Category Archives: Announcements

How to Stay Safe in and Around the Residence Halls

With daylight saving time coming to a close soon and days being darker longer, it’s essential to stay alert and safe on campus and around the residence halls. Here are some tips to keep yourself and your belongings safe this fall and winter.

Lock your doors.
Even when you’re in your room, you should lock your doors. It only takes a few seconds to enter an unlocked room and take books, cash, laptops, etc. If someone knocks on your door, look through the peephole before opening the door.

Carry your key and ID.
Keeping your ID and room key on your person ensures your room and valuables stay safe. Never give your ID or room key to someone else, and return lost IDs to the campus ID Office located in Boyer.

Sign in guests.
Don’t let people tailgate into the residence halls. If you think someone has entered the residence halls without a resident, contact the Resident Assistant on duty. Always accompany your guests throughout their stay in the residence halls, and be sure to sign them in and out of the building with the Desk Assistant or RA at the desk.

Keep your valuables secure.
Don’t leave backpacks, books, laptops, or other valuables unattended in public or in your unlocked room. This includes large amounts of cash. Keep your money in the bank and withdraw it when you need it.

Walk in well-lit areas.
If you have to walk around campus or around the residence halls after the sun sets, make sure to walk along sidewalks and pathways that have lampposts. Walking in dark areas could potentially increase the chance of something happening to your person or belongings.

Use the buddy system after dark.
Whether you physically use the buddy system or the LiveSafe app, having friends escort you to your destination greatly improves your safety. Walk to late-night classes with friends or have them virtually walk with you to make sure you get to your destination safely.

Create a safety kit.
While Millersville has a strict “no deadly or offensive weapon” policy, students can carry pepper spray to keep themselves safe. Carrying a whistle will alert those nearby when you require assistance or are in danger. Keep your safety kit handy so you can grab it easily at any time.

Learn self-defense.
The Martial Arts Club offers kickboxing classes, taekwondo classes, and Russian martial arts (ROSS) classes throughout the week. All three martial arts are forms of self-defense, and no prior experience is required! You can learn more information about the classes offered on the Martial Arts Club’s GetInvolved page.

Housing Teams Up With the Board Game Club on Friday Nights

Bored on a Friday night? Housing and Residential Programs is teaming up with the Board Game Club! Every Friday from 6-9 in South Village’s Great Room, the Board Game Club meets to play games, hang out with friends, and have fun. HARP has purchased more games and supplies free food every week.

The Board Game Club has a variety of games, including Catan Explorers and Pirates, Scopa, Traitor Mechanic, My Hero Academia: The Card Game, One Night Ultimate Werewolf, Battle Cry, Exploding Kittens, Risk, and Pictionary.

Dungeons and Dragons is also played frequently on campus. In addition to DnD, the club also runs other RPG campaigns. This semester, they are running a Dungeon World campaign and a Sentinels of the Multiverse RPG campaign. They have also done one-shots for Mage the Awakening, Fiasco, and the Pokemon RPG game.

In addition to meeting on Fridays in the Great Room, the Board Game Club also meets every Wednesday from 6-9 in Luek 100. Although HARP doesn’t supply free food on Wednesdays, there’s still plenty of fun to be had!

Join the Board Game Club’s Discord here.

Millersville University Residence Hall Fall Break 2019 Bulletin

The fall break will start after classes on Friday, October 11, 2019.  The residence halls will remain open for occupancy during the fall break, but we ask resident students to register an intention to stay on campus during the fall break no later than 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 10, 2019.  This registration is for fall break only.  There is no additional cost to stay over the fall break.  Please register subsequent breaks separately as the portal becomes available for each break period. 

Follow these instructions:

  1. Open MAX (for best results please use Google Chrome, or Firefox, do not use Internet Explorer).
  2. Log into your My-Housing account.
  3. Select Application from the menu in black and then choose Break Housing Fall 2019 on the drop-down menu.
  4. Complete the required information.
  5. You must select a reason for requesting break housing from the drop-down menu.  If you select other, you must explain in the next box.
  6. Select “Continue” to submit your application.

The Residence Hall Staff may conduct Health and Safety Inspections in each residence hall suite at the start of the fall break. Please carefully review the following instructions and information to avoid violations of the Student Code of Conduct for improper maintenance of your residence hall suite/room.

