Residence Life staff receives regional awards, recognition

March 8, 2010 -- Arkansas State University was well represented at the Southwest Association of College and University Housing Officers (SWACUHO) conference, Feb. 14-17, in Austin, Texas, as staff members of the Office of Residence Life were honored with regional awards, appointed to SWACUHO leadership, and recognized for presenting an educational program session.

 

(From left) Sarah Peoples, Bill Ward, Adrian Everett, Jimmi Lampley (Below right) Kelly Ponder. (Below left) Julie McMahon.

SWACUHO's membership consists of housing and residence life programs at academic institutions throughout Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

Adrian Everett, community assistant (CA) in Northpark Quads and Student Activities Board student leader, was awarded the Gene Ward Outstanding Student Leader Award recognizing his contributions as a student staff member and student leader at ASU.

Sarah Peoples, resident assistant in University Hall and a Student Activities Board student leader, was recognized for her efforts in the area of diversity programming, education, awareness and celebration.  She received the Diversity Award: Individual. 

Residence Life was recognized with the Diversity Award: Institutional.  This award showcases the department’s work in diversity education, training and programming.  It also highlighted the collaborative work with other departments at Arkansas State University.

Jimmi Lampley, graduate student in the Residence Life, was honored with the Distinguished Graduate Student Award for her significant contributions, commitment, and loyalty to the Residence Life Department and housing community. 


Bill Ward, Residence Life maintenance supervisor, was awarded the Bob Cooke Distinguished Service Award which recognizes the recipient for service, dedication, and significant contributions to student housing. 

Additional staff members were recognized through appointment to several key positions within the SWACUHO organization. 

Julie McMahon, associate director of Residence Education, was appointed to serve as the SWACUHO representative on the Association of Colleges and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I) Foundation Board as the regional trustee.    Each of the regional organizations appoints a representative to the foundation to raise funds for the association through various drives and campaigns. 

Kelly Ponder, Village Manager for Residence Life, was appointed to a two-year term as chair of the Awards and Recognition Committee. 

Three graduate students--Justin McClure, second-year Graduate Hall Director in Collegiate Park; Misha Barbour, first-year GHD at the Honors Living Learning Community, and Danielle Carrington, second year GHD in Northpark Quads,  and Julie McMahon, Associate Director of Residence Education, co-presented one of the 49 programs selected for the conference. The theme of the conference was "Keep SWACUHO W.E.I.R.D.: Where Everything Is Radically Different.”

The program presented by staff was titled "W.E.I.R.D. training using case studies,” and focused on the changes to hall director training in the past year and how case studies were utilized as part of the educational tools for learning.  Each presenter received a certificate for work and commitment to the region.
 

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