Digital Media Production Grad Named UCM 2025-26 Student Employee of the Year

From left, Erica Oltmanns of The Honors College, Darby Mostaffa of the Muleskinner and Lily Johnson of the
Office of Human Resources were named the top three student employees at UCM for the 2025-26 academic year.

 

A Digital Media Production graduate was named the 2025-26 Student Employee of the Year at the University of Central Missouri (UCM) during a reception hosted by the Office of Human Resources on April 14.

The awards ceremony took place during National Student Employment Week, which recognizes and celebrates the nearly 900 student employees who work for the university. 

 

“Student employees are a vital part of UCM who help keep this campus running every single day in ways that are both visible and behind the scenes,” said Jacquelyn Flowers, Ph.D., interim associate vice president for Human Resources. “You support offices for students, assist faculty and staff, solve problems and step in wherever you are needed. Your impact is real. You are not just helping out, you are shaping how people experience this campus.”

Darby Mostaffa, a Digital Media Production major from Warsaw, Missouri, who graduated in December, took home the first-place award. She was the design manager of the Muleskinner, UCM’s student newspaper. 

In second place was Lily Johnson, a junior Biology major from Warrensburg, Missouri, who works for the Office of Human Resources. In third place was Erica Oltmanns, a junior double majoring in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Blue Springs, Missouri, who works for The Honors College.

The top three winners each received a plaque and a cash award made possible by sponsors. Mostaffa received $500 sponsored by Associated Electric Cooperative Inc., Johnson received $250 sponsored by McConnell & Associates and Oltmanns received $100 sponsored by Questec.

The top selections for the Student Employee of the Year Awards were based on nominations submitted by faculty and staff members who represent the campus units where each student is employed. Committee members considered criteria related to community service, diversity and inclusion, leadership, technology and innovation, and critical thinking.

 

Darby Mostaffa

Mostaffa worked for the Muleskinner from January 2024 to December 2025. She started as a volunteer general assignment reporter, was quickly promoted to features editor, and ended her tenure at the Muleskinner as a manager, the highest level of responsibility an undergraduate student can be assigned at the paper. 

In her nomination, colleagues called Mostaffa a “fantastic multitasker.” Along with designing the monthly paper, she balanced many other roles at the Muleskinner, including managing the Muleskinner’s social media accounts, creating illustrations and graphics for articles, coordinating volunteer designers, assisting with newspaper distribution, helping with event planning and tabling, and writing articles.

In addition to her many duties, Mostaffa helped improve processes in the student newsroom. She created InDesign page templates, wrote a detailed InDesign instructional guide and implemented a new system for tracking design project requests. 

In her everyday interactions, Mostaffa is inclusive, welcoming and friendly to everyone who walks through the newsroom doors. She collaborated with the faculty advisor, the editor-in-chief and other student staff members and thoughtfully and clearly guided new students through each step of the production process.

Her nomination states that “Through her example and work ethic, Darby has set a high standard of excellence in our newsroom that will last for years to come.”

 

Lily Johnson

Johnson has worked for Human Resources since July 2024. Johnson’s role requires her to juggle many responsibilities as she works with employees and visitors. She is regularly entrusted with tasks typically reserved for entry-level HR professionals, such as maintaining confidential personnel records, coordinating training logistics and managing student employment documentation. She also mentors incoming student workers and has supported HR’s engagement initiatives.

In her nomination, Johnson’s supervisor said she “demonstrates exceptional leadership and exhibits a high level of professionalism, project ownership and dependability. She regularly anticipates needs, solves problems proactively, and supports inclusive processes across the employee experience.”

Johnson consistently adapts to new digital platforms and administrative systems that support operational efficiency, such as UCM’s newly implemented talent management platform, NEOED. From system testing to troubleshooting and adjusting to the platform’s evolving workflows, she played an instrumental role in supporting a successful launch. 

In addition to her campus job, Johnson is involved in a wide range of activities, such as serving in several leadership roles with Sigma Kappa Sorority, including her current role as president, and participating in numerous volunteer opportunities. She manages to balance all of this with her academics and has earned dean’s list honors across multiple semesters.

 

Erica Oltmanns

Oltmanns has worked for The Honors College since October 2023. In her roles as an Honors College student, Honors College Student Association Executive Board member, and student worker, she has consistently demonstrated her dedication to serving others and fostering community. 

In her nomination, Oltmanns’ supervisor said she is the “kind of student every department hopes to have, someone whose commitment, energy and genuine care make a meaningful difference in every community she touches.”

She has been an invaluable resource in training new student employees. She creates and maintains training trackers, sits alongside new hires as they work through tasks and offers thoughtful ideas to improve the overall training process. 

Oltmanns has also been instrumental in refining procedures and processes, such as her contributions to the successful implementation of a new database. She quickly adapted to the system and became a reliable resource for verifying student applications. She manages the majority of The Honors College’s social media content, combining technical proficiency with creativity.

She demonstrates effective multitasking in a fast-paced environment, especially when supporting the numerous events hosted throughout the year. Without a full-time coordinator, Oltmanns largely handled the Spring 2025 graduation dinner for 22 graduates and their families. She navigated the responsibilities seamlessly, ensuring that every detail was executed smoothly and professionally. 

 

Other nominees for the 2026 Student Employee of the Year awards were Jack Fitzgerald, Department of Economics and Finance; Hanna Laurer, Department of Mathematics, Actuarial Sciences, and Statistics; and Jason Thompson, Print and Copy Center.