Fall Break Housing Information:

  • The residence halls will be operational during fall break.
  • University Administrative Offices will be open during fall break during regular business hours.
  • Guests and Visitation is not permitted during the break.
  • Residence Hall Offices will have limited hours of operation during the break – see front desk for contact information.
  • See Dining Services and Health Services web sites for hours of operation.
  • Students are not required to surrender residence hall keys to the staff prior to leaving for the break.
  • The Housekeeping and Facilities Management Staffs may be working in the campus residence halls to perform maintenance tasks during the break that require entrance to resident rooms.  The Housing Staff may post a courtesy sign on your door indicating that the room is occupied.  This sign will ensure that workers will not enter your room without knocking.  Please leave it in place for the duration of the break.

Fall Break Preparation Procedures:
Prior to the start of the break, all resident students MUST:

  • Dispose of all trash by moving it to the dumpsters in the parking lots outside your residence hall.
  • Clean the room/suite including sweeping the floor and wiping down furniture.
  • Clean your bathroom and report any issues with constant run toilets, sinks, showers to the residence hall staff.
  • Remove stale food from your refrigerator and properly dispose of it through proper trash removal.
  • If you are leaving for the break, turn off the lights.
  • If you are leaving for the break, set the thermostat to 74 degrees.
  • If you are leaving for the break, close and lock your room window (Villages).
  • If you are leaving for the break, lower the blinds halfway but leave them open.
  • If you are leaving for the break, lock your bedroom door and your suite door.
  • If you are leaving for the break please move all items from your residence hall floor, especially computer equipment and any items that can be damaged by flooding.
  • If you are leaving for the break and you have a Learning Services approved animal in your room, you must take the animal with you.  You may not leave animals in the residence hall in the care of another student or staff member.

Image courtesy of Pixabay.

Ville Takes On OUTober

October is LGBT+ History Month, which coincides with National Coming Out Day on October 11th. LGBT+ History Month began in 1994 when Rodney Wilson, a history teacher in suburban St. Louis, came out to his students during a lesson about the Holocaust. He explained that if he had lived in Germany during World War II, he would have likely been imprisoned and murdered by the Nazis for being gay. This evolved into a much broader mission to teach young people about LGBT+ history.

The Dr. Rita Smith Wade-El Intercultural Center is hosting a slew of events between October 7th-11th to celebrate Coming Out Week.

Monday, October 7th

  • 12pm-2pm | SMC 202 — Faculty and Staff Lunch and Learn
  • 6pm | SMC Reighard Multipurpose Room — “Lead with Pride” Kickoff Keynote with Guest Speaker Dr. Jon Paul Higgins
  • 9pm | SMC Reighard Multipurpose Room — LGBT Lingo Bingo

Tuesday, October 8th

  • 3pm-4:30pm | SMC Reighard Multipurpose Room — Coming Out Week Film: Mala Mala
  • 6pm | SMC Promenade, Sponsored by CHEP — GSA Table at Purple Carnival
  • 6pm-8pm | South Village Great Room — Courageous Conversations: Power and Privilege

Wednesday, October 9th

  • 11am-1pm | SMC Robert L. Slabinski Atrium — OUT-a-Palooza
  • 3pm-5pm | SMC 118 — LGBTQIA+ Affinity Meet Up
  • 6pm | Meyers Auditorium, McComsey Hall — PCGSD Presents: Poetry Reading with Meg Day
  • 8pm | SMC Reighard Multipurpose Room — Quick Drag 101

Thursday, October 10th

  • 5pm-8pm | Student Memorial Center — Pridefest 2019
  • 8pm (Doors open @ 7:30pm) | SMC Marauder Courts — 6th Annual Pridefest Drag Show featuring Nina West and Peppermint

Friday, October 11th

  • 10am-2pm | SMC Robert L. Slabinski Atrium — National Coming Out Day – Paint with Pride!

October is also home to International Pronouns Day, which is celebrated on October 16th this year. International Pronouns seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns normal. Being referred to by the wrong pronouns affects transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals. Using peoples’ correct pronouns validates their identity, which is imperative for transgender and gender-nonconforming people.

Spirit Day is celebrated on October 20th this year. Observers wear purple as a visible sign of support for LGBT+ youth and to honor LGBT+ victims of suicide. LGBT+ youth disproportionately face bullying and harassment, and wearing purple is a way to stand with them in solidarity. The murder of Matthew Shepard is also remembered this month. Matthew was a student at the University of Wyoming who identified as gay. On October 6, 1998, he was brutally attacked and left to die but was thankfully discovered by a cyclist. He was transported to an advanced trauma ward in Colorado, but unfortunately, he passed away six days later.

