The Student Organization Outreach and Involvement Experience (SOOIE) and Office of Student Activities hosted the annual Student Involvement Awards Banquet on April 18. Twenty-five students and one faculty member were recognized for their achievements and involvement on campus through Registered Student Organizations. Winners and top nominees in each category include:

Chancellor's Award for Academic Excellence

• Kappa Kappa Gamma (Spring 2017)
• Chi Omega (Fall 2017)
• Kappa Alpha Order (Fall 2017)
• Hotz Honors Residence Hall (2017)

The Doyle Z. Williams Student Leadership Award

• Jase Rapert

International Students and Scholars Cross-Cultural Mentor

• Natalia Johnson

Volunteer Action Center Board Member of the Year

• Caroline Sage

University Programs Awards

Outstanding Executive Member

• Lupe Garduno

Ryan Allen Dedication to University Programs Award

• Eva Puga

Jian Zhang Award of Excellence

• Tori Dixon

Associated Student Government Awards

Outstanding Senator

• Cassidy Cook

Outstanding Cabinet Members

• Samia Ismail and Todd Kitchen Jr.

Outstanding Freshman Leadership Forum Member

• Tommy Davis

Outstanding Graduate Student Congress Representative

• Leah Morse

Outstanding Office of Financial Affairs Member

• Colin Gonzalez

The Macarena Arce Member of the Year

• William Neely

SOOIE Of the Year Awards

SOOIE's Most Involved Student

• Lizeth Martinez

Outstanding Registered Student Organization Service Program

• City Chicks, by Full Stomachs Clean Feet (winner)
• Make a Difference Day 2017, by Volunteer Action Center
• Phikeia Cystic Fibrosis Fundraising Campaign, by Phi Delta Theta

Outstanding Registered Student Organization Collaborative Program

• One Choice, One Community, One Commitment, by Black Students Association, National Pan-Hellenic Council, and Associated Student Government (winner)
• Lane Marrs Memorial, by Rotaract Club & Alpha Omicron Pi
• Freshman Pep Rally, University Programs, New Student and Family Programs, Spirit Squad, Marching Band, and Department of Athletics

Outstanding Registered Student Organization Advisor

• Chaim Goodman-Strauss, from Pi Mu Epsilon (winner)
• Allison Scott, from Student Nurses Association
• Ignatius Fosu, from African Student Organization
• Carole Shook, from Chinese Student and Scholars Association
• Gloria Flores Passmore, from Fulbright Scholars at the University of Arkansas

Outstanding Registered Student Organization Member

• Micah Huckabee, from Hogs End Alz (winner)
• Daniel Cheng, from Chinese Students and Scholars Association
• JP Gairhan, from Associated Student Government
• Nikki Anderson, from Student Alumni Association
• Juanybeth Morales, from Gamma Eta Sorority

Outstanding Registered Student Organization Program

• 50th Annual Diwali Celebration, by Friends of India (winner)
• Indigenous Peoples' of Americas Day, by Native American Students Association
• Chinese New Year Banquet, by Chinese Students and Scholars Association
• Education to Action, Q&A with the Homeless, by Full Stomachs Clean Feet
• Alzheimer's Memory Wall, By Hogs End Alz

Outstanding New Registered Student Organization

• Full Stomachs Clean Feet (winner)
• UArk Speedsolving Club
• Theta Chi
• Hogs End Alz
• Pakistani Student Organization

Outstanding Registered Student Organization

• Students for Refugees (winner)
• Pi Mu Epsilon
• Native American Student Association
• National Residence Hall Honorary
• Chinese Students and Scholars Association

Service Awards

The Center for Community Engagement and Volunteer Action Center also presented three service awards that honor students' commitment to service and the community. Verified hours logged on uark.givepulse.com qualify students to receive the President's Volunteer Service Award (minimum of 100 hours from April to March), Chancellor's Community Service Award (70-74 hours in an academic year), and Mayoral Service Award (75-99 hours of service in an academic year):

President's Volunteer Service Award

• 108 students honored: 17,600 hours of service and economic impact of $406,032

Chancellor's Community Service Award

• 53 students honored: 3,076 hours of service and economic impact of $70,963

Mayoral Service Award

• 27 students honored: 2,368 hours of service and economic impact of $54,629

Almost 200 guests filled the Arkansas Union Verizon Ballroom for the banquet as SOOIE partnered with the University of Arkansas Television (UATV), interviewing nominees at the red-carpet entrance and livestreaming the award ceremony via Facebook.

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 April and May "Of the Month" awards. Applications are due May 4. For questions about "Of the Month Awards," please contact Ally Davis, SOOIE Vice President of Internal Affairs, at sooievp@uark.edu.

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!