SOOIE Announces September 'of the Month' Winners

Student Organization Outreach and Involvement Experience (SOOIE) announces registered student organization awards for Member, Advisor, and Event of the Month for the month of September 2019. The winners are as follows:

The Member of the Month for September is Alexander Johnson from the Volunteer Action Center. Johnson serves as the president of the VAC and has worked with the organization since his freshman year. Johnson's success can be attributed to his balance of humility and ambition, as well as his emphasis on team unity. Johnson is not only involved in the VAC but is also a member of an IFC fraternity and the founder of the Running Club. SOOIE commends Johnson for these outstanding accomplishments and appreciates his involvement in campus life.

The Advisor of the Month for September is Melynda Hart, who advises Campus Y. Hart serves as the operations manager for the College of Engineering and serves on the Chancellor's Commission for Women. Within Campus Y, Hart helps extensively with the administrative aspects of the organization, giving the students resources they need to plan successful events. She regularly spreads information about the organization within her abilities and goes above and beyond for the organization. Hart's contributions to the University of Arkansas are invaluable and SOOIE applauds her for her dedication to the advancement of Campus Y.

The Event of the Month winner for September is Tailgate in Line, hosted by Razorbacks Offering Accountability Resources (ROAR). This event was in partnership with University of Arkansas Athletics and the Substance Education and Alcohol Resources (SEAR) Office. It consisted of giving out snacks and water bottles as students entered the September 14 home football game. This was part of the organization's Got Water? Initiative to combat alcohol abuse and promote hydration. It required extensive planning prior to the event as well as substantial work throughout the event -which lasted around six hours. This event enabled ROAR to effectively reach thousands of students and share their mission. SOOIE commends the hard work of Razorbacks Offering Accountability Resources and the impact their event had on 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 gift card; Advisor of the Month will receive a framed certificate of recognition; and SOOIE will also reward RSO's 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 "Of the Month" awards. Applications are due on the last day of every month. For questions about "Of the Month Awards," please contact Anna Cook, SOOIE Vice President of Internal Affairs, at sooievp@uark.edu or call 479-575-5255. Applications are located under the forms section of the HogSync platform.

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! SOOIE is a program in the Division of Student Affairs.

About the Division of Student Affairs: The Division of Student Affairs supports students in pursuing knowledge, earning a degree, finding meaningful careers, exploring diversity, and connecting with the global community. We provide students housing, dining, health care resources, and create innovative programs that educate and inspire. We enhance the University of Arkansas experience and help students succeed, one student at a time.