While we celebrate and have fun this Coming Out Week, it’s important to remember that LGBT+ history is complex and intersectional. It’s a time to celebrate all that LGBT+ folks have accomplished and contributed, but it’s also a time to reflect on the continual fight the LGBT+ community faces for human rights.

Stay Healthy on Campus

As fall approaches, so does cold and flu season. Unfortunately, illnesses can sneak up on us, but there are a few ways students can get ahead of the game.

Get a flu shot.
Health Services offers free flu shots to all students. While Health Services usually requires an appointment to be seen, they provide walk-ins for flu shots. If you believe you’ve gotten sick, Health Services will evaluate and treat acute illnesses. You can schedule an appointment by calling 717-871-5250.

Exercise.
Exercise helps white blood cells travel faster through your body; white blood cells are the ones that fight against infection. There are a few ways to exercise on campus. The Fitness Center is located in the SMC and is free to all full-time students. There are numerous intramural and club sports, as well as fitness classes, offered as well. If you don’t have enough time for a formal workout and still have PokemonGo downloaded, there are 8 gyms and 45 PokeStops around campus you can walk, jog, or run to. Don’t forget to hatch your eggs!

Get enough sleep.
While it’s tempting to pull an all-nighter, sleep deprivation can lead to reduced brain function, fatigue, headaches, and more. Between 7 and 9 hours of sleep will improve your overall health. Try taking a short nap during the day and sticking to a schedule can help you to stay rested throughout the day.

Wash your hands.
Washing your hands is one of the easiest ways to avoid getting sick. Being in close contact with people through classes, the residence halls, and walking around campus means it’s easy to catch colds or viruses. Hand washing removes these germs. Wash your hands before meals, any time you will be touching your eyes, nose or mouth, or if you’ve been around others who are sick.

Drink lots of water.
Staying hydrated gives you more energy throughout the day by replenishing your body. It helps concentration and can help you from overeating. Refill the water you buy from the Anchor or Galley from water fountains with the EZ H2O filtration system — these water fountains can be found all over campus.

Eat right.
Eating healthy can help boost your immune system, maintain a healthy weight, and improve overall health. While it’s easier to grab a slice of pizza or cheesesteak, healthier alternatives are available at the Upper Deck, Anchor, and Galley. Even if you don’t have time before your 9AM class, always eat breakfast. Whether it’s a granola bar or banana, breakfast keeps you from overeating throughout the day. Never skipping meals is also important. Snacking can also help keep your appetite in check. Try keeping a good balance of dairy, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and protein every day.

Relax.
Stress is something that you’ll definitely experience in college. Relaxing and having down-time is essential to staying healthy. Stress and getting run-down can adversely affect your health. Creating a routine and giving yourself regular breaks is the easiest way to relax. Don’t forget to hang out with friends and de-stress by binging Netflix or Hulu or curling up with a good book.

Images courtesy of Pexels. 

Fall 2019 Disability Film Festival

Every semester Dr. Thomas Neuville organizes the Disability Film Festival. This semester there are three full-length films and five short films being screened. Each screening is held in the Myers Auditorium in McComsey Hall from 5:30–8:30 PM. There will be a post-screening discussion following all screenings. All screenings are free and open to the public.

The festival kicks off on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 with a screening of Raising Faith: Stories about Dyslexia. The film documents the experiences of nine young people and their families. The primary subject, Faith, shares wisdom about the way she learns and how she negotiated her education through middle and high school, and now college.

The second screening on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 consists of five short films: “Ian,” “The Right To Be Rescued,” “The Interviewer,” “The Best and Most Beautiful Things,” and “Awake.” “Ian” documents a boy with a disability who’s determined to play on the playground despite his peers bullying him. “The Right To Be Rescued” tells the stories of people with disabilities affected by Hurricane Katrina. “The Interviewer” focuses on Thomas who gets more than he bargained for in his interview at a prestigious law firm. The film was devised with 12 people living with a disability, all of whom actively participated in the development of the film. “The Best and Most Beautiful Things” highlights the relationship between Brandon and Emily, who are, respectively, learning sign language and trying to speak. “Awake” follows Miles, who is traumatized by his father’s death and is cursed by his own subconscious. He is taught a lesson by his subconscious through repetition of dreams.

