La Verne Graduate Student Receives Regional Student Employee Award

He is a University of La Verne graduate student who hopes to one day have his photographs published in Sports Illustrated or National Geographic. But for now, Christopher Mora is celebrating a victory related to another big focus in his life: the Sara and Michael Abraham Campus Center.

University officials on April 14 presented Mora with the Southern California Student Employee of the Year Award from the Western Association for Student Employment Administrators for his work as an event manager at the center. It was the first time the University of La Verne had applied for the award.

“It’s kind of surreal,” Mora said. “I don’t feel like I deserve it because what I do here is kind of second nature.”

Mora, who earned a bachelor’s degree in communications in May 2014 and is now pursuing a Masters in Leadership and Management, says he began working for the Campus Center in his freshman year after a teammate on the football team suggested he apply. It was his first job.

“It ended up being life changing,” he said.

The team of nearly 50 student employees consider each other family rather than co-workers. And Vice President of Facilities and Technology Clive Houston-Brown said the center is known for having quality student workers.

“Without them, we wouldn’t be able to do the events and building management of the Campus Center,” he said.

Mora leads the team in setting up and tearing down for Campus Center events and meeting with clients to plan events, said Veronica Ashcroft, Associate Director of the Campus Center and Scheduling and Event Services. He oversees logistics for more than 6,000 events a year and manages more than 15 student peers. Ashcroft considers him her right hand in operating the center.

“Everything he does, he does with conviction,” Ashcroft said. “I never need to worry that a ball will be dropped or something will be forgotten when Chris is in charge. The students who work with him are truly inspired by his leadership and willingly work with him to create positive and meaningful programs for our students at the University of La Verne.”

Jim Brooks, Associate Director of the Campus Center/Programs and Operations, agrees that Mora plays a large part in the success of the student-run center.

“Chris has been the cornerstone of the operations at the Sara and Michael Abraham Campus Center,” Brooks said.

Robbyn Gibson, Student Employment Coordinator, said 12 La Verne student workers were initially nominated and a committee of University representatives from the main campus and regional campuses selected Mora for consideration of the regional award.

His win makes him eligible for consideration of the National Student Employment Association award.