Residence Life celebrates student leaders, student employees, staff and faculty.
Student employees, staff, and faculty were honored for their leadership, teamwork, and creativity on Wednesday, May 7, at the annual Residence Life end-of-year award dinner. In addition to the many annual awards, graduating seniors within the department were inducted into the National Residence Hall Honorary and presented with blue and white graduation cords.
Residence Life also recognized members of the Residence Life student staff council and one graduating Neighborhood Manager: Wise Halverson.
The evening included opening remarks from President Connie Book and Vice President of Student Life Jon Dooley.
Student Staff Member of the Year (by neighborhood)
Student Staff Member of the Year is awarded to at least one staff member from each residential neighborhood who has demonstrated excellent teamwork, dedication, and positivity in their role.
Recipients
Colonnades: Mackenzie Perry
Danieley: Jason Adama-Tettey
East: Asia Green
Global: Keali Chang
Historic: Kiera Wenzel
Loy: Catarina Gandara Da Silva
Oaks: Morgan Seate
Station at Mill Point: Annabelle Stephens
Living-Learning Community (LLC) End of Year Awards
Almost 80 nominations were submitted for the Living-Learning Community End of Year awards, including nominations by participating students, staff and faculty advisors. Elon’s nationally ranked LLCs support over 600 residents in 24 different living-learning communities led by 33 faculty and staff LLC advisors.
Living-Learning Community Student of the Year: Odalys Zelaya Figueroa, First Phoenix LLC, Colonnades Neighborhood
Living-Learning Community Ambassador of the Year: Violette Valadez, First Phoenix LLC, Colonnades Neighborhood
Living-Learning Community Program of the Year: Elon College Fellows Murder Mystery Night, East Neighborhood
Living-Learning Community Advisors of the Year: Paula DiBiaso and Kenneth Brown, First Phoenix LLC, Colonnades Neighborhood
Living-Learning Community Resident Assistant of the Year: Grace Smith, Sustainable Living LLC, Colonnades Neighborhood
Living-Learning Community of the Year: Performing Arts LLC, Global Neighborhood
NRHH Rising Diamond Award
Tessa Mattison, senior resident assistant, Historic Neighborhood
This award recognizes a Residence Life staff member who shows that leadership inside and outside the department is crucial to continued growth in the Elon University experience. The recipient of this award has demonstrated that their skill set learned at Elon has positively impacted their community and will continue to impact whatever community joined after positively. The official symbol of NRHH is a diamond –the world’s most precious gem- to signify the value and beauty one finds in their experiences.
Student Leadership and Community Development Award
Maximus Garganta, senior resident assistant, Colonnades Neighborhood
This award highlights a student staff member who demonstrated extraordinary leadership in their role and promoted community development by challenging and caring for residents through their Elon experiences.
Student Employee Excellence Award
Eva Miller, office assistant, Global Neighborhood
This award highlights an hourly student employee who has displayed extraordinary dedication, leadership and service to their neighborhood and/or the Office of Residence Life. They consistently positively impact their neighborhood/office staff and community by going above and beyond what is asked in completing their work responsibilities.
Julie Justice Faculty Engagement Award
Claudine Moreau, faculty director, Historic Neighborhood
In honor of Julie Justice’s depth of service and engagement with her residents during her time as a faculty-in-residence in the Oaks neighborhood, this award honors a faculty member who has contributed to enhancing the residential campus initiative by engaging with students within the residential community, and broadly developing connections within the neighborhood to enhance the student residential experience.
Program of the Year
Neighborhood: East
Program Name: East Gets on the Bus to Twin Lakes
This award highlights a neighborhood program, event, or series that promotes active engagement of residents with faculty and staff over a topic that promotes the intellectual theme of the neighborhood.
Firestarter Award
Sydney Michel, resident assistant, Historic Neighborhood
This award recognizes a new student staff member who has shown exceptional promise in their role through creative and engaging floor programming, sound decision-making, and a consistently positive attitude. Their dedication to building community and enhancing the living and learning experience at Elon sets a strong foundation for continued impact and growth.
Trailblazing Guide Award
Nicholas Rugbart, senior resident assistant, Global Neighborhood
This award honors a seasoned student staff member who consistently goes above and beyond – not only excelling in their own role, but also serving as a reliable source of support and mentorship for their peers. Their approachable nature and commitment to fostering a strong living and learning environment truly embody the spirit of campus community.
Tracy Pace Program Assistant of the Year
Sandra Bays, program assistant, East Neighborhood
This award honors a program assistant in Residence Life who utilizes exceptional organization, interpersonal, and customer service skills.
Professional Staff Member of the Year
Mariann King, community director, Global Neighborhood
This award recognizes a professional staff member of the Residence Life team who has demonstrated mentorship, community building and professionalism throughout the 2024-25 academic year.
Community Partnership Award
Grace Smith, resident assistant, Colonnades Neighborhood
The Community Partnership Award is presented to an individual who has continuously partnered and supported throughout the school year with Campus Safety and Police.