Pennhurst: They’ve waited a long time to tell their story is being screened on Tuesday, October 22, 2019. Pennhurst is a documentary chronicling the stories of people whose lives were irrevocably intertwined with the history of the Pennhurst State School and Hospital. Pennhurst was a massive institutional home for the developmentally disabled and closed in 1987.

The festival concludes on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 with the screening of 2e2: Teaching the Twice Exceptional. The sequel to 2e: Twice Exceptional follows teachers of a school in Los Angeles dedicated exclusively to educating highly gifted students with learning disabilities or differences.

Thank you to Dr. Neuville for organizing this educational opportunity for our faculty, staff, students, and community members! We appreciate the work you do here at the ‘Ville.

Explore Lancaster County This Family Weekend

Is your family visiting this Marauder Family Weekend? Programming on campus starts in the early evening on Friday and concludes in the early evening on Saturday. Here is a schedule of the planned activities. After engaging in the exciting events on campus, pack up the car, and take a small road trip as Lancaster County has many hidden gems to explore!

Animal and duck feeding at Long’s Park or Lititz Springs Park

Long’s Park is located at the intersection of Harrisburg Pike and Route 30 and is home to many different activities. The park has a petting zoo, a three-acre lake, picnic pavilions, playgrounds, and much more. Lititz Springs Park is located in downtown Lititz. There’s a stream that runs through the center of the park and a fountain towards the main entrance, playgrounds, a volleyball court, picnic pavilions, a train car, and much more. Both parks are home to ducks, swans, and other animals.

Lancastrian history at Rock Ford Plantation or Hans Herr House Museum
Rock Ford Plantation was the home of Edward Hand, the Adjutant General to George Washington during the American Revolution. Hand had many different hats — one being a slave owner. Rock Ford Plantation partnered with the African American Historical Society of South-Central Pennsylvania to help explore slavery in 18th Century Pennsylvania and better tell the stories of Hand’s slaves. Hans Herr House Museum is the oldest surviving house in Lancaster County. The Museum contains three Pennsylvania German farmhouses, several barns, a blacksmith shop, smokehouse, outdoor bake oven, and farm equipment that spans three centuries. The Longhouse also teaches about the life and culture of the Native Americans who lived here before the Europeans settled in the area.

Ice cream and cows at Pine View Dairy

Pine View Dairy has been a part of the Lancaster County community since 1971. Pine View prides themselves on their fresh milk and homemade ice cream. They offer flavored milk as well as cream line, whole, low fat, and nonfat milk, and over 25 flavors of ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sherbet. Numerous sundaes, milkshakes, and “moo mixers” are also available.

Lancaster Central Market
Lancaster Central Market is the oldest, continuously running public farmers’ market in the country, founded in 1730. The market is open on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. More than 60 vendors call Central Market home, with the three longest-running stands clocking in more than 100 years, 80 years, and 60 years with the market. You’re bound to find what you’re looking for, whether it’s candy and snacks, coffee and tea, farm produce, or ethnic food!

Park City Mall, The Shops @ Rockvale, or Tanger Outlets

Park City Mall has more than 150 stores, a food court, and full and quick service restaurants. The Shops @ Rockvale has over 90 stores, full and quick service restaurants, and a Comfort Inn. Tanger Outlets has over 70 stores and a few places to grab food. You won’t be disappointed, so shop until you drop!

Coffee or tea at Prince Street Cafe
Prince Street Cafe was established in 2006 and is just steps from the Fulton Theater. Breakfast is served all day, there’s a variety of vegetarian and vegan meal options, and drinks include smoothies, hot and cold drinks, and loose leaf tea. With the welcoming atmosphere, Prince Street Cafe will become your go-to cafe if you have classes at the Ware Center downtown.

Breakfast at Lyndon City Line Diner or Knight and Day Diner

Personally, I am a huge fan of diner breakfasts. Both Lyndon Diner and Knight and Day have a wide selection of breakfast including breakfast specials, eggs and omelets, pancakes, french toast, and waffles. Both diners have exceptional lunch and dinner menus as well.

