you’re passionate about, it certainly doesn’t have to feel like work all the time.”
Brianna Chaves is the undergraduate recipient of the Student Employee of the Year Award. DeLano, Chaves, and two Outstanding Service Awardees will be honored at a reception in April, joined by all nominated students and their supervisors.