SOOIE Announces 'Of the Month' Winners for December

Student Organization Outreach and Involvement Experience (SOOIE) announces Registered Student Organization Member, Advisor, and Event of the Month for the month of December 2019. The winners are as follows:

The Member of the Month for December is Austin Jones from Pre-Student Osteopathic Medicine Association. Jones founded Pre-SOMA, which gives students the opportunity to gain understanding about becoming a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, as well as access to information regarding the medical school application process in general. He is the driving force in all aspects of establishing this organization, including recruiting officers and members. Jones is involved in many other areas of campus, helping to establish two other RSOs. SOOIE commends Jones for these outstanding accomplishments and appreciates his involvement in campus life.

The Advisor of the Month for December is Rachel Glade, who advises the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association. Glade serves as a clinical assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders and the CDIS program coordinator. Glade diligently finds opportunities to further her current and former student's success, communicating about on-campus events, scholarships, internships and jobs, and even clinical resources. She works to help students to organize and execute events, going above and beyond to help her students. SOOIE applauds Glade for her dedication to the advancement of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association.

The Event of the Month winner for December is Yalda Night, hosted by the Iranian Student Association. This was in celebration of a traditional event in Iranian culture aligning with the longest night of the year. Approximately 145 students attended the event. It included different educational aspects, teaching students and guests about Iranian culture. There were videos about Iran and its history, poetry reciting in Farsi, as well as songs in multiple languages. Attendees also were able to try Iranian and Mediterranean food. This event was an opportunity  for Iranian students to celebrate their culture and share it with the rest of campus. SOOIE commends the hard work of the ISA and the impact their event had on students across campus.

Winning these awards qualifies the individual and the RSO an 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 at sooievp@uark.edu. 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.