Hiking at Chickies Rock Park
Chickies Rock Park is Lancaster County’s second-largest regional park. The park includes Chiques Creek, Donegal Creek, and parts of the Susquehanna River. The hike to Chickies Rock is roughly half a mile and an easy trail, aside from the steep climb at the beginning. Chickies Rock Overlook is located more than 100 feet above the Susquehanna River and railroad tracks, and because it’s located at a bend in the river, it’s possible to see for miles in every direction.

Images courtesy of Rylan Harvey and Flickr.

Meet the Marketing Interns

For Fall 2019, the Department of Housing and Residential Programs (HARP) has the pleasure of introducing two interns to our team. Lani Rooney is a senior communications major with an option in media and broadcasting. Rylan Harvey is a senior English and philosophy major.

Why did you choose to intern with HARP?

Lani:  I am also an RA for Housing and Residential Programs. I work in Shenks Hall. My supervisor RAD Matt thought that it would be a good idea for me to intern for HARP because of my experience as an RA. I feel that HARP could really benefit from the kind of work I can do as far as making promotional videos and other digital media for the department. I also get to do a bit of research this semester as well as brush up on my content strategy for the web and analytics.

Rylan: I hope to work in higher education after I graduate, and it’s important to understand that universities are both businesses and avenues of knowledge. I chose to intern with HARP because the department lies within that intersection. As the intern and an English major, I have the opportunity to learn how to blog for a business and how to use various social media platforms to reach prospective and current students.

Intern Lani

What is your most memorable experience in the residence halls?

Lani: As a resident, my most memorable experience was probably when I would hang out in the lobby of the residence halls and really get to know my RAs. It made me want to interact with my RAs more and come out to more programs. It’s the small things that really sparked my interest in getting more involved in the halls, so much so that my second semester here, I became an RA. My most memorable moments in the halls now would probably have to be, again, the time I spend with my fellow RAs.

Rylan: I am currently a commuter student, but I transferred from Bloomsburg in the fall of 2015. My RAs at Bloomsburg decked out the hall with Frozen decorations around fall midterms, and I had coincidentally ordered an Olaf onesie around the same time. As soon as I saw the giant painting of Elsa in the lobby, I immediately put on my onesie and started quoting Olaf with my RAs and people in my hall. Later that week, a few people gathered around the TV in the second-floor lounge and watched Frozen.

Intern Rylan

What aspect of the internship are you most looking forward to?

Lani: My specialty is digital media. I love to create storyboards and then go out with a camera to capture footage. My favorite part is to edit it all together into the final project. It will be really rewarding to see how many interactions the final project will get and how much of a return will come to HARP as a result.

Rylan: I’m excited to work on creating blog posts. I have written for Odyssey Online in the past, so I have a background in blogging, but I’m excited to learn how to blog for a business and tailor social media posts and print material to generate exposure and engage my target audience.

Fall 2019 Housing Move-In “Movers & Shakers” Volunteers Needed

The Department of Housing & Residential Programs (HARP) is looking for returning students, staff, faculty, and alumni to serve as volunteer  “Movers & Shakers” for move-in help on Thursday, August 22, 2019 from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Additionally, we are seeking volunteers to also help with our transfer student move-in on Saturday, August 24, 2019 from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Movers & Shakers are responsible for meeting and greeting new students, their families, and helping to move students’ belongings into their rooms in the residence halls.

Student Movers & Shakers will be required to attend a short instructional meeting on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 at 8:00 PM in the Great Room of South Village.

Benefits of being a volunteer “Mover & Shaker” includes the following responsibilities and benefits:

1. Volunteers who live in the residence halls can move in early on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 between 6:00 – 7:30 PM.
2. A free limited edition t-shirt to identify yourself as a “Mover & Shaker” (*last year’s t-shirt logo is illustrated above)
3. Free continental breakfast served on Thursday and Saturday
4. Free lunch served on Thursday afternoon
5. Students who help on both Thursday and Saturday will receive a special Millersville University promotional item (*last year Saturday volunteers received a cell phone pop socket.)
6. The opportunity to be a servant leader
7. To actively demonstrate our EPPIIC Values as we welcome new students and their families to Millersville University

*** Students: Please note that if you sign up, move into the residence halls early as a Mover & Shaker, and do not participate as promised, you will be billed accordingly for the early move-in period as well as the cost of the shirt. 
If you would like to help, please visit the following page to sign-up:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FPTLBB7

This is an exciting opportunity as it brings our University community together to celebrate the beginning of the new academic year. We hope you’ll be a part of this great tradition!

