FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of
Arkansas and the Division of Student Affairs have garnered five awards from the
National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Region IV-West. This
is the highest number of accolades the university has ever received from NASPA,
and recipients will accept their awards at the NASPA Region IV-West Conference
on Nov. 3 in Breckenridge, Colo.
The winners are: Chancellor John White,
Presidential Excellence Award; Marsha Norvell, Support Staff Award; Chris
Medrano, New Professional Award; UA Productions, Publications Award; and Justin
Grimes, Rising Star Undergraduate Award.
The Presidential Excellence Award is a
special recognition given to a college or university president who has, over a
sustained period of time, advanced the quality of student life on campus by
supporting student affairs staff and programs. Nominees must show evidence of
direct involvement in enhancing the quality of student life on campus, active attempts
to involve students and student life staff in governing the institution, and
demonstrable contributions to the profession that have an impact beyond an
individual campus.
“We are very pleased that Chancellor
White has been chosen for the Presidential Excellence Award,” said Johnetta
Cross Brazzell, vice chancellor for Student Affairs. “He has always been
supportive of student affairs work and truly cares about students and their
development, both in and out of the classroom.”
The Outstanding New Professional Award is
presented to an individual who has been in the profession less than five years,
is a NASPA member, and has made significant contributions to his or her campus,
the regional organization and the profession. Chris Medrano, program coordinator
for student activities, is this year’s winner. Medrano is in her third year
with the University of Arkansas.
The Support Staff Recognition Award is
presented to an individual who has contributed significantly to higher
education and student affairs professionals. This year’s winner is Marsha
Norvell, executive assistant to the vice chancellor for Student Affairs.
Norvell has been with the university for 17 years, more than 15 of those years
in Student Affairs. She is one of the go-to people in the division, and really
offers support to anyone who is in need.
The Rising Star Award is given to a
junior or senior undergraduate student who has a lot of involvement in campus
activities and organizations, has a minimum cumulative grade point average of
2.5; shows great campus leadership; has paraprofessional employment with
Division of Student Affairs; intends to pursue a Student Affairs-related
advanced degree. This year’s winner is Justin Grimes, a senior majoring in computer
information systems. He works in the Multicultural Center and plans to pursue a
master’s degree in higher education.
The Publication Award for video-computer
software is presented to the individual or institution that has developed
outstanding materials that contribute significantly to the field of student
affairs. This year’s winner is UA Productions, a student-led multimedia
production department within the Division of Student Affairs. These students
were awarded for an interactive CD-ROM about ROCK Camp, a program for incoming
first-year students developed by First Year Experience Programs. The CD
features interactive menus and forms for registering for the camp, as well as
videos and photographs that highlight the entire ROCK Camp experience. The
students involved with this production are Keith Roehrenbeck, a sophomore from
Little Rock; John Robinson, a sophomore from Tulsa, Okla., and Chris Bryan, a
sophomore from Fayetteville, Ark. These
students are supervised by Scott Flanagin, coordinator of communications and
outreach for the Division of Student Affairs.
All winners are automatically entered
into the NASPA national awards competition.
“I am extremely proud of all of these
award winners,” Brazzell said. “I know they are doing excellent work for the
students at this university, and it is gratifying to see this work recognized
by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.”