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Office of Student Life

Student Life Division Awards

Individual Honors

New Professional Award

Presented every other year to person serving in their first or second year at Elon who exhibits exceptional ability and commitment to being a Student Life professional.

2012: ,
To be awarded 5/24/2012

2011: Karley Counts, Assistant Director of Campus Recreation
Counts received the award for taking on a great deal of responsibility in the Campus Recreation including coordinating Sportsfest and helping with Turkey Trot. She coordinated two new events, the Laser Tag Tournament and Duo Dash Adventure Race, collaborating with Student Activities on the Laser Tag Tournament. Counts also has assisted Greek Life during women's recruitment in January, coordinated the winter term bowling league, served on the Elon Forest committee.

2008: Phil Smith, Assistant Chaplain and Director of Religious Life
Smith received the award for initiating many new programs, including a new summer experience and service trip.  He is a strong advocate for students and involved across the campus in supporting and advising various student groups.

2006: Meghan Dillon, Assistant Director for Campus Recreation
Dillon received the New Professional Award for her success in opening the new Harden Club Sports facility on South Campus.

Professional Development Award

Presented annually to a staff member (exempt or non-exempt) who has made a singular advance in professional growth.

2012: ,
To be awarded 5/24/2012

2011: Bruce Nelson, Director of Counseling
Nelson embraces professional development as a passion- not an entitlement and his desire for professional development reflects his dedication to be a lifelong learner and to seek those opportunities that strengthen him as a clinician but also improve the institutions’ ability to respond to individual and group crises.

2009: Becca McQueen, Assistant Director of Residence Life, Danieley Center

2008: Carrie Ryan, Assistant Director of Residence Life for Operations and Information Management
Ryan serves on numerous professional organization committees and presented at national conferences.  As chair of the Professional Development Committee she has worked to provide opportunities for division wide development as well.

2006: Jerrid Freeman, Associate Director of Residence Life Operations
Freeman received the Professional Development Award for completing his doctorate and assisting other staff in authoring their first professional articles.

Student Advocate Award

Presented annually to a staff member who is an exceptional mentor to students, engaging with them in purposeful student development activities.

2012: ,
To be awarded 5/24/2012

2011: Brian O'Shea, Assistant to the Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students
O'Shea spent many hours and long nights having behind closed door conversations with the fraternity men he advised, helping them through difficult situations and helping them see things from different perspectives than their own.

2009: Paula Zachary, Program Assistant for Judicial Affairs

2008: L'Tanya Richmond, Director of the Multicultural Center
Richmond supports and challenges Elon's multicultural students to perform to the best of thier abilities both in and out of the classroom.  She assists students in finding the resources to attend and prosper at Elon.

2006: Angela Passarelli, Director of the Center for Leadership
Passarelli received the Student Advocate Award for her work as advisor and mentor to the women of a struggling sorority chapter that she guided in returning to their founding principles.

Sunshine Award

Presented every year to the program assistant in Student Life at Elon who exhibits exceptional ability and commitment.

2012: ,
To be awarded 5/24/2012

Program Awards

The Collaboration Award

Presented jointly to the division programs excelling in forming partnerships within and/or outside the division to advance student development.

2012: ,
To be awarded 5/24/2012

2009: Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

2008: Residence Life, Greek Life and Physical Plant for Powerless and Recyclemania competitions.
Through a dynamic collaboration, these three groups managed to conduct a campus wide competition and intuitive to reduce energy use and increase recycling.  Their work produced the highest results in Elon history.

2006: The Office of Greek Life
For its multiple partnerships throughout the year -- with Campus Recreation, Multicultural Affairs, Athletics, Religious and Spiritual Life, Take Back the Night, etc.

The Diversity Award

Presented to the division program that shows commitment to “the dignity of difference.”

2012: ,
To be awarded 5/24/2012

2011: Richard Baker, Assistant Director of Residence Life, West Area
An atypical winner, Baker demonstrated a dedication to social justice and helping those without a voice. Baker worked with many groups of people at Elon to challenge them to celebrate the dignity of difference.

2008: Pride Week
A week dedicated to educational and social activities to raise awareness about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues locally and globally.

2006: The Kernodle Center for Service Learning
For its ACE Program, designed to give students a transformative “Alamance County Experience.”

The Innovation Award

Presented to the division program that breaks new ground in serving and/or further developing the growth of students.

2012: ,
To be awarded 5/24/2012

2011: Laser Tag Tournament, Bobby Dunlap and Karley Counts
Providing an excellent low risk event for students, over 34 teams and 300 students participated in this two-week long event which started at Laser-X and ended on South Campus for the event final in the "Laserdome".

2009: Greek Leaders Retreat

2008: Office of Residence Life
Once again, the Office of Residence Life makes a good thing great!  This year as students signed up for future housing they were able to see a real-time listing of available spaces and make decisions without a significant wait.

2006: Office of Residence Life
For creating a new process for online housing applications and a Web site to improve communication with residents.

Dean’s Commendation Awards

Presented at the discretion of the Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students to individuals or programs that exemplify the core values and advance the mission of the Student Life Division.

2012:

To be awarded 5/24/2012

2011:

Brian Collins and Melissa Jordan for going the extra mile to transport students to the funeral of a classmate.
Lauren Flinn and TJ Bowie through thick and thin.
Michelle Kusel for making the division proud with her research and publications.

2008:

Danny Glassman for his constant positive attitude and utmost professionalism through any situation.
Whitney Pack for overcoming adversity and working to uphold the high standards of Judicial Affairs through tough times.
Lauren Martin for securing federal funding in excess of $200,000 for the work of the Office of Substance Education.
Michael Williams, Jay Anhorn, Janis Baughman, Paula Zachary, Sarah Barnes, and Clifton Johnson Spirit of the Phoenix.
Bruce Nelson and Clifton Johnson for responding quickly and effectively to events both on campus and abroad.

2007:

Peter Tulchinsky for increasing campus recreation participation across the board with five fewer playing fields.
Joette Boone for persistence to achieve academic excellence under challenging circumstances.
Jeanette Drake for excellence in adapting to her surroundings and taking on any role necessary to keep the department operating.
JJ Scott for organizing, facilitating and participating in 10 Hurricane Katrina awareness service trips over the last two years.
Melissa Jordan and Susan Lindley for overcoming extraordinary circumstances to provide the highest customer service to the hundreds of Oaks residents delayed by construction.
Phil Smith for always being available, present and an invaluable resource for students no matter the place or time.

2006:

Amy Jones for Student Involvement through successful campus concerts.
Carol Oakley for Teamwork with multiple university functions.
Janis Baughman for service “Beyond the Call of Duty” in Student Activities and the Moseley Center
Carrie Ryan for doing “Whatever It Takes” as Administrator on Call.
Deborah Murphy for “Baptism by Fire” serving as Counselor on Call.
Michael Williams for “Sticking to the Knitting” in making sure that the Moseley Center serves the need of the entire campus.

Smith Jackson

Smith Jackson
Vice President for Student Life and
Dean of Students