Housing & Residential Programs Celebrates Student Staff Success

On Sunday, May 5, 2019, the Department of Housing & Residential Programs (HARP) celebrated student staff success during the annual HARP banquet. We are very proud to announce the winners of the various accolades our department awards to outstanding service to the department, the University, and our students.

Dr. Clyde S. and Pauline F. Stine Award

Madison J. Feeman

Associate Director Rita Miller and Madison J. Feeman

The Dr. Clyde S. and Pauline F. Stine Endowed Scholarship was seeded in 1988, by Drs. George and Helen Stine as a tribute to the memory of Dr. George Stine’s parents.  Dr. Clyde Stine was a member of the Millersville University Administrative Faculty for many years.  He provided administrative oversight for the residence hall program as the Dean of Men.

Dr. George Stine, Professor of Sociology, and a founding member of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, retired in 2003, after a distinguished 37 years at Millersville University.  Dr. Helen Stine retired in 2003, after many years as a Reading Specialist serving the School District of Lancaster.

It is our honor to be one of very few Student Affairs Departments recognized with an endowed scholarship.  Drs. George and Helen Stine chose to recognize a Resident Assistant because Dr. Clyde Stine viewed the residence halls as an important experience in the life of a scholar, and realized that Resident Assistants provide a fundamental role in the transition from student to new professional.

The Stine Award is given annually to a continuing Resident Assistant member of the junior class.  The successful applicant must have a record of demonstrated outstanding service and positive contributions to the Department of Housing and Residential Programs and the general campus community.  Applications are reviewed and the recipient selected by members of the Housing and Residential Programs Department Administration.  The recipient will receive a monetary scholarship applicable to the expenses of their senior year.

Madison has been a member of the Housing and Residential Programs Staff for two semesters.  As an RA, she strives to create an aware, informed, engaged community that feels included and pursues personal goals and achievement. The Residential Area Director describes Madison as a problem solver possessing superb customer service and interpersonal skills, a high degree of positive energy, a willingness to take on extra projects as needed, and a distinct creative ability. Madison engages and interacts to motivate others and is an ideal student leader. She believes in a safe and engaging living-learning community in the residence halls and directs focus and effort to achieve that goal.

Madison has maximized the opportunities offered by the University to become involved through organization membership. She began the journey to campus leadership early in freshman year by joining student run organizations and progressing to the leadership positions of executive board Recording Secretary and Historian for the All Campus Musical Organization, and as a Program Coordinator and now Vice President of Weekend Programming for the University Activities Board.  She was also recognized as an emerging student leader through the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership (CSIL).

Madison continued to build a legacy of involvement by taking a position as a tour guide for Admissions encouraging prospective students to choose Millersville as their higher education destination and then as a “Mover and Shaker” assisting new resident students to move into the residence halls on fall opening.

Housing and Residential Programs recognized the shining potential and excellent role model capability of our recipient recruiting and hiring her first as a Desk Attendant in the residence hall and now as a Resident Assistant.  Madison continued to demonstrate quality leadership and pragmatic creativity in this new role by planning and producing an educational display board on the topic of sexual assault awareness that was adopted for continued program use by the Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Title IX Coordinator and the Center for Health Education Promotion.  She planned and developed a program for Freshmen Early Childhood Education majors focused on preparation for the sophomore year experience.

Madison continues to demonstrate an appreciation for community service encouraging other resident students to become involved in Relay for Life and was instrumental in raising $615.00 for the cause. A future in Elementary and Special Education leads this year’s Stine Award recipient to be a well-rounded leader, an advocate for community engagement, and a role model for campus involvement and service.  She is a distinguished member of the South Village Hall Staff.

Humanitarian Pillar Program Award

Relay for Life Fundraising by Connor Richter

Connor Richter and Residential Area Director Rebekah Yerger

This program is the awarded to a program that assists residents in developing relationships with others as well as preparing them to become informed global citizens by appreciating difference in others, effectively and respectfully communicating, promoting a sense of community, and integrating knowledge acquired in everyday experiences into their world view.

Connor Richter helped raise over $1,200 for Relay for Life with late night pancakes and grilled cheese fundraisers along with other general donations.  He also participated in the whole 12- hour event for Relay for Life.

