SOOIE Announces February 'Of the Month' Winners

Student Organization Outreach and Involvement Experience (SOOIE) announces Registered Student Organization Member, Advisor, and Event of the Month for February. The winners are as follows:

The Member of the Month for February is Brooke Borgognoni from II Circolo Italiano. Borgognoni, a senior, has been an active member in the Italian club since her freshman year and this is her second year holding an officer position. She is also one of ten Italian-American Leaders through the National Italian-American Foundation (NIAF). She leads the Italian club in many marketing aspects and due to her active agenda, she has been able to spread the word and grow the organization over the past years. Her involvement with Italian club as well as the NIAF has brought newfound attention to the University of Arkansas. She is proactive in all matters regarding Italian club and is always very organized and prepared. She is also the President of the Advertising Club and works in the College of Engineering. SOOIE commends Brooke Borgognoni for these outstanding accomplishments and appreciates her involvement in campus life and her work beyond the University.  

The Advisor of the Month for February is Allison Scott. Scott advises the Student Nurses Association (SNA), an organization that helps students pursuing a nursing career. Scott currently serves as SNA's primary advisor and as a professor at the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing. She has been recognized by students across campus for her dedication and ability to mentor multiple students: "She is always motivating the board and encouraging us to provide our students with better opportunities", said Grace Davis, vice president of SNA. Scott has also contributed to the organization's success in earning the Stella Chapter Award, given to few schools in the nation each year. As well as being an advisor, last summer she led a travel abroad experience to Africa with many nursing students. It has been said that she is incredibly gifted at making students feel valued and capable of great things. Scott's contributions to the University of Arkansas are truly invaluable and SOOIE applauds her for her dedication to the advancement of Student Nurses Association as well as the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing.

The Event of the Month winner for February is "Alzheimer's/Dementia Memory Wall." This event was put on by Hogs End Alz from Feb. 19-22 at the Arkansas Union International Connections Lounge. This event brought awareness, preservation of memories, and a call for action to do whatever it takes to put an end to the disease of Alzheimer's. Students were invited to share their stories and memories of a loved one they knew with Alzheimer's or dementia. Anyone walking through the Union was able to see this display of stories and could even post their own story if they wished to. One student in particular wrote, "Let's be the generation that puts an end to Alzheimer's." The two goals of Hogs End Alz include raising awareness for Alzheimer's Disease on our campus in our community and preserving the memories of those affected by Alzheimer's or dementia. SOOIE commends the hard work the Hogs End Alz put into this event and the impact it had on the students across campus.

Winning these awards qualifies the individual and the RSO the opportunity to attend the End of the Year Involvement Banquet. This banquet will highlight the amazing things RSOs accomplished throughout the school year. Attendance is limited, and winning any of SOOIE's "Of the Month" Awards guarantees entrance. Nominees who were not selected for Member and Advisor "Of the Month" will roll over to the following months for consideration.

In addition, Member of the Month will receive a $10 Chartwells gift card; Advisor of the Month will receive a framed certificate of recognition; and SOOIE will also reward RSOs who win Event of the Month by providing snacks at their next executive meeting.

SOOIE is an RSO focusing on outreach and involvement. Members of the campus community can nominate a deserving member, advisor, or RSO event for one of SOOIE's March "Of the Month" awards. Applications are due by 5 p.m. March 30, the same deadline for the 2018 Student Involvement Awards nominations. For questions about "Of the Month Awards," please contact Ally Davis, SOOIE vice president of internal affairs, at sooievp@uark.edu or call 479-575-5255.

This program is sponsored by SOOIE through the Office of Student Activities and is supported by the Student Activities fee. Follow SOOIE on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and HogSync for "Of the Month Award" updates and much more on how you can get involved on campus!