UA Division of Student Affairs Earns Six Regional Awards

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas Division of Student Affairs earned six awards from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Region IV-West. This is highest number of accolades the division has ever received from NASPA, beating last years’ record by one award. Recipients accepted their awards at the NASPA Region IV-West Conference held Nov. 8-10 in Little Rock.

The winners are: Career Development Center’s Professional Development Institute, Innovative Program; Randy Alexander, Mid Level Professional; Sandy Vasquez, New Professional Award; Tina Fletcher, Rising Star Undergraduate; and Shehan Willehanda, Graduate Student Rising Star; UA Productions’ Pat Walker Health Center video, Publications Award.

The Innovative Program award is presented to the institutional department that developed and implemented a program that resulted in improved educational activities, services or management for an individual campus community.

The Professional Development Institute program was implemented two years ago with nine student members. As of Oct. 31, the institute reached the 1,000-member mark. The institute offers career-building activities consisting of workshop opportunities, one-on-one coaching and innovative activities designed to enhance a student’s career or graduate school planning path. The program includes career and graduate school planning steps a student should generally accomplish while in college, but formatted into an intentional program that coaches them to their highest level of achievement.

“We are very pleased that the Professional Development Institute has been recognized by NASPA,” said Johnetta Cross Brazzell, vice chancellor for Student Affairs. “This program is helping hundreds of students be more intentional about their career or graduate school plans, giving them the tools they need to be successful in these pursuits.”

The Outstanding Mid-Level Professional Award is presented to the individual who has been in the profession more than five years, is a NASPA member, and has made significant contributions to his or her campus, the regional organization and the profession. Randy Alexander, executive director of university housing, is this year’s recipient.

“During Randy’s nearly three-year tenure at the University of Arkansas, he has made an incredibly huge impact in the future growth of the campus, not only with regards to residential facilities and other parts of the physical environment, but more importantly the programmatic revolutions to which he has guided us,” said Danny Pugh, UA dean of students.

The Outstanding New Professional Award is presented to an individual who has been in the profession fewer than five years, is a NASPA member, and has made significant contributions to his or her campus, the regional organization and the profession. Sandy Vasquez, assistant director, office of community standards and student ethics, is this year’s winner. Vasquez is in her second year with the University of Arkansas.

“Sandy works well and is comfortable with students, parents and staff from all backgrounds and cultures. People are drawn to her because of her sincere interest in them as individuals and her warm personable style. Her personal and professional ethics are beyond reproach,” said her fellow award winner, Randy Alexander.

The Rising Star Undergraduate 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 Tina Fletcher, a senior majoring in political science and African American Studies.

“Tina has made positive impacts in her various leadership roles on campus because she understands and employs her unique skills and abilities,” said Craig Willie, associate director of First Year Experience programs. “Tina consistently models maturity, kindness, responsibility, time management and initiative for her peers, whether she is serving in an official role or simply being herself.”

Winners of the Graduate Student Rising Star award are currently pursuing master’s or doctoral work in a student affairs-related degree program, with intention of pursuing a career within student affairs; they are involved in campus activities and organizations; hold campus leadership positions; and have paraprofessional employment within the Student Affairs Division. This year’s recipient is Shehan Willehanda, a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in higher education administration.

“Shehan has the ability to evaluate situations and determine what needs to be done and develop a plan to reach the end goal. He is willing to reach out to others to help find the best solution to various situations, and is willing to step out of his comfort zone when needed,” said Flo Johnson, director for administrative services at university housing.

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. This is the second year in a row for this group to win this award. These students were awarded for an informational video about the Pat Walker Health Center, which is shown to all incoming first-year students and their parents. The video can also be seen in streaming form on the health center Web site. The students involved with UA Productions are John Robinson, a senior from Tulsa, Okla.; Keith Roehrenbeck, a junior from Little Rock, Ark.; Chris Bryan, a senior from Fayetteville, Ark.; Julie Lungaro, a sophomore from Fayetteville; and Clint Fullen, a sophomore from Little Rock. These students are supervised by Scott Flanagin, coordinator of communication and outreach for the Division of Student Affairs.

“The skills of UA Production students stood out as they became experts on the purpose and impact of the Pat Walker Health Center. Through interviews, questions, tours and conversations with professional staff, the students were immersed in health services,” said Mary Alice Serafini, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs and director of the Pat Walker Health Center. “They took their expertise and creativity in film production and put their knowledge of health services into a story to be told which would reflect the high priority that the University of Arkansas places on student’s health and wellbeing.”

“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.”