Personal Engagement Pillar Program Award

“Letter to your Future Self” by Jess Ringeisen

Jess Ringeisen and Residential Area Director Michael Davis

This program is awarded to those who planned and executed an event for residents to further their individual growth by making responsible and ethical decisions, developing a sense of self, utilizing effective time management, managing one’s health, resolving conflict and developing leadership skills.

This program crossed both semesters and entailed residents coming to write down their goals, hopes, wishes, or an encouraging statement to themselves for later. For the second semester part of the program, the letters were returned and residents could see what progress was made and how close they were to their goals from the fall. This aimed to help the students see the importance of goal setting and wisdom can play in their lives.

Academic Engagement Pillar Program Award

“It’s a Sign” by Sarah Hagen and Iyla Stebbins

Iyla Stebbins and Associate Director Steven Knepp

This program is awarded to those who planned and executed an event for residents to successfully navigate the collegiate experience.  This program must also present residents the greatest chance of being successful by developing critical thinking skills, valuing life-long learning, becoming academically competent, having career preparedness, and fostering graduate school readiness.

This program in particular was a hands-on experience to promote learning and understanding of a different language.  Language and communication is vital to being human, and the goal of this program was to inspire students to try and learn a new language.  In doing this, residents were able to create their own name tags using cut-out pictures of the American Sign Language letters.

Outstanding New RA Award

Kyre Maxwell

Kyre Maxwell and Residential Area Director Michael Davis

The recipient for the outstanding new RA of the year award is awarded to the newest member of the RA staff that has shown exemplary leadership and the ability to show constant flexibility, a positive attitude, and willingness to help.  This individual must also show support for their residents academically and personally and makes an effort to interact with residents on a personal level and create an exceptional community within their floor.

Ky was given this nomination because of his ability to stand out in such a positive way in such a short amount of time. He started the spring semester with no experience but as the semester closes, he has gained more than he probably thought he would. Ky has a very calming, warm, and positive presence about himself. He has blended into the staff with ease, built community and great bonds with his residents, and has impacted other students in East Village to become motivated to apply to the RA position.

Outstanding Returning RA Award

Daniel Sundberg

Daniel Sundberg and Residential Area Director Julia Collett

The Outstanding Returning RA of the Year award is awarded to the RA with at least one year of experience.

This year’s recipient of the Outstanding Returning RA Award has been described by residents as “The Man.”  He takes the time to get to know his residents and puts a lot of effort into planning programs that people throughout the building want to come to. From origami to stress relief programs, Dan finds unique ways to engage his residents. His peers look to him as a role model for building relationships and often ask him for advice.

Outstanding Desk Attendant of the Year Award

Jaelinn Leftridge

Residential Area Director Rebekah Yerger, Jaelinn Leftridge, and Graduate Assistant Janelle Sanchez

The Outstanding Desk Attendant Award goes to someone who shows consistent and excellent customer service and appropriately helps students.

The recipient for the DA of the Year award goes to Jaelinn Leftridge who has exemplary customer service skills and is always willing to help out others.  She is truly an asset to the DA team.  She is available, a problem-solver, and a peace-maker all at the same time.  She is not afraid to confront issues at hand and does so gracefully while also balancing life and academics.  Her interpersonal skills and efforts create a great working environment and encourages others to authentically be themselves.

The Vanguard Award

Dr. Karen Rice

Associate Director Steven Knepp and Dr. Karen Rice

The Vanguard Award is given to a colleague on campus that has helped further the mission and goals of Housing and Residential Programs.

The recipient of this year’s Vanguard Award goes to Dr. Karen Rice who has been in an influential figure in establishing the Social Advocacy Living Learning Community in West Village. Dr. Rice has given countless hours to students and staff to create an educational and social community that has made a lasting impact on students and the campus community. With her guidance, students in the community were able to develop several campus wide programs for Mental Health Awareness.

Graduate Assistant Recognition – East Village

Chatiela Clark

Chatiela Clark and Residential Area Director Michael Davis

Graduate Assistant Recognition – South Village

Janelle Sanchez

Janelle Sanchez and Residential Area Director Rebekah Yerger

Graduate Assistant Recognition – West Village

Bethany Roche

Bethany Roche and Residential Area Director Julia Collett

Graduating Resident Assistant Recognition

Left to right: Andrew Sellers, Nicole Carrera, Daniel Sundberg, Natalie Sawada, Taniyah Williams, Lincoln Edwards, Deborah Stanback, Camille Christiansen, and Rebekah Teller